Benefits of Natural Childbirth and Chiropractic Prenatal Care
Benefits of Natural Childbirth
The methods, philosophies, and reasons for choosing natural childbirth vary from family to family. For some mothers, the main reason for choosing a medication-free and intervention-free childbirth is because they do not want themselves or their baby to have unnecessary or dangerous medications or procedures. For others, it’s more than that—the birth process is something that God designed women’s bodies to do! And the thought of having it turned into a medical procedure can take away from that experience. The benefits, regardless of the rationales for why a woman chooses natural childbirth, are numerous.
Benefits for baby
- Baby may be less groggy and more alert after birth.
- Baby may have an easier time latching on and breastfeeding.
- Baby will not have narcotics or other medications in his system.
- Baby will have a lower risk of fetal distress during delivery.
- Baby’s APGAR scores may be higher.
Benefits for mom
- Faster labor and delivery (especially when the mother is under regular chiropractic care!)
- Mom can walk around, soak in the tub, go to the bathroom, and change positions during labor.
- Pain can be beneficial to mom as it helps her to know what stage of labor she is in, when she may need to shift positions, and when it is time to push.
- Mom will not have to worry about having a post-epidural headache.
- Mom can get up and walk around shortly after birth.
- There may be less chance of having nausea, vomiting, dizziness or other side effects associated with pain medications.
- Mother will be less groggy after birth and have a faster recovery time.
- Natural childbirth may reduce the chance of needing a c-section.
- Mom may have a more positive birth experience or feel empowered by having natural childbirth. Some women compare natural childbirth with running a marathon. The sense of accomplishment can be a rewarding event.
- You’re less likely than women who get epidurals to need interventions such as oxytocin (Pitocin) to make your contractions stronger, bladder catheterization, or a vacuum extraction or forceps delivery.
- Your partner can be involved in the process as you work together to manage your pain.
- Breastfeeding is facilitated