Benefits of Vaginal Birth

While being pregnant is something most women dream of, the idea of going into labor may scare you. It’s even truer if you’re a first time mom. From scenes on television and movies to stories from other mothers, the idea of being in excruciating pain for who knows how long can seem like a nightmare come true. Despite what you've heard, one of the best things that you can do for your body and for your baby is a vaginal birth. Natural vaginal births have extreme benefits for everyone involved and also make for a beautiful birthing experience.

• Vaginal births (non-induced) happen when your body is ready. This is one of the gentlest ways to bring your baby into the world. Letting your body work at its own pace is beneficial for you and the baby and there’s less chance of fetal distress. Letting labor happen in its own timing also lets you know (in most cases) that your baby is fully developed and can safely be bought into the world. 
• As your baby is being delivered, he or she passes through your birth canal. As your birth canal applies pressure, the amniotic fluid is removed from your baby’s lungs. This decreases the chances of your baby being born with respiratory complications. 
• Babies who pass through the birthing canal are also protected by bacteria they ingest! The bacteria moves to their intestines and helps to create a healthy immune system. Having a healthy immune system is important from birth and throughout adulthood :) 
• Mothers who deliver their children vaginally are also known to have much faster deliveries than those who don’t. When having a C-section the recovery time is a bit longer and recovery time is also much more difficult. After successful vaginal birth you’re able to move around quickly and get back to a healthy state. Shorter recovery times means that both you and baby can go home and get used to being in your own space. 
• Vaginal births produce fewer risks for getting scarred during labor. C-sections leave scars from the incision on the stomach. However, vaginal births leave no scaring unless there is tearing which is repaired with a few small stitches. 
• While complications can happen in any birthing experience, studies have shown that mothers who have C-section have higher mortality rates from those who don’t. Vaginal births also mean less interference from medical staff. 

By staying healthy and informed about your pregnancy you can increase your chances of being able to have a successful vaginal birth. For those looking to deliver naturally consider taking a natural birthing class to learn your options for pain management. The more natural your laboring process is, the better it is all around for mom and baby.

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Letting Go of Fears About Natural Birth

The child birthing experience is supposed to be beautiful and rewarding, but many women begin to dread the pain of labor and delivery as they get further along in their pregnancy. If you’ve never experienced childbirth before all of your experiences of what it will be like comes from stories you’ve heard, shows you’ve watched, or your imagination. Either way, your fears could very well drive you away from what is supposed to be a treasured event. Educate yourself and become active in the planning of the delivery of your baby as a means to overcome the fear. Below are a few tools to help you face your fears head on.

Education

Fear of the unknown can paralyze you if you let it. While no doctor or medical professional can determine to the minute how your delivery will turn out, there are people who can give you a better idea than what you already have. Take classes on natural child birth so that you can learn about the process for yourself. There are plenty of books that you can read in your spare time. Read information on birthing process before, during, and after the baby comes so that you are ready. Educating yourself on ways to get through the pain is also very important to minimizing your fear.

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< Research Successful Births

There are a lot of blogs and forums today that focus on pregnancy and labor. You should consider joining a few so that you can get tips and advice on how to have a successful and natural pregnancy. You should review stories on pregnancies that were successful to give your mind a rest. By reviewing some positive experiences you can balance out the negativity that is on your mind about labor. This will help to prepare you for delivery day.

Create a Birthing Plan

Sometimes knowing that you have a plan in mind can help you get through the fears you have for giving birth. Start making a birthing plan so that you can ease the anxiety. Make sure you have a doctor that is supportive of natural birth, consider who will be in the room with you aside from your partner, and even talk with your partner about your fears. Having people around you that understand your fears and know about the labor process will make things much easier for you to get through.

Use Visuals

Another great way to conquer your fear of giving birth is to have visuals. If you have pictures of your ultrasound be sure to bring those with you. Consider having your baby’s first outfit laid out somewhere next to you. Anything that keeps you in a positive mood should be brought with you to calm your fears. Sometimes knowing what the end game is will help you to push through your fears.

The more involved you are with the process of labor the more you will see a boost in your confidence to deliver a healthy baby. Face your fears head on through preparation and education for the best results. If you are still having fears, talking these over with your midwife or doctor might be best as they may be able to give you some more specific advice as it pertains to the success of your pregnancy and delivery.
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