Consumer Reports: Natural Childbirth May Be Better

A new report by the nonprofit Childbirth Connection published today on ConsumerReports.org says when it's time to bring a new baby into the world, there's a lot to be said for letting nature take the lead.

The Childbirth Connection study analyzed hundreds of the most recent studies and systematic reviews of maternity care. It notes that the current style of maternity care is so procedure-intensive that six of the 15 most common hospital procedures in the entire U.S. are related to childbirth. Although most childbearing women in this country are healthy and at low risk for childbirth complications, national surveys reveal that essentially all women who give birth in U.S. hospitals have high rates of complex interventions, with risks of adverse effects.

You can also take a quiz to test your knowledge about procedures in hospital maternity wards.

It's kind of amazing that a mainstream and respected organization like Consumer Reports has gotten behind natural childbirth. This must signal a shift in our society's ideas.

I think natural childbirth and breastfeeding whenever possible contribute to the development of a strong bond between mother and baby, thereby helping to ensure good development of the baby's own oxytocin response.

Comments

[evil cake lady]

Recommending a non-intervention birth for expectant parents (especially first-time parents) isn't enough to actually help them do it. Parents who want to try to have such a birth need to be properly prepared for what a non-medicated birth could look like. They need to understand the wide range of possibilities a "normal" birth could be. They need to be comfortable with the enormous intensity a non-medicated birth usually looks like. They need to be able to feel comfortable understanding all their choices around all the possible interventions their providers may want to do, regardless if they are at home, in a birth center, or especially at a hospital. Most mothers and their partners need a lot more support to get through a natural birth. Its not enough to say that a woman's body knows what to do and she just needs to listen to it. Its not enough to read reports that say, "do it naturally!" It is a wonderful beginning, but it is only just that.

Sorry. A little rant there. I am glad that the research is finally going mainstream. But most first time parents are dreadfully unprepared to face the intensity and pain that a natural labor can be, and all those delicious interventions are just outside the door.

[Susan Kuchinskas]

Well said, and it certainly needed to be said. I hope the Consumer Reports article will encourage people to take that first step.

[Delaine Moore]

In keeping with your posting, I would like to mention a birthing video that came out about two years ago that covers topics like this - it's called Birth As We Know It. It is the most beautiful and empowering and informative birthing video I've ever come across. I wish I'd seen it when I was pregnant with my three kids, but I gave birth before its release.

That being said, I had an all natural home birth after one high-forceps birth AND one C-section. And the day I gave birth to my sleeping daughter at home, I felt my Mother Soul ROAR in my bones, a power I carry with me to this day!

[Susan Kuchinskas]

Thanks for the shout-out on Birth As We Know It. I've seen it, and it was a life-changing experience. I wish everyone could see it.

I love the image of you giving birth to a sleeping baby. Instead of a screaming one. What a wonderful way to enter the world.

I wrote about the film here: http://www.hugthemonkey.com/2006/09/birth_camp_by_t.html