Birth has been around since the dawn of time. Our bodies were built for it. Civilization would not exist if humans did not procreate. It’s just about as natural of a process as anything else on this entire planet. And it is literally just as instinctive as pooping and eating. The body knows what to do. That being said, things CAN go wrong. And for centuries, we have heard many stories of women and children dying in childbirth. And because of that, our society has become a little nervous when it comes to allowing birth to happen naturally. Medical advancements throughout time have set certain procedures into place that were meant to help prevent bad things from happening. As time progressed, we have gotten used to these procedures as normal, and we just assume are how birth should go in order to be safe. While we have made many advancements in medical care, and many lives have been saved as a result, there is a new movement happening that urges women to question the medical field’s approach to the birthing process. And with the explosion of information on the internet and social media, whether you realize it or not, you now have a lot of choice when it comes to your birthing experience. It can almost be overwhelming!
I’m hoping this post alleviates some of that decision pressure as you scour the internet and try to decide what is best as you develop your birthing plan. Just know that I am not a medical professional. I am just a photographer who has witnessed this birthing uprising, and I myself am curious about it. I also want to let you know that choosing a birth plan is a really personal decision, so please know that you have to do what is best for YOU. Don’t let social pressures push you into any decisions that you do not feel comfortable with. I highly recommend you do your own research and make a plan that works best for YOU.
I see a lot of women who are terrified of giving birth, who don’t want to face the pain of it (I mean, who does, ha!). I also see women who enter into birth with calmness and serenity, mentally, emotionally, and physically prepared. I interact with doulas, midwives, and nurses regularly, and every person has their own opinion on the matter as to what type of birth is best. So ultimately, it is going to be up to you to sift through all of the information and to decide what YOU are going to feel better doing.
So let’s start with a little list. That is always the best way for me to decide on things when I am stumped!
- Natural birth (in hospital/birthing center/ or home) vs. epidurals: The natural labor process, aka vaginal delivery without medication, has existed since the dawn of time. It is instinctual. Your body, eventually, will get that baby out, whether you fight against it or not. And now that this option is becoming more popular, you may think, “Is this for me??” The question is–are you going to be able to work WITH your body? Do you have resources that will HELP you learn techniques that will guide you along in the process and will help you remain calm and in control? Do you have someone that you trust who will be by your side during birth, who will support your decisions? Do you have someone who will also help advocate for you to hospital staff, if need be? Another question you may want to ask is-do you have any complications that could put you or baby in jeopardy during or after labor? I have a nursing friend who chose a natural home birth for all of her babies, with zero medication, and then when she became a labor and delivery nurse, she said that her eyes were opened to all of the situations that could have happened, and she is so grateful that everything went well. That is not to scare you, but to give you an objective idea that there could potentially be complications, and it is important for you to do all the research you can before jumping into something that could potentially not be great for you or baby. It is good to go to your prenatal appointments, whether they be with a holistic birthing specialist or a medical doctor, and find out how you and baby are doing, and talk with them about what birth options will be best for you. These situations are more rare than not, but they still exist. And to add to that, if you are not able to handle pain very well, and your body is tensed up, sometimes choosing an epidural may be the best option for you. If you are super tensed up, it can also tense up all your muscles down there, and make it hard for your cervix to soften and, consequentially, make labor last longer. Baby will still come out, but if you are fighting it the whole time, it will make the process more difficult. Also know that epidurals do have side effects. You will not have that post-birth oxytocin rush. You will be numb from the waist down (sometimes higher!). You may be nauseous. They may nick your spine with the epidural needle, potentially causing months of numbness. Baby will most likely come out faster because you are so relaxed. Baby may even be less responsive as they emerge. Again, I am not a doctor, and I am sure there are a lot more side effects, so its important for you to do your research. Only you know your body. Just look at all the options, all the side effects, and make a decision that you feel good about.
- Hospital interventions sometimes actually turn the birthing process into a cascade of interventions that otherwise would not have been needed, which can create a more traumatic birth experience. Sometimes, because the hospital intervenes, the birthing person ends up in an unnecessary c-section. Or labor ends up going incredibly long, and that isn’t great either. Granted, this doesn’t happen every day, but knowing the effects that medical interventions can have on the laboring process is really important. Always ask, “is this necessary? How will this help me and the baby? What are the side effects?” Some hospitals are a lot better about allowing labor to progress naturally, without interventions. Some hospitals let you labor however you desire, in whatever position you desire. Other hospitals are very hands-on and don’t let you know about the options you have in decision-making. To me, that would be very traumatic, so I would rather look for a place that I know will support my decisions and approach labor and birth in a more gentle and calm and respectful manner. I like to feel like I am in control of situations, personally, especially with something as major as this!
- Sometimes interventions are absolutely necessary. I photographed a c-section birth just last week where the placenta was really small. Baby’s weight was low, and her activity levels dropped. The hospital was thankfully very patient with the process, giving mom the choice of what to do, and ultimately, mom ended up needing a c-section, despite her desire to give birth vaginally. So she agreed. Baby ended up earthside safely, and mom and baby are now recovering. It wasn’t her first choice, but baby could very well not have made it if she hadn’t allowed for that c-section to happen. Sometimes, things like this just happen, and we have no control over it. And thank goodness for doctors that are kind, educational, and allow you your choices. My own babies were delivered via c-section. They almost did not make it, so I am so very grateful for the c-section that saved their lives! So don’t carry around that guilt like a bag of rocks if you end up in a c-section and didn’t want one. It still counts. You still gave birth like a warrior!
- C-Section by Choice: Again, its completely up to you how you want to birth your baby (usually!). If you don’t want to deal with any part of the labor process, you can always schedule a planned c-section. Mind you, you WILL have several weeks of recovery ahead of you, so look into complications from c-section surgeries as well as post-injuries that may occur (such as clotting/tearing/etc.). Don’t feel guilty if this is the way you want to go! If birth is going to be way too traumatic for you, sometimes this is a great way to meet your baby without potentially having birth trauma attached to that first memory (unless of course, something goes awry in surgery. Always check the potential things that could go wrong! This could happen in ANY birth scenario!)
The bottom line is–do your research. We have the internet now. It is not the 1800’s anymore, so you can be informed. And there are PLENTY of birth workers out there who will be willing to educate you. Don’t be afraid to ask!! And don’t carry guilt for whatever does happen during your birth. <3.
If you are thinking about hiring a birth photographer, feel free to shoot me a message at shaynacoxphotography@gmail.com, or check out my website at www.shaynacoxphotography.com. Thanks for being here!
