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2nd Trimester
The term "natural" birth
Being an English major, I think I sometimes notice the use of language more than the average person would.
That being said, it kind of bothers me how the term "natural birth" is used to describe a vaginal birth vs. a c-section or a birth with meds. Does that make a c-section or any Mom who gets an epidural UNnatural??
I may be alone in this... but it just bothers me a little how often "natural" is used to describe what really could just be called a "vaginal" or "med-free" birth.
Vent over. 
This discussion has been closed.
Re: The term "natural" birth
I think you are nit picking (sp?).
another reason Bump badges are entirely stupid. A fellow 12-24 mom who had a c/s adapted her "I went natural!" badge with a little red stamp that says "un-" before natural. lol
I predict that you will now be flamed to high Heaven for this comment. There are a looooot of c-section moms who will be deeply hurt and offended by this, as they will see these words as adding insult to injury.
This.
Wow - VERY well said. Thanks for this post!
I think c-sections are a fabulous addition to modern science that save millions of lives. But I still agree with the original post's definition of why people use the term natural.
I just, in this case, do not think there is an intent with calling it "natural."
I never before this post imagined some would be offended by it. Thats hard for me to relate, too. I'd prefer not to have a c-section (because of the recovery and such) but I personally don't think i would be offended that those who go a different route call theirs natural. But who knows, maybe if that happens to me I will feel differently.
Plus, the pro abortion exaple is simply wrong. Its not an issue of intent to me, as correctness.
I don't understand how she should be flamed she is saying ONLY to this post the technical term. Not that there is ANYTHING wrong with those other births.
As no one, not even the most vocal pro-choice person, is "pro-abortion."
I think you need to understand the term in its historical context.
Births were heavily medicalized in the early 1900s, so the idea of "natural" childbirth was attempting to re-empower women. Wikipedia has an interesting article:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Natural_childbirth
BIO
I actually wouldn't say I'm offended by the term - it just bothers me a little because of what "natural" implies. (Meaning, anything else is unnatural).
Interesting... I'm going to read this now. Thanks!
Well, I stand by my analogy. I (and possible others) aren't offended by the term "natural birth" per se. I do take offense to those who use the term to imply that their unmedicated, vaginal birth was somehow superior to mine simply because I used drugs and then needed an emergency c-section (and trust me, there are those out there who think that). That is entirely a question of intent behind the use.
Natural just seems an easier way to say "vaginal, medication-free" and it pretty much sums up what it is: a birth without surgical or medical intervention. But just because a situation calls for the aid of meds or the need for surgery doesn't make a birth any less than a vaginal medication-free birth. It simply makes it what it is: a birth that required medical/surgical aid. Not worse or better, just it is what it is.
But I am all for naming things what they truly are, and even if I decided to take every medicine they threw at me before going in for a c-section, I wouldn't be offended at my particular birth no longer being viewed as natural because, hey, it wasn't. But it was MY birth and that means it was the best in the whole wide world.
I'm sorry you've experienced that. I've never heard people act like that, but I don't doubt they are out there. Its shocking how much mothers judge other mothers.
In that case it is about intent. But I don't think MOST people use it that way. Or at least I hope not!
As a pro-choice person, I agree with that. I would be offended to someone who calls me pro-abortion. But there are some who use the label "pro-abortion" to describe one who believes that the abortion option should be available (i.e, a pro-choice person).
oh yeah, there are idiots who do that. But that was my point : its an incorrect label. So the intent is bad but its also flat out wrong.
I agree entirely that judging is not the way to go. As long as the baby comes out healthy, it really doesn't matter to me how he actually got there.
The whole reason I decided to post this is because of the judgey-ness of the women in my prenatal yoga class (and the intent behind their use of this term). Unfortunately, some people do use it in a "superior/judging" way.
Yep, I know plenty of women who have had c-sections, and hey, I may need one myself. Big deal. There is no reason for me or anyone else to be offended by this term. It is what it is. Every birth is special in it's own way, and modern medicine is amazing. It doesn't mean that that term is wrong though. I am chosing, if at all possible to have a medicated birth, so my birth will be "unnatural." It works for me.
ahh see if you had posted it that way, instead of an attack on the word in general, I would have had a completely different reaction! I agree that its ridiculous that some use it that way.
I just remember in the past, when I was on the tri boards last time, there were massive, emotional debates about this topic of unnaturalness. Lots of pearl-clutching on both sides.
Piper, 4/10/10
Connor, 3/16/15
Morgan, EDD 9/22/16
I didn't think I was posting an "attack" on the word with my original post. But maybe that's how it came across. Damn you, English language - with all your complications and misunderstandings and such. haha.
yes, that's why I thought that one poster would get flamed.
agreed.
They also died. Do you suppose that was natural, as well?
You sound like a self-righteous tool.
Um, there have been interventions in birth since well before modern medicine. And women also used to die in very high numbers. Are there sometimes too many interventions? Absolutely. Humans are natural creatures and stuff that humans do can be considered part of this - so some of this is semantics and depends on your definition of natural. But some of it is a fetishization of nature vs. culture. Birth is "naturally" potentially dangerous, painful, and damaging while being amazing, incredible, and empowering. All goes back to our d@mn heads that are too big for our bipedal posture. And once again, cross culturally, there are interventions, taboos, etc everywhere.
Wow. Well, I think the original post identified that this subject is a bit nit picky, but that precision of language is a good thing. I would tend to agree, but while we're being precise, it's not really the term "natural" that people have a problem with in this context. It's the inference of the word "unnatural."
Many people are assuming that it's a negative word that somehow implies that a woman who gives birth in such a way is inferior to a woman who gives birth without meds, etc.
Yes, some people use such words to be snooty about their own views, but in my own experience, I've been pretty neutral about all of it. Yeah, I think in those terms: "natural," "c-section," "medicated," and so on. But I'm still on the fence as to which route to take, and I honestly would rather my child be healthy than make a stink about what precisely the labor looked like. This is probably a very common way of thinking. (In fact, "natural" childbirth has a slightly negative connotation with people such as my parents who think that it's smart to use whatever medical technologies are available.)
So, overall, I'd say that the term "natural," when used specifically to offend, can be insulting, but isn't generally meant to be so. Also, to infer that the term "unnatural" is somehow insulting is being a bit over sensitive. If someone told me that driving a car is "unnatural," I'd say, "You're right! But you know, what? It's a lot more effective and better for my current traveling needs, while some people may have different needs and goals and prefer to walk." Same here, I'd say. Tomato, tomahto, as long as there's a healthy baby at the end, most (sane) people don't really care.
The term doesn't bother me, but the people that look down on women who have anything other than an unmedicated vaginal birth do irritate me. From my perspective, those folks either have been very lucky to have one or haven't given birth. My DD and I would both have died without a c-section--so I tend to think that anyone who gets to have any sort of vaginal birth is lucky (and getting it the way they want is super extra lucky).
I do think it would be better to call c-sections "surgical births" over unnatural, though. Sometimes people imply that c/s moms haven't really given birth, and that is a bit hurtful.