"Normal birth", sometimes also described as "natural birth", "physiological birth" or "straightforward vaginal birth" can be defined as a birth where there has been no technological intervention. (Interventions may include inducing labour, and accelerating labour using drugs or by breaking the waters. It also includes using epidural anaesthesia, having an assisted delivery or a Caesarean operation.)
The importance of having a normal birth is a personal preference and will vary between women. Some women who wish to have a normal birth may find that it is not possible. Clearly the safety of the baby and woman are of paramount importance, and medical interventions are vital for some women during the birth process. The use of the term "normal birth" is not meant to imply any judgment about women's personal experience of birth.
Birth without medical intervention may have many benefits. The following are some that have been suggested by writers on the subject:
Ways to increase the likelihood of having a normal birth include:
For low risk women, giving birth at home or in a birth centre may help them achieve a normal birth. Monitoring the baby's heart beat intermittently instead of continuously can also help women avoid interventions.
For more detailed research evidence on Normal Birth, click here.
For more information on how to help yourself have a straightforward birth, see our article written by midwife Jilly Rosser
Return to the Normal Birth Pages.
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