You can prepare yourself for a natural birth with little to no complications and avoid a c-section. Prepare yourself both mentally and physically for a natural birth. Know what complications could arise and how you can naturally combat them. Understand what labor is and how it works, (read “The Stages of Labor Explained“). Practice relaxation and breathing techniques, (read “How To Relax in Natural Labor”). Eat healthy and exercise regularly to prepared your body for a natural birth.
Table of Contents
- Trust in The Lord
- Talk to Your Husband and Doctor/Midwife
- Variations of Complications
- The Natural Alignment Plateau
- Eat Right and Exercise
- When is a Cesarean Necessary
- How to Avoid A Cesarean
Trust In The Lord
First things first. Know this, that the Lord is good. “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return there. The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.” Job 1:21. What ever happens during your pregnancy, your birth or even your child’s life we need to remember the Lord is good and sovereign over all.
We can trust in Him because he cares for us. No matter what trials we go through in this life we are blessed beyond all measure. For he has graced us by paying for our sins on the cross. He died for us that we might gain His inheritance and be called sons of God through Jesus Christ. Our hope of eternal salvation is in Christ, how much more can we trust him through the trials of this life.
Talk To Your Husband and Doctor/Midwife
When preparing for unexpected complications its best to know what could happen and talk through these things with your husband and doctor/midwife. Make a plan, go over the options and write out what you would to try first for each complication.
First, go over the Variations of Complications List with your husband. Talk about what type of birth the both of you want. Your husband may have an opinion and he might not. Either way talk through them as much as is needed so that if the unexpected arises your husband is familiar and understands the direction you want to go. He can then better support and advocate for you and the baby.
When complications arise a cesarean birth is kind of a fix all. There are risk, for sure, with a Cesarean birth but your hospital team is well trained and more confident to manage those. They may not be as well trained or confident in other, more natural techniques when solving unexpected complications. This is why it will be important to talk with them. The more options you can discuss with your doctor the more prepared you both will be and the better chance you have of avoid a unnecessary c-section.
Variations of Complications
There are different variation of complications, some may be more concerning than others but they are all good to think about. I’m not going to tell you what you should do in each situation, I’m not a doctor. This list is to help you understand what could happen and what to talk to your husband and doctor about. I also have a PDF version of this list so that you can print it out and write down the options that you, your husband and doctor discuss.
This list, although long, is not exhaustive. With that said I don’t want you to worry or stress over all the possible complication that could arrise. Most of these are very rare. As you go through and consider what you believe is the best for each situation you will find your line for where you cross over from natural to medical intervention. This is a good thing for both you and doctor to know. There’s no true right or wrong here. Everyones line fall somewhere, be prepared by knowing where.
Problems with Position
- Breech. A breeched birth is when the baby is born bottom first instead of head first.
- Occiput posterior is when the baby is sunnyside-up, meaning the back of the baby’s head is toward the mothers back. This may cause painful back labor or even slow labor down.
- Shoulder dystocia is when the baby’s head has been delivered but the shoulders are stuck.
- Transverse lie is when the baby is sideways, laying across the pelvic inlet. Not breeched not head first.
- Transverse vertex presentation, is when the head is sideways, often turns on its own.
Problems with Labor Progression
- Arrested Labor. Contractions may stop for a time. Even if you are in active labor. Read more about the Natural Alignment Plateau.
- Failure To Progress in labor is when you just aren’t progressing “fast enough” or the way we think we should. Again read more about the Natural Alignment Plateau.
- False Labor is when its hard to tell if you are having braxton-hicks (practice) contraction or if its real labor.
- Overdue, past your due date.
- Premature Labor is when you go into labor before 37 weeks when some of the baby’s vital organs are not completely developed.
- PROM is when you water breaks before labor. If labor does not start soon after your water breaks infection is a possibility.
- Reverse Dilation is when the cervix is closing rather than opening. Typically due to a relaxation after water breaks during labor or the baby changes position taking a little pressure off of the cervix.
- Slow Labor, look into the Natural Alignment Plateau.
Problems with Baby
- Abnormal Heat Rate For Baby. Not always does this mean there is a problem but it can be an indication of distress on the baby.
- Cephalopelvic disproportion is just a fancy way of saying the head is big! This becomes a complication if the head is bigger than the pelvic outlet.
- Fetal Distress is when the baby is in trouble, typically with low oxygen or abnormal heart rate.
- Infections at birth are either transmitted during delivery if the mother herself has an infection or if unsterile delivery instruments are used to help deliver the baby such as, forceps or a vacuum.
- Meconium Staining is when there is some meconium (baby’s poop) in the amniotic fluid. Studies show this is normal but could indicate distress.
- Perinatal asphyxia is when the baby does not get enough oxygen.
- Umbilical Cord Prolapse is when the umbilical cord is delivered before baby or along with the head before the rest of the body. Can cause stress on the cord.
Problems with Mom
- Amniotic fluid embolism is when amniotic fluid enters the mothers blood stream, can cause serious Anemia is when there is not enough red blood cells to carry oxygen throughout your body. bleeding or cardiac arrest.
- Cholestasis is caused when bile from the liver is not flowing properly causing a build up. This build up can leak bile into the bloodstream and create complications for baby
- Gestational diabetes is when the mother has a form of diabetes during pregnancy when she did not have diabetes before.
- Hemorrhage. Excessive bleeding.
- Multiples, (Twins, Triplets etc). Although having multiples is not at all a complication but a blessing most doctors/hospitals do not like to deliver multiples vaginally nor do they want you to go full term. My sister found a hospital almost 2 hours away who allowed her to do both.
- Perineal tear is tearing of the vagina or and the surround tissues.
- Pre-eclampsia is when you have high blood pressure causing damage to other organs.
- Placenta previa is when the placenta is in the way of the cervical opening.
- Uterine rupture is when the muscular wall of the uterus is torn.
- Very Painful Labor. Could be that you are not prepared, not relaxed or a true sign that something is wrong. Talk with your nurses, stay calm, it might just be transition. During transition you may not be able to tell but your nurse will know if its transition or something else.
The Natural Alignment Plateau (NAP)
Although this is not a complication of labor it is very important to know and remember. The natural alignment plateau simply put, is that, labor does not always progress consistently.
For example, you may get checked to see how far you are dilated. The Dr/nurse says you are at a 4. After an hour you are now at a 5! So in your mind you may think “I’m dilating 1 cm every hour, I have 5 hours left.” NO, it may take 3 hours to get to a 6, or 30 minutes.
Depending on how soft the cervix is, the physical alignment of the baby in the birthing canal, your hormones, if you muscles need a break (they will take the break they need), production of immunities for baby. All these things can speed up or slow down contraction and labor.
Some people have even taken naps after they have gone through transition. There body needed a rest before they began pushing so contractions got easier and further apart and they were able to take a 10-20 minute nap before they felt the natural urge to push.
So remember that everyone’s body has a different timing for each and every thing that happens in her body during labor. So if things seem to slow down, don’t get discouraged. Remember you body knows when it needs a break in order to be 100% ready for the next part of labor. Labor is not a sprint, its a marathon. Conserve energy when you get the chance.
Eat Right and Exercise
Healthy Eating
The solution to good health is and has always been to eat right and exercise. The meaning of “eating right” differs depending on the latest diet trends. Although the fact that always remains the same is our need for real nutrients. Vitamins, minerals, portions, amino acids, and water.
Eat Real Foods
How do you the appropriate amount of nutrition in your diet? Eat real food. Eat meals made with real ingredients. Fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grain (and little of them), plant proteins (beans, nuts, legumes) more than diary or meat proteins. Plant fats (avocados, coconut, nuts…) more than dairy or meat fats. Plant based fats and protein will contain more vitamins, minerals and amino acids than your meat or dairy giving you a more rounded meal.
I’m not saying you need to go vegan or vegetarian when pregnant to have a safe delivery. For some that could be beneficial and for others that could be harmful. What you should consider is how much plant based foods you eat. The internet specialists say everyone should eat 30 different types of plants per week. Some say your plate should be 50% vegetables eat meal. I say continually reevaluate your diet constantly and consider how you can improve it.
Foods to avoid
Your doctor or society has a list of things you should not eat while pregnant. Foods like, deli meat, hot dogs, sushi, unripe or overripe fruit, high mercury fish, raw dairy. Most of the foods you should avoid when pregnant are listed because of the potential bacteria it could have. You might get sick and your baby could get sicker. So, with all your foods it is good to consider how clean, and well prepared you food is.
But don’t just consider what you should not be eating, focus on what your should eat. Diets and eating trends can be helpful as well as harmful. Lifestyle is key. Reevaluate your diet and, think of ways you can improve it and start working on healthy lifestyle habits.
The Brewers Diet
For more direct information on how to improve your diet I strongly suggest the Brewers Diet for Pregnancy. It is a very simple plan with suggestions and size servings for the minimum of the vitamins, minerals, proteins, fats and all that. It is easy to follow and shows you where and how to improve your daily diet for a healthier lifestyle.
Exercise
How much should you exercise? What exercise should you avoid? What exercises are best for pregnancy? These are all good questions but differ from person to person for the answer.
How much should you exercise?
This depends on how much you where exercising before you became pregnant. If you where going to the gym 3-5 times a week there is no need to change that habit. If you where not exercising at all, you should probably change that. Daily exercising is beneficial to your overall health, especially during pregnancy.
What Exercises should You avoid?
It will be safer to avoid heavy lifting and strenuous activity. If you are into weight lifting you can safely continue this as you body is already used to it. But be sure to talk to your doctor, midwife, trainer and listen to your own body for how to limit yourself for the safety of your baby.
When exercising when pregnant you should not over do it. Do not push yourself to hard. Give you body rest in between workouts. Our goal is to stay strong, limber and get our blood flowing. Goals such as lifting a certain amount or running a mile in a certain amount of time are secondary or even non existent when pregnant. You should also avoid high impact exercise or a lot of jumping.
What Exercises are best when pregnant?
Walking, Yoga/Pilates, low impact exercise that get your heart rate up without exhausting yourself. There are many programs and YouTube channels that specialize in prenatal exercises. I really like the workouts from Pregnancy and Postpartum TV on YouTube. I also do a lot of walking on my treadmill as well as around our neighborhood.
Squats, butterflies, pelvic rocking (cat and cow), tailor sitting, and Kegel exercise are beneficial exercises that will help you strengthen the muscles and ligaments that you will need to carry your baby comfortably and deliver a natural birth. Take 5-10 minutes each day to do them daily for best results.
When Is A Cesarean Necessary?
No matter how much you want a natural birth and want to avoid a cesarean birth they are truly sometimes necessary. I do believe the c-section birth are done to many times for unnecessary reasons but that doesn’t mean they are all together bad.
I cannot tell you when a c-section is absolutely needed and when its not, I am not a doctor. But I do know how hard it can be when you have been preparing for a natural birth and now the doctors are telling you its time for a c-section. You may struggle with trusting them, you may be a fighter for your rights in your own medical decisions but this is the life of your baby we are talking about. You want no regrets. What do you do?
Listen
First is to listen to the doctors reasons for the c-section. Ask questions to that help you understand fully why he is recommending it.
Ask
“How much time do I have to decide?” This question will help you understand if he believes its an emergency or the safest route. Ask for 10 minutes alone with your husband to process everything.
“Can you explain what needs to be done for the c-section” Depending on the situation you may be able to take small steps towards a c-section slowly. If you body relaxes its possible that the problem could be remedied. So getting an epidural (which you will need for a c-section) but then laboring for another 30 minutes or so might improve your labor and allow you to finish vaginally.
Ask for a second option, or call a trusted midwife, doula, or medical professional for advise. They too will not be able to tell you what to do but might be able to explain the situation in a way you better understand or give you helpful questions to ask your doctor.
Alternative Options
Discuss alternatives options based off of your Veneration of Complications list that you have gone through. Seeking out options and understanding the doctors reason for why or why these options will not help in your situation will help you feel more confident in your decision.
Express Your Feelings
Tell your husband, doula, nurses, doctor all your concerns and how you feel. Express your desires and help them understand your thoughts so they can better help you. If you feel like you are unheard you will likely have regrets about not speaking up. So speak up and tell them how you are feeling.
Its okay to be afraid, tell them. Its okay to grieve the natural birth experience you wanted and while knowing in order to save your baby’s life you can’t have it. Its okay to feel confused, tell them. Its okay to feel anxious, tell them.
Remember
When plans don’t go the way you wanted, you can still trust in the Lord. He is good. Give thanks to the Lord.
When going through a c-section after going through most of your labor you can be encouraged that your labor and all the contractions you went though prepared your baby for delivery and your own body for postpartum. Messages throughout your body where sent preparing you and baby for birth. Having a c-section without ever going into labor will be harder on you and baby as your body was not prepared. Labor cues your milk supply, immunities, proper postpartum hormones and contractions for after birth. Your labor was not in vain. Give thanks to the Lord.
How To Avoid a Cesarean
You can avoid a cesarean birth and get the natural birth you want.
Prepare yourself mentally for a natural birth. Commit to the hardship of a natural labor remember its benefits. Practice relaxation and breathing techniques for an easier labor.
Prepare yourself with natural options for variations of complications.
Eat healthy throughout your pregnancy giving you and baby low risk of gestational diabetes, cholestasis and other complications derived from lack of nutrition.
Exercise to strengthen your body to be able to carry your baby when your 9 months pregnant and deliver your baby with the endurance you built up through your workouts.
Pray. Trust in the Lord and seek His righteousness over our own thoughts and desires. Pray for a safe and healthy delivery and that if that not be his will that your life would still glorify him no matter what hardships come your way.
Learn more about relaxation in Natural Labor
Learn more about the different stages of Labor
Learn More about Natural Breech births
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