Lisa Bragg
Ilkley-based community midwife Lisa Bragg tells us about normal birth and her top tips for achieving it. Thank you to Lisa for sharing this with us.
Lisa also runs Offsprings antenatal classes in Ilkley.
As a Midwife normal birth is close to my heart and an important aspect of my role is to empower and facilitate women to maximise their chances of achieving a normal birth.
Working within the NHS maternity system I have been involved in many normal births in Hospital and at home and also many medicalised births. I am priviledged to have visited the ‘Spritual Midwifery farm’ in the USA, which was founded by the renowned midwife Ina May Gaskin, who is famous for her work around normal birth. Ina May was our tutor during this visit, where we were inspired by the philosophies and practices used to increase normal birth. Normality in childbirth is also a major part of the training of NHS midwives, within Universities in the UK.
Labour and birth is an unpredictable event that is different for every woman, as are individual expectations of the birth experience. The information given here is designed to maximise normality but it is also very important that women who do not achieve normal birth do not feel they have failed in any way. They can be sure that if they follow this information they have done their utmost to achieve a normal birth whatever the outcome and feel confident and empowered for motherhood. In addition to this they can be reassured that in most cases normal birth can be achieved a second time around.
Key aspects to achieving normal birth
- A belief in the body’s ability to give birth
- A positive mind set towards labour
- A lack of fear
- A supportive birth partner who has the same beliefs
- A good birth environment
- Remaining active during labour
- Avoiding pain relief involving drugs throughout labour or for as long as possible
A belief in the body’s ability to give birth
In the UK, only a minority of women have been involved in the birth of a baby, prior to their own. Media influences and listening to scary birth stories can combine to undermine a woman’s confidence in her body’s ability. It goes without saying that women’s bodies are perfectly designed for labour and birth, but it is important to keep fit during pregnancy by undertaking gentle exercise and not gaining excessive weight this will prepare the body for the long workout of labour. Believe in your body.
A positive mind set for labour
Think of labour and birth as a normal life event that most women experience. Know that labour is often long and challenging but that the reward is amazing in the end. Look forward to labour, it means your baby is nearly here. Remember that each step through labour however challenging is a step nearer to seeing your baby. Take pride in your body’s ability to work hard and visualise the rewards at the end. Encourage your partner to view labour positively too.
A lack of fear
This is very important, put simply without getting too biological the hormones associated with fear have the ability to stall your labour and can lead to intervention you may have preferred to avoid. If you have managed to apply the previous two suggestions it is unlikely that you will be scared as you will feel in control of your body. You can also be assured that your midwife is vigilant for changes that are abnormal whilst you are busy with the important task of labour.
A supportive birth partner
Over the years there has been a lot of research that has shown how important a supportive birth partner is in labour. To be supportive the birth partner needs to understand what you would like during labour and what you prefer to avoid so that they can be your advocate. Your midwife will also fulfil this role if you discuss your wishes with her. It important that birth partners understand your wishes may change as labour progresses.
A good birth environment
This is different for everyone, and differs whether at home or in hospital, it is extremely important as it facilitates all of the above points. It should be a place where you feel safe, it is easy to achieve at home in your own environment, but is important to note some women feel safer in hospital so the hospital room should make a woman feel safe and cared for, personal items such as music of choice, own pillows and dimmed lights will help you feel more relaxed.
Active Birth
Being upright and mobile during labour has many positives, women are in control, working with their bodies this leads to increases in the hormones associated with labour and also increases in the body’s natural pain killers [Endorphins], which means contractions are more effective, labour shorter and there is less need for pain relieving drugs. Gravity also helps the pelvis open up more enabling the baby to get in a good position for birth. All these factors combined mean the baby is less likely to become distressed during labour and a normal birth is much more likely.
Avoiding pain relief for as long as possible
It is important that I stress here that I am not against pain relief in labour, however in my experience if labour is of a normal duration, women feel safe, in control, have a supportive birth partner and are able to remain active in labour, a drug free labour is often possible or at least a labour using natural methods and entonox [Gas and Air] is common place. Any drugs used in labour have the potential to interfere with the normal processes of labour and birth and this can lead to unwanted intervention in labour and may also impact on breastfeeding.
I advise all women who are wanting a normal natural birth to avoid pain relieving drugs during labour for as long as possible and encourage them to use natural methods. If pain relief is needed I recommend to start at the bottom of the spectrum with Gas and air rather than choosing an epidural straightaway, as this may be all they will need.
Further information
If you would like to discuss the issues raised in this feature, you could do so in our baby chat section. You can also speak directly to your midwife at you next antenatal appointment.
If you would like to share your own birth story, please email it to us and we will publish it in the birth stories section.
