Labor and Birth: What Types of Birth is Right for Me?

Your mother probably didn’t have a lot of choices about the kind of birth she wanted. Most likely, you were born in a hospital with your mother heavily drugged and your father out in the waiting room. Thankfully, times have changed and as long as your pregnancy is not high risk, you have a lot more choices about, and control over your birth experience.

If you are not sure about what kind of birth you would like to have, it will help to read about different birth options and to listen to other women’s birth stories. You may also get some clarity by answering the following questions about the kind of birth experience you would like to have:

• Do you want to have your baby in a hospital, a birth center, or at home?
• Do you want a midwife or an OB/GYN?
• Who (if anyone) besides your healthcare provider and your partner do you want at the birth?
• How do you feel about interventions such as internal fetal monitoring and pitocin?
• Do you want to have a natural childbirth?
• What methods do you want to use to manage contractions?

Although there are many kinds of births, they mainly fall into two main categories – hospital birth or natural birth.

Hospital Birth

If you choose a hospital birth, it does not necessarily mean you cannot have a natural birth. Many women have natural births in hospitals. Some hospitals even work with midwives. However, a natural birth in a hospital setting may be more challenging as you may be encouraged, perhaps even pressured into interventions you may not want.

A hospital birth is ideal if you know that you want an epidural to manage your contractions and if you are not opposed to interventions. A hospital birth may also be a good option if you are anxious about childbirth and want to be sure that you have access to all that modern technology has to offer. If you choose a hospital birth, you will want to familiarize yourself with all the possible interventions and write a birth plan so your healthcare providers will know which interventions are acceptable and which are not.

Natural Birth

A natural birth is done without medical interventions or medications for pain. Many women find birthing naturally to be a rewarding and empowering experience. Although you can have a natural birth in a hospital, a birth center or your own home may be more comfortable. You will most likely be attended by a midwife. Certified midwives work with hospitals and OB/GYNs so that if complications arise, the mother can be transported to a hospital.

If you are planning to have your child naturally, you will want to learn different ways to manage the pain without medications. In addition to breathing techniques, you may want to consider hypnosis, aromatherapy, and use of a birthing tub.

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