Are there benefits to a natural birth? Do hospitals support it?

[masterkungpowchicken]

No benefits medically to a natural birth? What the hell? She is an effing labor and delivery nurse and she can't think of one single benefit to a natural birth? How about no epidural side effects? How about better recovery time? How about the mother has more control over her positions and what she feels is best for her and the baby right at that moment? That's a pretty damn big benefit if you ask me.

[beth]

When I had my daughter I used a midwife instead of an OB. I delivered in the hospital with my midwife team in attendance and a nurse who was assigned to assist in whatever they needed. This nurse I’m guessing was in her 40s. After my daughter was born, she told me that she very rarely sees completely natural births. She said she can go days and sometimes weeks without having a patient even attempt a natural birth. That blew my mind! So I can understand why the nurse in this video had more to say about medicated births than natural. She probably doesn’t assist in natural births near as often. (And she does seem rather ignorant to the fact that there ARE other benefits of natural deliveries... it isn’t just about bragging rights🙄)
Also, since I delivered in the hospital I knew the epidural would be available to me if I needed it, but I had in my birth plan that nobody would offer or even mention an epidural. If I needed it, I would ask for it. I wanted everyone around me to be encouraging and to keep reminding me that I could do it. Well, my midwives had to remind this nurse of my request multiple times. She kept telling me that if I needed an epidural there was no shame in getting it. I wasn’t even in that much pain!!! I stayed calm, knew how to handle the pain, and my baby remained stable the whole time. In fact, the only noise I made my entire labor was at the very end when the baby was actually coming out! And this dang nurse STILL kept insisting that I consider an epidural. Omg I wanted to punch her!
So to people who say medical professionals can’t possibly be biased one way or another - they absolutely can be. Some doctors and nurses are trained to treat pregnancy and birth as a medical disability, and do so even when there is actually no real reason for interventions. Women’s bodies were MADE for birth. In general, our bodies know what to do. Of course sometimes things go wrong and modern medicine comes to rescue. I would never want to live in a world where c-sections and other life-saving practices didn’t exist. But I really dislike the idea that so many doctors and nurses have nowadays that the only way mom and baby can be kept safe is by intervening preemptively in the natural process.

[thefrontierfamily]

Natural birth has a lot more benefits than mentioned here. Quicker recovery, better apgar scores for baby, better breastfeeding rates, no epidural side effects, ect. Definitely do your own research and look beyond medical staff advice, they can be very one sided.

[Irff]

There are MANY medical reasons to opt for a natural birth. Very one sided video.

[ThikkyMinaj]

for people like myself- im unable to have a natural birth without an epidural. i have chronic heart failure, (and other chronic illnesses that stem from having cancer)and my heart is too weak to endure contractions, i could go into cardiac arrest. so my high risk OB said i will need to get the epidural immediately after labor begins. i still dont believe im being robbed of anything. i still get to have the same amazing vaginal birth experience, just pain free so i can enjoy it even more. with my firstborn i had an epidural too, and it didnt slow my labor at all. fast, easy, pain free, no side effects afterward. also, for the MILLIONS of moms who have the epidural, or other pain medicine during labor (including cesarean) does not mean you are weaker than moms that go natural. we all gave life to humans, whether you decide to endure the pain of labor or not. it makes no difference. and in a lot of cases, (like mine) its best to get the epidural. in my case it literally comes down to life or death.

[Edbeatty]

This nurse is very well spoken. However, after watching a lot of these videos you can tell she is biased toward medical intervention- saying no benefit for natural delivery, no way to prevent tears, there's nothing that you can do speed things up, but Drs & nurses will do whatever we think is best to you. 🤔

[shellyszigli]

"The Shera Effect", lol that was funny. I've had 5 deliveries 2 with medication and 3 without. What's the difference? Feeling alive & powerful after the birth. Having a ton of energy and excitement to look after a new baby, that did not exist with my medicated births. Remember nurses and doctors much prefer working with women who choose to medicate as they are easier to manage, This lovely lady does a great job in this video dancing around the topic to attempt to be pleasing to everyone, but her Shera Effect comment displays clearly her personal bias.

[SomethingLikeSylviah]

I suggest first time parents (or if you're like myself-who was robbed of my first experience) I highly recommend Doug your own research. There are great articles out there & documentaries (the business of being born on Netflix is GREAT for understanding the actual dynamics of birthing).

[noneofyourbeezwax]

Love your videos but rather disappointed with how this issue was addressed. I do not agree that there are “no medical benefits”/only emotional benefits. There is plenty of scientific evidence for exactly the medical and physical benefits of unmedicated, vaginal birth. While I understand you’re probably trying to stay neutral and say there is no right or wrong way to birth (and I agree) it simply feels like you did not actually research the topic as there is plenty of scientific information out there for both sides (pros and cons) that I feel like should have been addressed here.
I was also very disappointed to hear you say “bragging rights”. This is a very patronizing stereotype that a lot of medical professionals use against woman choosing a non-standard birth. Trust me. Women do not actually bring this kind of thing up at cocktail parties. Sure it can feel like a huge personal achievement, but everyone natural mama I know researched and chose her way because of the benefit to the baby. Not for bragging rights. No body does that as it’s simply rude and cruel to woman who either chose a different way or maybe didn’t even have the option of a vaginal birth.
I respect your attempt to be neutral and PC, but people come to your videos as an educational resource and I feel like you simply skimmed over the reality of so many factors which woman should consider when choosing “natural” vs “unnatural.”

[Carolineintoodeep]

This I weary one side and basically is an commercial to get a epidural

[lyndseybutler]

It angers me how bias this nurse is against natural birth, water births, not tearing, breast feeding, etc. I don't have any children and Im not pregnant but i do wanna do everything possible to have a natural birth when the time comes, and seeing nurses that don't strive for natural or even know the benefits upsets me and is just disappointing. I also understand nothing goes as planned but as a nurse you should strive for natural and turn to other options when situations occur. She talks more about epidurals in this video than natural and this video is supposed to be all about natural births.

[kassandramaraclexoxo]

In the hospital where I live if you become to loud moaning from pain during contractions they will basically force you to have an epidural because " you are scaring other patients " Birth plans you fill out are seldom fallowed by the staff they prefer you to lay down so you are easier to keep track of .. Meanwhile walking and being able to move around is the best thing to move labour along..

[medhabiray]

It is such an informative video about the truth. I can't believe so many viewers are saying that she is one-sided. Lots of people have misconception that "natural is best". However the correct statement is natural is best only when everything is going completely normal with the birthing process. I myself had a natural birth, but I know people personally whose baby ended up in NICU because of their obsession of having a natural birth against their doctor's advice. Things wouldn't have gotten that bad if only they had listened to their doctors. There is too much emphasis on the birthing experience, however what is really important is having a healthy newborn, no matter how he/she enters the world. Besides, it is totally possible to have a natural delivery in the hospital under the vigilance of nurses and doctors. That should be much more preferable to laboring at home without any monitors and then running to emergency c-section in case things go wrong!!

[Distractiononly]

To any woman watching, don't feel bad if you need an epidural during YOUR labor. Don't let the narrative that natural is always better freak you out from making sure you and your baby have the best experience and outcome possible. There will be pros and cons to any decision but you have to make the one that fits your particular situation, your body, your baby's position and movement. All births are not alike and all labors don't follow a predictable pattern. Listen to your medical advice and make your decisions based on information.
Natural births can enhance your autonomy but if you aren't prepared for one or if circumstances make your labor more difficult or long, medication is better that putting yourself or your baby in distress. Best thing you can do is have an open mind and be flexible. Know your options and what those options mean for your baby and yourself. Don't get all your information from the internet either. Research is fine but ask professionals and your obgyn. They can better speak to your care and answer questions.

[melissab]

Just claimed my bragging rights with my natural childbirth. Worth every second!

[oliviazwetow]

I think it's funny that videos done by medical professionals always lean towards epidurals, but videos made by real mothers lean towards natural birth 🤔
Maybe it's because they get financial gain from women who opt for an epidural. 🤔

[alanakinsella]

To say she is a nurse she is meant to know what benefits come with a natural birth but she doesn't have a clue she knows more about the pros and cons to epidural haha, I believe there are more cons than pros to getting an epidural, its funny how she knows more about an epidural than doing it the way it was meant to be done (NATURALY). For thousands of years people have went natural, before epidural was ever invented and there are so many risks to getting an epidural yeah it might help with pain relief but the amount of side effects to getting it is very scary, but I think natural is the best choice for me because your body it made to push a baby out.

[MYCANALFRANCE]

I ain't pregnant yet but now that i know more about it, when i get pregnant I am sure i will opt no epidural.
Thanks :)

[charlzwill]

How did i know this video would be bias. I guess they cant help it due to their profession. My husband friend is a nurse and when i mentioned a tiny bit of my natural birth experience and that i intend to do the same second time around i could feel the judgement. At the end of the day mothers can choose whatever they want whether medicated or not. But dont be bias man. They are so many benefits to birthing naturally!! Now am in US and the professions seem to be fixed on taking drugs and all about the money i have to be very strong in my opinion in UK they are not like this. I guess for obvious reasons we dont need all this insurance crap and staff are not dictated by the

[arhonlove]

All of IntermountainMoms videos are one sided. She makes a video that supposed to be about one thing and then spends the entire time bashing it.. It seems as though anything progressive or natural this nurse is against. I would be very uncomfortable if she was my nurse in labor and delivery. And what may I ask did this video have to do with c-section. She's just bringing down your hopes and dreams. I would think that a trained medical professional would know more about the benefits of a natural labor... I watched her video about water birth and was pissed.. -_-