Birthing Alternatives Before Intervention

There are women that would prefer to labor and give birth without medical interventions like the administering of an epidural, internal fetal monitoring, pain medication, and having induction moderating drugs like Pitocin, a synthetic form of Oxytocin.   These women are opting to employ alternative, natural birth therapies to manage labor. 

NATURAL BIRTH

Natural birth, a woman’s innate ability to know her body and behold the function that has been set in motion allowing her to give birth to another human being.  There is nothing unusual, although all things are exceptional when a woman gives birth, interfering obstacles.

Traditionally, as did my grandmothers, women gave birth at home without any intervention.  Generally, there may have been a midwife present, a nearby doctor or a family member such as the birthing mother’s own mother or sister.  

Statistically a natural birth increases the likelihood of a healthier birth and a more revitalizing postnatal period due to fewer interventions such as c-sections, forceps, epidurals and episiotomies.  

Additionally, for the baby a natural birth alleviates exposure to various drugs and narcotics thereby allowing the mother to give birth in a seemingly healthier manner. It is important to note that in the outlay of natural birth a woman at any point may choose to surrender to medical interventions if desired or when necessary, either medically necessary or otherwise.[1]

Some natural birth alternatives are as follows:

WATER BIRTH

During a waterbirth the laboring woman immerses herself in a birth pool or tub of warm water, which helps to bring comfort and typically provides some relief from labor pain and discomfort.[2] A randomized controlled trial showed that this relief measure is most noticeable within the first stage of labor with no known significance in the second and third stages of labor.[3] 

The birthing pool may be one that is inflatable, or hard acrylic. The warm water tends to facilitate a feeling of ease and wellbeing, helping the birthing woman feel relaxed and secure. The warm water has the added benefit of helping to relieve stress and pressure from the muscles; the bones; and the ligaments, as the water also helps to support the birthing woman’s body. Some hospital facilities offer waterbirth as an option and may be widely utilized when the woman is birthing at home or at a birthing center.

MASSAGE

Therapeutic massage during labor can be a great asset in assisting some women with the labor process. Applying counter-pressure to the lower back, can help relieve the discomfort felt as the baby begins to descend, as the baby’s head can press against the vertebrae of the lower back, this in-turn can create a significant amount of pain with each contraction. This is why therapeutic massage administered by gently pressing against the lower back at the time of each contraction may provide enough relief to alleviate the pain.[4] [5]

To prevent episiotomy, Perineal massage can be done.  By massaging the perineum, the area is less likely to tear.[6]

BIRTH BALL

Birth balls are large, inflatable balls that can help a laboring woman achieve optimum body position and movement. The ball allows the woman to move in ways that she may otherwise find impossible. The birth ball also allows the woman to remain upright.  This upright position may possibly help during the active phase of labor and may provide an alternative to pain medications.[7]

ACUPRESSURE

This technique makes use of the traditional Chinese concept of meridians, or channels, all over the body. Applying pressure in the right places can bring significant pain relief, participants claim, and augment labor. Acupressure can also be used to bring on labor if the woman is past her due time.  A single-blind clinical controlled study showed that acupressure can be a useful method for alleviating pain when applied to the SP6 point.[8]

RESOURCES

[1] Lothian JA. Why natural childbirth? J Perinat Educ. 2000;9(4):44-46. doi:10.1624/105812400X87905

[2] Harper B. Birth, bath, and beyond: the science and safety of water immersion during labor and birth. J Perinat Educ. 2014;23(3):124-134. doi:10.1891/1058-1243.23.3.124

[3] Cluett ER, Burns E. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3982045/. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2009;(2):CD000111. Published 2009 Apr 15. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD000111.pub3

[4] Pregnancy and labor massage Expert Rev Obstet Gynecol. 2010 Mar; 5(2): 177–181.doi: 10.1586/eog.10.12 Tiffany Field

[5] Janssen P, Shroff F, Jaspar P. Massage therapy and labor outcomes: a randomized controlled trial [published correction appears in Int J Ther Massage Bodywork. 2013;6(1):25]. Int J Ther Massage Bodywork. 2012;5(4):15-20. doi:10.3822/ijtmb.v5i4.164

[6] Akhlaghi F, Sabeti Baygi Z, Miri M, Najaf Najafi M. Effect of Perineal Massage on the Rate of Episiotomy. J Family Reprod Health. 2019;13(3):160-166.

[7] Effect of birth ball usage on pain in the active phase of labor: a randomized controlled trial, Taavoni S, Abdolahian S, Haghani H, Neysani L. Effect of birth ball usage on pain in the active phase of labor: a randomized controlled trial. J Midwifery Womens Health. 2011 Mar-Apr;56(2):137-40. doi: 10.1111/j.1542-2011.2010.00013.x. Epub 2011 Feb 28. PMID: 21429078.

[8] Taavoni S, Abdolahian S, Haghani H, Neysani L. Effect of birth ball usage on pain in the active phase of labor: a randomized controlled trial. Midwifery Womens Health. 2011 Mar-Apr;56(2):137-40. doi: 10.1111/j.1542-2011.2010.00013.x. Epub 2011 Feb 28. PMID: 21429078.