Natural Birth confusion

HeatherNBen · May 2012

I've ran into this a lot lately and wanted to ask if anyone has had the same experiance. One of my friends thought that when I said I had a natural birth I meant I had my LO vaginally. When she asked how the epi was it dawned on me she didn't know I had a drug free birth.

Has anyone else had this happen?

theladyjess · May 2012

I haven't had that happen but it's not uncommon. To some people a natural birth is just another way of saying vaginal regardless of whether or not drugs were used.

I usually say that I had delivered naturally without meds or that I had an unmedicated natural birth.

annabelle.27 · May 2012

That's not uncommon. I say "drug-free" if I feel the need to get my point across.

blush64 · May 2012

I wouldn't consider it confusion. She considers a natural birth a vaginal birth. You consider it a vaginal and med-free birth. It's a difference of opinion.

I now refer to a med-free birth as med-free. I don't like to say natural birth because I don't consider having an epidural or some sort of meds to be unnatural. I have had one of each so far. That's just my opinion.

judahsmommy1 · May 2012

I actually prefer the term "med free birth" or "pain med free birth" since there is more than one way to give birth "naturally". I even hesitate to use the term "natural" as opposed to a C-section birth since I have friend that have had necessary (and very disappointing) C-sections that the term "natural" is painful for. I also use the terms vaginal birth and C-section birth.

blush64 · May 2012

judahsmommy1:
I actually prefer the term "med free birth" or "pain med free birth" since there is more than one way to give birth "naturally". I even hesitate to use the term "natural" as opposed to a C-section birth since I have friend that have had necessary (and very disappointing) C-sections that the term "natural" is painful for. I also use the terms vaginal birth and C-section birth.

I like your thinking. We need to support each other.

CTri17 · May 2012

I just say homebirth

then people say wait, no drugs?

jennyann28 · May 2012

I haven't run into that yet, but I have had 4 different pediatricians ask me if DD was born via c-section or "regular"...

pixieprincss · May 2012

"Natural birth" is a term coined by Grantly ***-Read in the early/mid twentieth century. Its "official" usage is what you've described. That said, I do think that it is a phrase that is past its prime. Natural has become a synonym for vaginal. When vaginal births were the default, the natural meant something more clear. Now that the tides are turning with surgical birth vs. vaginal birth, it comes across as someone not wanting to say vagina. Additionally, I do think it is becoming an emotionally loaded term that raises defenses. Personally, I prefer unmedicated birth or low-intervention birth.

pinksweetpea2 · May 2012

CTri17:
I just say homebirth then people say wait, no drugs?

LOL

Nechie122 · May 2012

In some cases, "naturally" is a more delicate and "appropriate" way of saying "vaginally."

And like PPs have pointed out, "natural" is a loaded term anyway.

marrymemylove · May 2012

Why do you need to trumpet it was med free? Why is it something to be proud of?

Natueal birth is vaginal birth. Your friend is right. What you had was no pain meds. Count me out for that.

Glad to see not everyone is buying the natural equals no pain mess. Women have been opting for pain meds since ancient Crete when they chewed leaves that made them hallucinate and not feel pain. Just because we have safe meds in modern times doesn't make the instinct to avoid pain less natural.

Congratulations in your baby. Sorry you had to have pain along the way. I'm so glad I didn't!

stahlop · May 2012

CTri17:
I just say homebirth then people say wait, no drugs?

I say this too? Although some people still ask me if you can get an epi with a homebirth.

martinezbby10 · May 2012

marrymemylove:
Why do you need to trumpet it was med free? Why is it something to be proud of?
Natueal birth is vaginal birth. Your friend is right. What you had was no pain meds. Count me out for that.
Glad to see not everyone is buying the natural equals no pain mess. Women have been opting for pain meds since ancient Crete when they chewed leaves that made them hallucinate and not feel pain. Just because we have safe meds in modern times doesn't make the instinct to avoid pain less natural.
Congratulations in your baby. Sorry you had to have pain along the way. I'm so glad I didn't!

i see your trying to put a point across. Next time do it less, idk, rudely. thanks. and congradulations on your pain free birth!!

martinezbby10 · May 2012

I havent had this happen, i tell everyone who asks im PLANNING a natural med free birth and they look at me like im knuts :]]]

FyreFlyeRush · May 2012

marrymemylove:
Why do you need to trumpet it was med free? Why is it something to be proud of?
Natueal birth is vaginal birth. Your friend is right. What you had was no pain meds. Count me out for that.
Glad to see not everyone is buying the natural equals no pain mess. Women have been opting for pain meds since ancient Crete when they chewed leaves that made them hallucinate and not feel pain. Just because we have safe meds in modern times doesn't make the instinct to avoid pain less natural.
Congratulations in your baby. Sorry you had to have pain along the way. I'm so glad I didn't!

Wow, defensive much? No one rags on you for choosing to get an Epi. Don't rag on us for choosing not to. I'm glad you had a pain free birth and you're so secure in it. But, don't slam us for wanting to experience that high of a natural birth. Don't knock it unless you've tried it.

At PP, for me, natural means as intervention free as possible. I tell people I went au natural and drug free, but I had an episotomy. And, I tell them there's no other feeling like it, and that I'll do everything I can to do it again.

LaurelBee · May 2012

Marryme- we didn't choose the title of this board. If you don't like it, take it up with BumpKathleen, not by putting down our births. Try being more supportive of other women's choices and you won't come off as holier than thou.

brennarobbie · May 2012

blush64:
judahsmommy1:
I actually prefer the term "med free birth" or "pain med free birth" since there is more than one way to give birth "naturally". I even hesitate to use the term "natural" as opposed to a C-section birth since I have friend that have had necessary (and very disappointing) C-sections that the term "natural" is painful for. I also use the terms vaginal birth and C-section birth.

I like your thinking. We need to support each other.

I love everything in this post...I agree...I say I am planning an "intervention-free birth."

As far as a C-section goes, I am scared to death of that and will be devastated if I have to go that route, so it's nice to know that there are ladies out there like you who would be understanding. ) I don't judge anyone else's birth experience or situation.

marrymemylove · May 2012

JMHO but "planning an intervention free birth" sounds like interventions are bad. Interventions have made labor safer and less painful for thousands of years. How about you're having an improvement-free birth? Or unassisted birth? Though that might be confused with freebirthing which has issues of it's own.

My point is you say you respect other's choices but your very language does not. When that done to you you don't like it. so maybe IF you're so respectful and all.. You could find a term that doesn't make an epidural "unnatural" because historically it isn't, women have been taking every reduction of pain and embracing it for at least 3000 years. It's actually the natural choice to do that.

If you want no pain relief good for you I guess but it's not "natural".

Strictly I think unmedicated is accurate ... But then no sneaking in gas or anything either.

FyreFlyeRush · May 2012

Spoken like a true troll. Go troll the single parents board. The women there could always use a good laugh. Beware, we tend to not hold back punches. BTW, there's nothing "natural" about having a catheter in your back. And, it hasn't been happening very long in the scheme of things. But, intervention free as possible means: we aren't pressured to do anything we aren't comfortable with. There isn't a woman here who wouldn't change their birth plan in heart beat if the intervention is used to protect the child and/or mother and not to make child birth convenient.

LaurelBee · May 2012

Interventions can be bad if they are administered unnecessarily. Obviously, they can also be life saving, and I'm very very thankful they are available if I ever need them. Saying I'd like to avoid them unless medically necessary == saying they are bad in every case.

Just bc I choose a different path than you does not mean I judge your choices. I feel like you are justifying your epi to people who really don't care what you do. Again, take it up with BumpKathleen if the term "natural" bothers you so much. But my advice is to stop caring so much about how other mothers describe birthing their babies. If you are truly comfortable with your choice, there isn't a need to justify it.

judahsmommy1 · May 2012

So according to "marryme" the term "natural" isn't acceptable because it indicates that other forms of child birth are not natural (as I stated before I actually kind of agree with her on this one.) The term "med free" isn't necessary because then you're just bragging. Why do you feel the need to flaunt it in everyone's face? The term "intervention free" is not appropriate because it indicates that interventions are bad. I think the only thing she'd be happy with is describing it as, "I screamed my way through labor because I'm stubborn and get off on being in large amounts of pain." Unfortunately, we can't describe it that way because it's completely inaccurate. Sorry marryme, we're a bit stuck. You're either a troll or you've gotta work with us a little!

CoreysGal · May 2012

If I am successful in my plan, I will use the term "med-free". I will also only share this information to people who specifically ask if I had drugs. In the same vein, I never tell anyone that I am planning to go med-free because I just don't even want to risk getting an earful from people like marryme.

Twizzle · May 2012

judahsmommy1:
I actually prefer the term "med free birth" or "pain med free birth" since there is more than one way to give birth "naturally". I even hesitate to use the term "natural" as opposed to a C-section birth since I have friend that have had necessary (and very disappointing) C-sections that the term "natural" is painful for. I also use the terms vaginal birth and C-section birth.

I like this a lot.

HeatherNBen · May 2012

marrymemylove:

Why do you need to trumpet it was med free? Why is it something to be proud of?

Natueal birth is vaginal birth. Your friend is right. What you had was no pain meds. Count me out for that.

Glad to see not everyone is buying the natural equals no pain mess. Women have been opting for pain meds since ancient Crete when they chewed leaves that made them hallucinate and not feel pain. Just because we have safe meds in modern times doesn't make the instinct to avoid pain less natural.

Congratulations in your baby. Sorry you had to have pain along the way. I'm so glad I didn't!

I'm not trying to trumpet going med free. I embraced the pain. I kept in mind that the pain is what was going to bring her to me.

The pain really wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. Transition was hard and the pushing was mostly just pressure.

ateal2490 · May 2012

marrymemylove:
Why do you need to trumpet it was med free? Why is it something to be proud of?
Natueal birth is vaginal birth. Your friend is right. What you had was no pain meds. Count me out for that.
Glad to see not everyone is buying the natural equals no pain mess. Women have been opting for pain meds since ancient Crete when they chewed leaves that made them hallucinate and not feel pain. Just because we have safe meds in modern times doesn't make the instinct to avoid pain less natural.
Congratulations in your baby. Sorry you had to have pain along the way. I'm so glad I didn't!

Trust me, it just is.

If you can understand the quote in my siggy, it carries my reasoning.

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