Preparing for a Natural Birth

There is really no way to make childbirth painless. Many women throughout history have had painless births, but there is no way to guarantee a birth without pain. Even with today's technology, birth comes with pain most of the time. Epidurals can make the pain more comfortable, but they don't always work and do come with risks. The best thing to do is hope for the best and learn methods of controlling and coping with your pain. There are many natural ways to lessen pain. Being prepared can help you deal gracefully with whatever you experience during your birth.

When preparing for a natural birth, the first thing you need to do is begin reading. You should read anything you can about birth. In the beginning you'll want to educate yourself about the physiology of labor, complications that occur, and common hospital interventions and their risks. As you move closer to your due date, you should focus more on the positive aspects of birth. Read birth stories, and read books about natural birth to learn what to expect and how to cope with whatever comes your way. You should read a little everyday throughout your pregnancy.

Connect with a support group of friends who are educated about birth and who have experienced natural childbirth. They can teach you so much. Learn from them, and lean on them. They can tell you what to expect and give you pointers on dealing with labor. There are many forums on the internet dedicated to natural childbirth.

Surround yourself with positive messages about birth. Try to avoid people who are skeptical of your plans or who criticize your choice. Don't let people discourage you or tell you birth horror stories. Try to avoid seeing birth in a negative light. If you expect it to be terrible, it will be.

Think about what you want your birth to be like. Make a birth plan, detailing what you'd like to be able to do in labor and in what situations you might accept pain relief or intervention. Gather whatever supplies you may like to have handy: music, lotion, a birthing ball, etc. Talk to your provider about natural pain relief methods and your plan to avoid pain medication.