Naturally does it when it comes to giving birth

With C-sections being performed for 70 to 90 per cent of births in private hospitals, South Africa has one of the highest rates of C-section delivery in the world.

Here, we go back to basics and re-examine natural birth, getting answers from Jude Polack of the active birthing hospital, Genesis Clinic, Gauteng’s only private hospital to be designated a Mother-and-Baby-Friendly maternity facility by the World Health Organisation and UNICEF.

What is natural birth?

“It might sound obvious, but I don’t think many moms-to-be understand what a natural birth really is,” says Jude Polack, natural birth activist and the founder and director of Genesis Clinic.

“If you’re confined to your bed and strapped up to monitors for your entire labour, that’s not ‘natural’.

”Many hospitals also won’t let you eat or drink during labour, they restrict your movement, don’t let you adopt the position that feels right for you, and limit the number of friends and family you can have in the room for support. This kind of environment breeds fear and feelings of isolation, which tends to make labour slower and more painful, with more medical intervention needed.

“The best natural birth, however, is an active one, where the mom follows her own instinctive responses and works with her body. She needs a secure, relaxing environment with good support and the freedom to move around. In an active birth, moms are encouraged to remain mobile and upright and to adopt whichever position they choose. They also eat and drink to strengthen themselves through labour.

“An active birth also lets mom labour at her own pace. Remember that the one centimetre-per-hour dilation average is exactly that – an average; at least half of all women may progress more slowly.”

Who can opt for natural birth?

Polack points out that the World Health Organisation estimates that only 20 per cent of women require C-sections to ensure the safe delivery of their babies. “If you’re healthy and are having an uncomplicated pregnancy, you are most likely a candidate for successful natural labour,” she says.

Reasons to choose a natural birth

Pros for moms:

No surgical recovery time, immediate mobility after the birth, and a shorter hospital stay.
No risk of wound infection, injury to internal organs, or complications from the anaesthetic or epidural.
A lower incidence of postnatal depression.
Labour in future pregnancies may be shorter.
Moms feel capable and empowered.

Pros for babes:

Four to six times less likely to suffer from respiratory distress syndrome or fluid in the lungs.
Better and quicker control of body temperature, breathing and heart rate, so there is less call for incubators and oxygen.
Quicker and more effective latching and feeding. Breastfeeding has a 75per cent higher success rate among babies born naturally than among those delivered by C-section.
Oxytocin released during a natural birth facilitates bonding.
Less colic in the early months.

The flip side of natural birth

Cons for moms:

Possible perineal damage or tearing, which could require a stitch, or in severe cases, surgical repair. Daily perineal massaging from week 34 can help prevent this.
Loss of vaginal and pelvic floor muscle tone can lead to urine leaks. Regular Kegel exercises after birth help restore these muscles.

Cons for babes:

Risk of oxygen deprivation if the umbilical cord is constricted, or if there are other problems during labour and delivery. It is essential that someone trained in delivering babies is on hand during a natural birth, to ensure that nothing goes wrong.
Possibility of physical trauma, such as bruising, from passing through the birth canal.

For more information, visit www.genesisclinic.co.za.