Benefits of Natural Child Birth

Natural childbirth or un-medicated birth, has many health benefits for both the mother and the baby. Sometimes, labour could be complicated and women may need to resort to alternate methods for delivery but if possible, women should opt for natural childbirth.

Let’s look at the tremendous health benefits of natural childbirth.

• SHORTER LABOR

Total labour period increases if you take epidurals and other pain relieving medications.  They also slow down contractions and interfere with the body’s natural way of labouring.

• FACILITATES BREASTFEEDING

Pain medication received during caesarean is passed on to the baby as well and can interfere with their suckling behaviour. A natural childbirth allows the babies to be more alert and show greater interest in breastfeeding. Also, mothers who are administered anaesthesia to facilitate labour or the ones who underwent C-section tend to feel queasy and weaker right after delivery making it difficult for them to physically hold the baby and breastfeed.

• FASTER RECOVERY

Vaginal delivery can be a long and painful hardship but post-delivery, you feel like your normal self in no time. There are no stitches that need healing, no tubes, needles or anaesthesia. The endorphins released during delivery will naturally help the body deal with pain.

• SHORTER HOSPITAL STAY

If you recover faster, it means you do not have to spend many days in the hospital. You can be discharged within 24 hours post-delivery. This also makes the whole process cost effective and less time consuming.

• HEALTHY OPTION

Babies born through vaginal delivery have a strong immune system.

• EMPOWERING 

Women who undergo natural childbirth tend to feel a sense of power and confidence. By making through the extreme demands of labour, they feel like they can take up any challenge in life.

• LOW RISK OF RESPIRATORY INFECTIONS

When the baby passes through the birth canal, his thorax is compressed, expelling amniotic fluid from his lungs. This allows the baby to be able to breathe with ease and develop fewer respiratory infections.

• FACILITATES FUTURE PREGNANCY

During natural delivery, there are no scars and stitches on the uterine. This means no complications of tearing in the uterus in the case of subsequent pregnancies.

• NO RISKS FROM SURGERY

C-section is a major abdominal surgery that comes with its fair share of risks such as bleeding, infections, scarring, etc. that could pose potential health risks.

• BETTER CONNECTION

In natural childbirth, women remain very conscious of the experience of giving birth. This also improves attachment between the mother and the baby as it initiates maternal behaviour and facilitates instant bonding.

While natural childbirth may seem like an excruciating procedure, women need to put in more trust in their bodies and the ability to manage pain naturally.