For some reason it bugs me when people say natural birth when they are talking about an unmedicated birth. Am I wrong to think or the only one that thinks that you can have pain meds and that the birthing process is still natural? Back in the day I'm sure at least some women took or used other types of pain relief techniques and I doubt it was considered any less natural.
I'm a ftm leaning towards an unmedicated birth but will play it by ear, for what it's worth.
Re: UO natural vs unmedicated
But yes, that term just rubs me the wrong way too when talking about med free.
yep. this.
This exactly. Since medication isn't "natural", it's not a natural birth. It's not a bash on those who choose medicated births, it just isn't natural. There are pain relief things out there that are natural and have no medicinal ingredients in them or methods of coping with pain that are still natural.
Agreed.
I don't know why anyone would be offended by calling it what it is. If someone had a csection, like the PP, it does not mean her labor isn't valid, it just was not natural. It's like arguing with someone that skim milk is the same as whole milk. Both are milk, yes, but they are certainly not the same.
This exactly!
I get where you are coming from. I find it interesting (but not hurtful) that natural has become equated with unmedicated. There isn't anything inherently natural about being in a hospital, IVs, fetal monitors, and a lot of other modern birth procedures, but somehow you can avail yourself of all of those things and still have a "natural" birth. The line seems to be drawn at medication. Would it be different if it were a drug found in nature? Can I get high and have a natural birth?
Like I said, this isn't anything I find hurtful and I don't think (most) people mean it in a pejorative way, but it is intriguing to me.
that totally makes sense, but I feel like because I've only had a med-free delivery I don't know what it's like to be on the other side, so it's not my place to tell someone else that her birth wasn't natural. It's all semantics, so I just try to ere on the side of caution. I certainly don't want to offend anyone or make them feel like their birth experience was any less just with my choice of words.
I couldn't care less about the terms and I certainly don't go around censoring what I say or worrying about how other people refer to it.
I do, however, think this is the best idea ever maybe.
Yes, I have a blog and it's hilarious (except when it's not)
I highly doubt I'll go with an epi, but if this were an actual option? Hmmmm...
All I can think about is having a severe case of munchies between contractions. My poor DH would be inundated with demands, lol.
There are TONS of "meds" in nature. Care to reword that last statement?
Have you used a Doppler to hear the heart beat? Is that found in nature? Have you had an ultrasound? I haven't come across a ultrasound machine during my canoe trips recently. Meds however are found everywhere in nature. Think penicillin. It's was found in mold on bread. Think aspirin which is derived from Willow trees.
Also I should specify that I'm not offended by the senantics it just rubs me the wrong way. The general impression in modern age is that natural is better than unnatural. I just don't love the implication.
Jamie
Love this! Auroraloo, I'm with you.
For me, natural birth is one that's unmedicated and without interventions.
For example, either you're relying on the hormones produced naturally by your own body, or your labour is progressed by use of synthetic hormones that mimic the natural ones produced by your body. One chemical is naturally produced by you, the other is introduced from an outside source.
I think if someone gets into a huff about having her medicated birth dubbed "unnatural" it's probably because the person saying it was being an a$$. There are plenty of high and mighty ladies out there who look down on medicated birth experiences, interventions and cesarians as less than ideal, less than natural, and less than 'best for baby and mum'. Yes, it's definitely something to be proud of if you managed to birth without drugs or interventions, but you're no better than a mum who needed to make a different decision for herself or her child/ren.
So I suppose I don't mind the terms "natural" birth, but I don't like it when it's used to put down someone who chose to birth another way.
In my mind, natural is the same as med free, plain "vaginal" is medicated, and c section is CS.
Auroraloo, you are two for two!!!
Jamie
I agree with auroraloo's reasoning. That being said, I'm having an epi and perhaps a c section since I'm carrying twins and I don't really care about the semantics or terminology of it. It doesn't offend me at all.
That being said, I do get annoyed when ppl ask me if my twins are natural. That I find truly ignorant, so i imagine that's what others feel like who take offense at the natural birth comments.
I have you both in this so you both see I am addressing you. No, I don't feel the need to revoke my last statement. I think you both are aware that I am also aware that there are medicines found in nature. However, those were NOT the medications that were being discussed, and even if they were, it still would NOT be natural to use them. It has nothing to do with whether the medications are derived from nature or a lab. Natural birth, if you really want me to spell it out in my opinion, is not having any interventions at all but listening to your body and going with it. So for you ladies fond of the herb, sorry but it wouldn't cut it in my book. But maybe I will let it slip if my midwife were to allow it!!!
Sheesh
Yes, I have a blog and it's hilarious (except when it's not)
I tend to use the word unmedicated/med free on here as well, since I've seen people get up in arms about it.
I honestly think it's just semantics. If I use the words natural birth, I'm not saying it to denigrate other birth experiences. The term natural birth has long been accepted as meaning vaginal birth without pain medication, at least from my understanding.
Regardless, I honestly think people get their panties into a twist over something that isn't really meant to offend. I know there are people who sit up on their high horse about going med free, but I honestly don't think that just using the words "natural birth" is offensive in some way.
I understand being upset if someone got a look on their face. If someone told me they had a c-section, I'd feel for them because I'd be concerned that their birth experience was traumatic in some way. That being said, I don't see any forms of birth as "less" than any other kind. We all do what we have to do to bring our children into this world, and I don't fault any woman for the way it turns out for her.
Yes! This did get interesting. Thanks for everyone's input. For the record, I'm not offended by the term, I just think it's inaccurate and the connotation bugs mr. Also, since people have brought up my panties, just thought I would let you know that they are currently not knotted. In fact they are a cute pink leopard print, and on correctly, not even inside out, if you really want to know! ::: mobile smiley:::
I do not call my first a natural delivery , because she was vacuum delivered. However, I call my second a medicated natural delivery :even though the epi fell out and technically by the end I was unmedicated:
For me both a medicated birth and a non medicated birth are both natural. You pushed the baby out of your vagina in the end.
Its a long the same lines as exclusively breastfeeding vs exclusively pumping. You are still giving the baby breast milk therefore still breastfeeding.
She's always gone around with her nose held high claiming she had an all natural med free birth, and always tried to make me feel bad for having epidurals. Come to find out, during labor she got stadol, and before she pushed, the dr numbed her entire arse so she didn't feel anything. There's nothing natural about that.
Out of curiosity, is there any conversation that does not annoy you aurora?
Out of curiosity, is there any conversation that does not annoy you aurora?
Lol!!! This is awesome!!! Thanks for sharing JB!