What is natural birth?
Many women think that giving birth naturally means being strapped in bed while they scream through painful contractions. Unfortunately this is the only way some care providers will allow natural birth to happen. But it is not what truly natural, empowering birth is. Truly natural birth gives women freedom. If you’re planning on giving birth naturally you should plan to have as little outside intervention as possible. Natural birth means that you’re free from restrictive technology. Research shows little benefit to the routine use of continuous electronic fetal monitoring (where a belt is strapped around your belly) and little benefit to routine IV fluids. Laboring without these interventions means that you are much more in control of your own experience. You are free to get up and move around as needed. The baby’s heartbeat can easily be monitored from time to time with a Doppler (a handheld unit to listen to a baby’s heartbeat). If you’re free to eat and drink while giving birth you’l
