Natural Childbirth Philosophy

Within this site you will find information, assistance and solutions to many of your childbirth questions. The information is presented in a way to help you prepare for a natural childbirth, knowing most women have access to pain medications if they decide they need them during labor. While the childbirth knowledge contained covers a wide range of topics, they are all explored from the seven points of the Birthing Naturally Childbirth Philosophy.

Pregnancy is normal and healthy for the female body. A woman's health will be affected by her nutrition, activity level and the amount of stress in her daily life.

• Learn how what you eat affects your health in the pregnancy nutrition section.

• Find out how pregnancy exercise can help you feel good and stay comfortable.

• Investigate the process of pregnancy and learn ways to adjust to the many pregnancy symptoms in the Monthly Guide to Pregnancy and the Trimester Spotlights.

• Join the campaign to remember to kegel every day.

Most of the work you need to do to have a natural childbirth is done before labor ever begins. By removing the fears, concerns and worries you have about labor, becoming and mother and other areas of your life, you will more effectively handle the process of labor.

• Learn about the reasons women try for natural childbirth, the myths and the facts, and why you might want to learn natural childbirth techniques, even if you think you want medication as you determine if natural childbirth is for you.

• Examine the options you have for childbirth and how to discuss them with your caregivers in the birth planning section.

• Discover the sources of pain in childbirth and the theories of pain management.

• Explore your strengths and weaknesses to determine what you need to get through labor while you work through emotional preparation for childbirth.

You do not get to pick the circumstances around your labor and childbirth. You only get to pick how you will react to them.

• Study the process of a normal labor.

• Practice comfort techniques and learn positions for labor in the Coach's Notebook.

• Familiarize yourself with the signs of starting labor.

The female body was designed to give birth. A healthy woman should have only about a 5% chance of a complication during the childbirth process.

• Review the research on common childbirth interventions through Robbie Davis-Floyd's Birth Messages.

• Understand the common childbirth challenges and the variety of ways you can work around them.

• Consider the option of homebirth.

The amount of discomfort you feel, and the extent to which labor is painful is dependent on several factors. Some factors you can control, some you can influences, and others are unchangeable.

• Tackle the sources of pain in childbirth so you can make any necessary changes now.

• Familiarize yourself with ways to judge progress in childbirth.

• Practice comfort measures and positions and gather your tools for labor in the Coach's Notebook.

Every woman is a unique individual. By understanding the way you were created you have a better chance of working successfully with your body during labor.

• Write the perfect birth plan for you after reviewing the options available.

• Play with the virtual labor to find out what you like and don't like as options.

• Imagine your ideal childbirth to help you figure out what you would like for childbirth.

A woman's faith and beliefs are a major part of her identity and how she reacts to every day situations. All belief systems are not the same, and a woman's beliefs should not be excluded from her labor.

• Find a childbirth educator, doula or midwife who understands your beliefs in the Natural Childbirth Directory.

• Christian women can find information written from a Biblical Perspective in the Christian Childbirth section.

You May Also Be Interested In: Learn about epidurals so you can make an informed decision. Explore the list of Recommended Childbirth Books and other products. Find out about childbirth in other cultures and explore how culture changes your perceptions of pregnancy and childbirth. Find out ways to keep a pregnancy journal. Assess your pregnancy weight gain to see if it is healthy.

© Copyright 2000-2008 Jennifer VanderLaan and Birthing Naturally

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