natural childbirth
The Why and What of Natural Childbirth
Anesthesia was first used for birth in 1847, 170 years, or roughly seven generations ago. In response to this, Grantly Dick Read coined the term natural childbirth in the 1940’s. Before that it was just called birth, like organic food was just called food before Lord Northbourne coined the term organic around the same time.…
Read MoreIn Labor, Gravity Is Your Friend
Imagine a woman giving birth. What position do you see her in? If, like most people, your views on birth have been shaped by what you see on tv and in the movies, you likely imagine her lying flat on her back in a hospital bed. Traditionally birth took place at home, and people formed…
Read MoreWhat Does Natural Birth Mean to You?
What do you think? After teaching natural childbirth classes for twenty-four years, I’ve learned that natural birth means different things to different people. Was my four hour Pitocin induced labor a natural birth, because I had no pain medications? Or only my two hour homebirth which my midwives barely made? I once asked my natural…
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