Physiological childbirth and its benefits (part 1)

Physiological delivery or more commonly called Vaginal delivery without anesthesia is a subject that seems to be of increasing interest to mothers-to-be. While we are witnessing a majority of deliveries under epidural, our team is forced to note that you are now more asking us about this possibility. Some women want to experience their birth to 100%, but also to reduce all the risks associated with interventions.

At Prenato, our guideline is to inform for informed decisions. We are not here to tell you how to give birth, but to support you in your desires by providing you with the necessary documentation. Thus, it is not uncommon to talk about physiological delivery, AVAC, epidurals and cesarean sections on the same day during our support meetings.

Physiological vaginal delivery

Now seen as a rare and sometimes irregular choice, physiological childbirth is nevertheless the one that has been practiced since the dawn of time. Women are physically built to give birth, but unfortunately, more and more women are losing confidence in their abilities. In 2016-17, the Rate of use of epidural anesthesia was 72% births. This made Quebec even the province using this method the most in Canada. It can be argued that physiological childbirth is not as popular as giving birth with anesthesia. However, natural vaginal birth has several benefits for women and it is difficult to overlook them.

Better recovery

According to The National Institute of Public Health of Quebec, a well-lived natural birth would allow for a better recovery of the mother. In addition, the bond of attachment would be stronger and the mother's sense of accomplishment would be higher. It is therefore not uncommon to see a mother practice skin-to-skin immediately after giving birth and getting up to go in the shower only a few hours after giving birth. The mother is fully aware of her abilities and does not have to suffer the side effects of anesthesia.

Fewer interventions

All interventions, no matter how minimal, can have a impact on your work. Although useful in pain management, epidural anesthesia will minimize the positions you can take. You will move less, will probably be lying on your back and as a result, the passage through the pelvis may be more difficult since the space is more restricted. It is therefore less rare for this to lead to the use of forceps or suction cups during childbirth. They can also increase the risk of tears.

A question of hormones!

A woman's body is wonderfully well made. During a physiological birth, hormones are secreted according to the natural needs of the woman. Whether it is oxytocin, which plays an important role in triggering labor, but also in the strength of contractions and their frequency. Your hormones also influence the push and the ejection reflex during breastfeeding. However, the production of oxytocin is very fragile. A little bit can change its production. This is the case of noise, external lights, fear and the atmosphere around the woman giving birth. Hence the importance of creating your intimate bubble during a natural birth.

Endorphin, the hormone that responds to pain, will be your natural “anesthetic” during labor and delivery. A high level of endorphins will help you better tolerate pain and change how you feel about giving birth. This is what will make some people feel euphoric or more sleepy at work. It acts like a natural drug...

For some women, the Placement at the breast following a physiological birth would be easier with a baby who is sometimes less sleepy. Hormones secreted during birth and in contact with babies would help with lactation.

Whether you are preparing for a physiological birth, an epidural birth, an AVAC or a cesarean section, know that our team at Prenato is available to support you in carrying out this project!