We live in a society where childbirth is connected with pain and fear. You only need to switch on television for the many films and drama's to show you the painful and seemingly impossible task of giving birth! Even in most anti-natal classes you will be informed about all the possible things that can go wrong during your labour. It is one thing being informed, but another all together being made to think that labour is something to be scared off!

There is no need to be scared of giving birth! Your body is made for this task!

Most women have a healthy pregnancy and will be able to have a healthy childbirth.

There are plenty of women out there that have had very enjoyable births. Women that have no fear of giving birth at all. Women that embrace childbirth and would even say straight after delivering their baby 'I would do it again tomorrow!’ Women that have found giving birth to their children one of the most rewarding and exhilarating experiences of their lives!

So... how do you become one of them? What is the secret?

TAKING CONTROL!

It's as simple as that.... Taking control of the situation.

Pregnancy is not an illness. Giving birth is a very natural process. You will not need anyone else to tell you how to give birth. Your body is made for it!

When you go into hospital it is very hard to stay in control. Doctors work with timesheets and averages, which means their focus is on how long certain stages of labour should take. They are, above all, specialised in medical procedures, which is great should you have any complications. However, giving birth has been medicalized to the extent that women receive interventions, medication and even operations which would not always have been necessary if the woman had have been left to her own devices.

That is why it is so important to find out at much as you can about natural childbirth. Even if you decide to use pain relief in hospital later, at least you know what to expect and what the doctors are talking about! Then at least you can have a discussion about your options rather than just being told what the doctor is going to do.

With a home birth discussion is always open because you are not under management of a doctor but the midwives are guests in your home. This creates a different relationship from the beginning. Normally a friendly and understanding relationship. And you will find that the midwife has a great impact on your birth experience, even if you would meet her for the first time during labour!

There are lots of benefits of home birth as you can read on this site. Many women in the home birth stories mention the benefits of giving birth at home and also (unlike many misconceptions) the lack of mess after the birth!

One great thing to consider as well is water birth! More and more women are choosing a water birth. Either to labour in as a pain relief or to actually give birth in a birth pool. It is a great experience and definitely a route worth looking into. Many hospitals do now have birth pools installed in the maternity suites; however, they can never assure you that you will be able to use the pool when the time comes. You are dependent on whether the room is available, the pool is clean and whether there is enough staff to fill the pool up for you. Birth pools are more affordable now as there are more pools on the market. So should you consider a water birth, you might want to consider a home birth too!

See also:

• Benefits home birth
• Is a home birth safe?
• Who can have a home birth?
• How messy is a home birth?
• Home birth stories
• Water birth
• Benefits water birth
• Water birth stories

home birth