Very popular opinion. It's such a bullshit idea, and it's very subjective. You could easily argue that any birth with attendants, any birth with running water, with heat, isn't 'natural' if you wanted to. If you're not giving birth alone, into a trench you dug yourself to bury the afterbirth from predators, it's not how our foremothers did it. That's 'natural' too.
I go both ways. So, I think its overused a lot and people wear it as a point of pride when it shouldn't be. To me, a natural birth is one that happens vaginally, without any intervention whatsoever, including cervical checks and things of that nature. In the US I think the ones that are truly "natural births" are either accidental or risk takers. Have you seen Wanderlust? Okay, yeah that was a "natural birth". I guess what I am saying I view natural births as the ones where the only tool a mother uses is her instinct and so so many people use the term for something else.
DD1- Aug11 Angel Baby- June13, said goodbye Oct12 DD2- Aug13 DD3- due Feb17
I think "natural birth" is any time a woman has a baby. My reasoning for this is because of all the people who keep asking me if I'm going to try "natural" birth or if my doc will think I need a C-Section. For example, MIL keeps asking "Do you think you'll have a natural birth or C-Section?"..making it sound like those are the only two options. Also, making it sound a section is "unnatural" in some way. Call me a SS, but I prefer the terms vaginal and c-section. Both of which I think are natural.
I think "natural birth" is any time a woman has a baby. My reasoning for this is because of all the people who keep asking me if I'm going to try "natural" birth or if my doc will think I need a C-Section. For example, MIL keeps asking "Do you think you'll have a natural birth or C-Section?"..making it sound like those are the only two options. Also, making it sound a section is "unnatural" in some way. Call me a SS, but I prefer the terms vaginal and c-section. Both of which I think are natural.
I completely agree with both the bolded. I've heard people argue for the terms "vaginal birth" and "cesarean birth" to highlight the fact they are, indeed, both births.
I think "natural birth" is any time a woman has a baby. My reasoning for this is because of all the people who keep asking me if I'm going to try "natural" birth or if my doc will think I need a C-Section. For example, MIL keeps asking "Do you think you'll have a natural birth or C-Section?"..making it sound like those are the only two options. Also, making it sound a section is "unnatural" in some way. Call me a SS, but I prefer the terms vaginal and c-section. Both of which I think are natural.
I completely agree with both the bolded. I've heard people argue for the terms "vaginal birth" and "cesarean birth" to highlight the fact they are, indeed, both births.
As a doula this is what my vernacular consists of. I don't use the term "natural birth" evah for the reasons I talked about above. I also use med-free birth with my clients because that is something they may want to aim for.
DD1- Aug11 Angel Baby- June13, said goodbye Oct12 DD2- Aug13 DD3- due Feb17
I also don't like the term natural birth, especially when people use it for drug free birth. But, I think it makes sense that not everyone is comfortable using the word vagina when they are talking to a pregnant woman. So natural gets substituted instead.
Married - 7/29/06 Ben and Maggie - 4/10/09 Mia - 6/16/11 Surprise! due 2/23/17
I would imagine that back in the caveman days, women probably used whatever they could get their hands on to dull the pain of childbirth. It's not like pain management is a new concept. So I guess my point is that calling med free "natural" is probably a crock of shit.
I also don't like the term natural birth, especially when people use it for drug free birth. But, I think it makes sense that not everyone is comfortable using the word vagina when they are talking to a pregnant woman. So natural gets substituted instead.
I think my response to these people would be that if we're not close enough for you to be talking about my vagina, we're not close enough for you to be asking me about my birth plan. Recent but very intense pet peeve of mine, especially since my answer became "no effing clue" earlier this week.
I try not to get hung up on terms like natural or vaginal. For me birth is birth but I guess it has to be described *somehow.*
I still have a lot to learn on proper terminology in other ways- like EBF to me means someone feeds on demand without pumping/supplementing. But I'm gathering it also means "exclusively breastmilk fed" no matter if it's fresh or frozen. I think my point is I'll use terms without realizing it may be aggravating or judgmental towards someone else. I've also used the term "natural" birth to describe med free, not realizing that could insult or demean someone's birth experience. I guess I've never judged *how* someone births their baby so it never occurred to me to choose my words more wisely.
Hell at 39w now they could cut this baby out of my backside and I'd still be beaming and proud as all get out so maybe I'm not the one to ask
I also don't like the term natural birth, especially when people use it for drug free birth. But, I think it makes sense that not everyone is comfortable using the word vagina when they are talking to a pregnant woman. So natural gets substituted instead.
I think my response to these people would be that if we're not close enough for you to be talking about my vagina, we're not close enough for you to be asking me about my birth plan. Recent but very intense pet peeve of mine, especially since my answer became "no effing clue" earlier this week.
Soooooooo much this. Why yes, elderly gentleman I have a passing acquaintance with at my yoga studio, I do feel like discussing the future state of my vag with you. We certainly do know each other well enough to be having this conversation. Remind me of your last name again?
I don't like the term natural birth either, I prefer to say unmedicated because really what is unnatural birth? My coworker spouts how she had a natural birth and recently she told me that she had pitocin, nitrous, and some other kind of narcotic so she was basically referring to a natural birth as one without an epidural. Have whatever birth you want, medicated or unmedicated but don't make out like you're superior for having an unmedicated birth when you really did have a bunch of interventions.
To @yogadevil's point, when I was being monitored on Wednesday they randomly asked me if I was planning to breast or bottle feed baby. I was really perplexed because I can still give my baby breast milk in a bottle...so I didn't really know how to answer.
To @yogadevil's point, when I was being monitored on Wednesday they randomly asked me if I was planning to breast or bottle feed baby. I was really perplexed because I can still give my baby breast milk in a bottle...so I didn't really know how to answer.
I learned that when they ask that, to just say breast feed... (if you plan on giving your breast milk by boob or bottle) they are asking so they know weather or not to give your baby formula while in for testing or just in the nursery in general. And drs are curious so they also know if you plan on boob milk or formula. With my son I tried to explain I was pumping, then giving a bottle and they said "ok then the answer is breast."
@Patience7150 yeah that would seem so weird and I wouldn't know how to respond either. My DD got breast milk in a bottle until we got the go-ahead to try feeding off the breast from her doctor. Also, many moms who return to work give their babies breast milk from a bottle...I guess it was poor wording on their part?
Re: UO (1/19)
Call me a SS, but I prefer the terms vaginal and c-section. Both of which I think are natural.
Ben and Maggie - 4/10/09
Mia - 6/16/11
Surprise! due 2/23/17
So I guess my point is that calling med free "natural" is probably a crock of shit.
I still have a lot to learn on proper terminology in other ways- like EBF to me means someone feeds on demand without pumping/supplementing. But I'm gathering it also means "exclusively breastmilk fed" no matter if it's fresh or frozen. I think my point is I'll use terms without realizing it may be aggravating or judgmental towards someone else. I've also used the term "natural" birth to describe med free, not realizing that could insult or demean someone's birth experience. I guess I've never judged *how* someone births their baby so it never occurred to me to choose my words more wisely.
Hell at 39w now they could cut this baby out of my backside and I'd still be beaming and proud as all get out so maybe I'm not the one to ask