Written By: Fatima Kamran

Natural birth, one of the most transformative events in a mother’s life, has been known to always been tainted with unwelcomed routine interventions in most hospital settings. A number of these interventions have become such common practice that they are no longer questioned by pregnant mothers or even regarded as interventions by them.

Some of these are discussed below:

  • Vaginal Examinations

A deep-rooted fear exists among mothers from these checks, who have experienced several of them during their labors. They are unnecessarily performed on laboring mothers repeatedly, leaving them feeling hurt, humiliated and emotionally distressed. They are also known to be one of the reasons to cause vaginal infections.

  • Synthetic Oxytocin

Synthetic oxytocin commonly known as Pitocin, is a medicine injected mostly through an IV line to induce or augment labor, resulting in mothers experiencing very strong, irregular contractions. Therefore, quickly becoming exhausted and frightened. They are also subjected to continuous fetal monitoring leaving them immobile, which negatively impacts labor. Also, babies suffer from asphyxia meaning there is lack of oxygen and blood flow to the brain which can lead to brain damage or worse a stillborn baby.

  • Epidural

Epidural is a form of pain relief medication injected in the back that numbs the lower part of the body from the abdomen. However, it is known to prolong the second stage of labor also resulting in more assisted vaginal deliveries and malpresentation of the fetus.

  • Lithotomy Position

This refers to the most popular way of giving birth in hospitals, which is to lie flat on your back with your legs strapped up in stirrups. Being in this position makes it very difficult to push as it constricts the pelvis and doesn't allow it to widen to make space for the baby.

  • Immobility During Labor

Restrictions and immobility during labor will lengthen it and make it difficult to cope with the contractions. Movement, ambulation and maintaining upright positions are a natural form of pain relief for the laboring mother as she works with gravity to help her baby to descend.

 

Research shows that any of the interventions discussed above are not evidence based especially in low-risk pregnancies, rather they come with unrealized suffering for mom and baby.

To conclude, being confident and trusting your body to labor naturally while making informed decisions is key to dodging any unnecessary interventions directed your way. The best way to do is to join a Childbirth Education Program offered by AMANI Birth, The Blessed Start. It equips you with education concerning labor and birth processes and helps develop an understanding about the typical sequence of events that take place.

At AMANI Birth you are provided with the necessary knowledge and understanding to help you achieve an empowering, natural, and physiological birth

To register: https://amanibirth.online/?ref=nurtureandbirth

Instagram: @nurture.and.birth