Home birth and healthy babies

In February, I spoke at a home birth meeting, talking about the relationship between chiropractic and pregnancy. It was sort of like "preaching to the choir" in a sense though, since all the mom's there are passionate about natural birth and health. I love being involved in the birth community, as I feel pregnancy should truly be a wonderful, positive experience in a woman's life, and not a "medical procedure" as it is made out to be these days.

In talking with home birth midwives over the years, some of whom have been doing this for 25+ years, they all share an amazing love for helping women achieve the natural birth they want. Many people in our society believe that home birth is dangerous, that women or the baby have a high chance of injury or dying, versus a hospital birth. In fact, statistics prove it opposite. In talking with one midwife, after attending thousands of births over 30 years, there have been only two instances where they had to transport the woman to the hospital. Two. That's it.

You look at hospital birth statistics where the C-section rate is 30% or higher, and you realize that those C-sections are primarly hospital induced events, where hospital procedures are implemented, the doctors get in the way of mother nature, and things go wrong. Pitocin, epidurals, internal exams, breaking water, etc., all of these are things that either the woman or doctor elects to do, and often times it leads to problems.

What is a natural birth? A birth where there are no drugs involved. Being induced with pitocin or some other drug, and then laboring without and epidural and giving birth, is not a natural birth. Having an epidural is not a natural birth. Many women think just because they don't have a C-section that they've had a natural birth.

Of the hundreds of infants I have taken care of over the years, I will say there is an absolute difference between the ones that were born without drugs, versus the ones born with drugs. When I say drugs, that is any drug to induce labor, any drug to decrease or eliminate pain, or a C-section. The babies that are 100% natural are much more observant, more alert, more happy. The ones where the mom elected to have pain meds or something else, their babies are not as alert or observant. Doctors will tell you there is no difference and that the drugs have no effect on the baby, but they do. I can see it on a regular basis.

Also, in talking with women who have had a non-natural birth and then went on to have a natural birth the second time around, all report an amazing difference in their experience. Yes they have to now deal with the pain of labor, but that brings them more in tune with their bodies and they all report they are happy they went through with it. I have never heard anyone regret having a natural birth.

Taking care of children and pregnant women is a passion and specialty of mine, and I love to see them have positive experiences. If you are pregnant, please strongly consider a natural birth (and preferably a home birth), as it will be healthier for you and the baby. Chiropractic care will help you through the pregnancy, will help the baby after birth, and is positive in so many ways. Less low back pain, shorter labor, healthier pregnancy, are all "side effects" of chiropractic care during pregnancy. And as far as I know, those are side effects that most pregnant women want!