So you've decided that you would like to have a natural, unmedicated birth. And you would ...
Choose a gynae or healthcare provider that is aligned with your preferences
This is KEY. So often, I meet mothers who hope for a natural birth without epidural, but end up having a cascade of interventions starting with a medicated induction, which causes intense contractions that result in them asking for an epidural, labour stalling, further interventions like breaking their water bag, and perhaps even ending up in a c-section. Or mums who have been chided by their gynae for not taking the epidural “early” and then being pressured to do so.
As a birthing patient, we often turn to our healthcare provider for their professional expertise. But don’t forget, you are a paying customer. You are paying your healthcare team to support you in the birth that you desire.
If you have the desire to have an epidural-free birth, you should not be pressured to do otherwise by your healthcare team. Hence, choosing the right gynaecologist who is supportive of your wishes is the first step.
Have a birth plan
How do you know if your gynae is aligned with your preferences? That is where a birth plan comes in.
A birth plan can be so helpful. Even before making sure that your gynae is aligned with you, it is a great starting point for you to begin thinking about how you want your birth to look like. What choices you have in birth (and trust me, you actually have a lot more say than you probably realise). It is a wonderful conversation starter for you and your partner to explore how you would like to welcome your baby into the world, and to get your partner onboard in advocating for you during the birth.
When you discuss your birth plan with your obgyn, this is when you will be able to suss out whether they are open to your birth preferences.
If you are planning for a natural, unmedicated birth, it is going to be intense. And you will likely not have the mind space to be making decisions during your labour. But you’re your birthing partner is aligned with your wishes, they can be responsible for helping you hold boundaries during the birth. If your gynae has agreed with your birth plan, they will have to sign off on your birth plan, and the rest of the healthcare team will use this as a guide to support you during the birth process.
Do you know what to include in your birth plan? I support clients in writing your birth plan and understanding what are all your options in birth. Reach out to book a consultation or schedule a clarity call to explore how I can support you.
Do not be afraid to change your gynae at the last minute
How early should you discuss your birth plan with your gynae?
You can (and should!) start asking your gynae questions about their thoughts on inductions, how commonly they perform c-sects as early as possible, and that can already give you a sense of how pro-natural they are. But it is usually around 30-34 weeks when baby has turned head down that you can have an effective conversation with your gynae about the birth plan. If your gynae is one who offers packages, it would be good to iron things out with your them before deciding whether to shell out a lump sum.
Even if gynaes profess to be pro-natural in the early weeks and months of your pregnancy, they can potentially show a different side when it comes to signing off on your birth plan. And if your gynae does not seem to be aligned at this point, I would encourage you to consider making a switch. It can feel so intimidating, I know! But it can make a world of a difference switching to a healthcare provider whom you know that you can trust with all of their decisions instead of having to second-guess everything. I’m saying this, because I experienced this personally, and it was not fun having to constantly negotiate with my gynae toward the end of my pregnancy, and even continue to second-guess her decisions in the labour ward.
Again, the bottom line is to choose an obgyn who will support you in having a natural, unmedicated birth.
Prepare your mind and body for birth
Birth can feel hard. But that does not mean that it is impossible to birth without an epidural. You absolutely can!
What is important is to know what you are going into, and that involves preparing your mind and body for it.
Moving your body during pregnancy and in labour can be so helpful. You wouldn’t go into a marathon without doing any training prior to that. Similarly, while you can’t “practice” labour, but you can do exercises to prepare your body because labour is a physical workout in itself! During the birth, moving your body is a wonderful way to manage the intensity of the contractions.
My Holistic Birth Preparation workshop will guide you through preparing your body for birth with exercises that you can take into the delivery ward, optimal birthing positions for a smoother delivery and nourishing your body during labour.
Other than preparing your body, birth is very much a mind-game. Priming your mind for a natural, unmedicated birth is one of the key aspects of enabling this to happen. Many people love to share their birth story, but some can instil fear. Instead, flood your mind with positive birth stories and thoughts, and let go of the others. Understanding the birth process is also essential, so that you know what to expect, rather than feeling like you’re going into the unknown.
My Holistic Birth Preparation workshop will guide you through preparing your mind for birth by walking you through what a natural birth looks like, and preparing your heart to welcome your baby into the world.
Now that you have a better understanding of how to prepare for a natural birth without an epidural, I hope that you feel more excitement about making it happen for yourself! My Holistic Birth Preparation workshop will give you all the tools that you need for a confident, positive birth. Sign up here.
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