Preparing For Natural Childbirth

Despite their intentions, many women don't end up having natural childbirth.

However there are steps that can increase the likelihood of giving birth without the aid of drugs.

It's a topic tackled in this month's "Fit Pregnancy." The magazine's editor-in-chief Peg Moline visits The Saturday Early Show to explain.

In natural childbirth, instead of drugs, the mother uses birthing techniques such as Lamaze, says Moline.

"Many people are under the misconception that any birth that isn't a Caesarian is 'natural.' That is wrong," she says.

According to the American Society of Anesthesiologists, many more women are opting for painkillers rather than having natural childbirth.

"The use of regional analgesia, and that includes epidurals, has tripled from 1981-1997 in larger hospitals and nearly doubled in smaller hospitals from 1992-1997," says Moline. This however, does not mean that women hadn't intended on having natural childbirth, she says.

Moline recommends that pregnant women who desire to have natural childbirth, plan ahead. "You need to make sure your doctor is willing to do this and that the hospital will allow it," she says.

Here are several steps, along with Moline's explanations, that women can take to increase the chances of successful natural childbirth:

Use A Midwife
Recent studies have shown that using a properly trained, licensed midwife rather than an obstetrician can increase your chances of having natural childbirth by as much as 95 percent. Midwives have a predisposition towards natural childbirth. They form a close relationship with the mother and can help ease her anxiety, which may make her less likely to require drugs.

Hire A Doula
A doula is a professionally trained labor coach. She will do all the things a father would hope to do but - for whatever reason - cannot. Many women think of a doula as a paid friend. There are many doula associations in this country. You can find them by going online or checking in your local phone book. Most hospitals do allow doulas, but you need to find this out early. Some hospitals don't like to have non-family members in the birthing room.

Learn Self-Hypnosis
There's been lot in the press lately about using hypnosis to relieve the pain a woman feels while giving birth. It involves using techniques such as breathing and music to create relaxing thoughts.

Do Perineal Massage
The area around the vagina can be massaged in the weeks leading up to birth. This can help stretch the area, which can make delivery quicker and less painful. It should be done for six to eight minutes daily, beginning no earlier than 34 weeks into the pregnancy.

Take A Class
There are several childbirth courses that can help a mother have an unmedicated birth. The best known is the six-week Lamaze course, which focuses on breathing techinques. Lamaze is a shorter course than the Bradley Method, which runs for 12 weeks. It appears as though the Bradley Method may be more successful at getting women to have natural childbirth. This may be because it is more of a time commitment. No matter what class a woman and her partner take, she needs to realize that there is a time commitment and the class schedule has to work for both the mother and father.

If for some reason, the birth of the child ends up not being a natural one, Moline says the mother should not have any sense of failure. "There is a reason there are drugs to deal with the pain. Complications can occur during the childbirth, which make drugs or medical procedures necessary."