The Empowering Journey of Giving Birth Naturally and Being Cared for By Community Midwives

Choosing to give birth naturally, without medical interventions such as epidurals, Pitocin, narcotics, or medical induction methods, is a deeply personal decision for expectant mothers.

There is no “wrong” way to give birth, don’t get me wrong. There’s only what’s right for that unique birthing person and baby. To some, being in a hospital feels safe. To a survivor of sexual trauma, for example, scheduling a c-section might be an empowering choice. Those who choose Midwifery feel safest in the care of women in their own home or a cozy birthing center.

Home water birth

Whether it’s the desire for a more natural experience, the hope for quicker recovery, or simply a preference for trusting the body’s ability to bring new life into the world, natural birth can be an empowering and transformative experience. In fact, it’s transformative for the entire family who may be invited into the birth space. It is not uncommon in the Midwifery Model to have older siblings in the birth pool or the Dad or partner doing the “catching”.

While every birth is unique, understanding what to expect regarding stages of labor and how to prepare for an unmedicated birth can help ease some of the uncertainties and fears. Education, mental and physical preparation are all essential pieces in preparing to have an out-of-hospital birth.

Midwifery care allows for a lot more preparation and education for both parents because of longer appointment times. The average prenatal visit in the obstetric model of care is approximately 7 minutes, whereas community midwives have appointment times averaging an hour long. Every part of your prenatal care, testing, and options are discussed in detail, allowing the birthing parent to make a truly informed choice.

What is an Unmedicated or Natural Birth?

The core principle behind natural childbirth is the belief in the body’s ability to birth a baby in its own time, using the power of natural contractions (caused by oxytocin) and the guidance of a supportive birth team. A doula is highly recommended to assist with comfort measures and positioning while your clinical care team (typically consisting of a Primary Licensed Midwife and her assistant Midwife or advanced Student Midwife. For many, it’s a holistic approach that celebrates and trusts the process of birth, the woman’s ability to believe in her own body, wisdom, and power as well as have autonomy over her care.

The Benefits of a Natural Birth

1. Control and Empowerment

One of the biggest draws of a natural birth is the sense of control and empowerment it provides. Many women find that without the interference of medical interventions, they feel more in tune with their body and more connected to the process. This sense of self-empowerment can help boost confidence during labor, postpartum and the rest of their motherhood journey. Midwives offer the option for either home or birth center birth; whichever space the client feels most comfortable in.

2. Faster Recovery

Without the need for anesthesia or surgical procedures like a cesarean section, women who give birth naturally often experience a quicker recovery. There are no risks to unmedicated birth besides feeling the sensations of birth. Midwives care for low-risk clients with normal and healthy pregnancies. Therefore, there’s less risk of complications, such as infections or the baby not tolerating certain medications, so mom can begin bonding with her newborn immediately after birth. Babies can also tend to have an easier transition to being earth-side when there are no medical or pharmacological interventions during birth. I also feel that there is an enormous benefit to baby’s long-term health when born in their own home, exposed to the home’s microbiome and bacteria rather than the unknown exposures from that of a hospital setting.

3. Lower Risk of Interventions

Choosing a natural birth can reduce the likelihood of interventions such as needing an assisted delivery such as forceps or vacuum extraction, or the need for an episiotomy (a surgical cut made in the perineum). Fewer interventions also greatly reduce the risk of needing a cesarean-section or NICU admission for the baby. An important thing to note is that Midwives DO carry life-saving medications and are trained to intervene (when needed). These include anti-hemorrhagic medications, oxygen, IV Fluids, just to name a few. They’re also skilled in Neonatal Resuscitation, which most often happens right next to the birthing person while the cord remains intact. Community Midwives understand and respect the enormous benefit of keeping a baby’s main source of oxygen intact while assisting the baby with breathing or suctioning. In contrast, American hospital systems have a very poorly designed resuscitation protocol, which consists of immediately clamping & cutting the baby’s cord, separating the baby from the mother, and performing the necessary resuscitation steps at the warmer located on the opposite side of the room.

4. A Deeper Connection to the Birth Process

For many women, giving birth naturally allows them to experience the full spectrum of emotions and sensations of labor, which can create a deeper sense of connection to their baby and the birth experience. A woman experiences the highest level of oxytocin release of her entire life immediately postpartum, which often leads to milk production being faster and quicker bonding for both mom and baby. This powerful process of bringing new life into the world can be incredibly transformative, both emotionally and spiritually. I recently heard an expectant mother describe the process as being “a before” and “after”, when asked by my preceptor why natural birth was important to her. “I can’t WAIT for the after”, she said. (I choked up a bit and had to quickly get myself together!).

The Challenges of Natural Birth

1. Pain Management

Pain is one of the biggest concerns for women who are considering natural birth. Contractions can be intense, and the decision to forgo pain medication can feel daunting. However, many women find that with the right preparation, mindset, and support, they can manage the pain more effectively than they expected. Breathing exercises, movement, massage, and labor positions can all be useful tools in coping with pain naturally. Many clients enjoy laboring in the water which can be incredibly comforting during active labor. Also know that labor isn’t a toothache or a broken-arm kind of pain. If you allow your body to relax and just ride the waves – your brain will release the endorphins and pain-fighting hormones needed to cope.

2. Length of Labor

Unmedicated birth doesn’t always mean a shorter labor. Some women may experience long or difficult labors, which can be physically and emotionally taxing. It’s extremely important for first-time moms, especially to SLEEP during the early phase of labor. One of the biggest differences I’ve seen between the Midwifery and Medical model when it comes to long labor is the patience of the provider. “Failure to Progress”, one of the most common listed reasons for a cesarean section in first time moms, can also be viewed as a potential “Failure to Wait” on the part of the provider. As long as both mom and baby are safe, Midwives are patient and understanding of the fact that birth doesn’t always follow a perfect curve.

3. Fear of the Unknown

Fear is a natural response to the unknown, especially when it comes to childbirth. If you’re considering an unmedicated birth, it’s important to educate yourself about the process and talk openly with your provider. The more you understand about what’s happening in your body during labor, the less fear will cloud the

experience. Talking through the “what if’s” in case of a transport or emergency is also highly encouraged.

4. Supportive Birth Team

Having a supportive birth team is crucial for a positive natural birth experience. This includes your partner, doula, and midwife. A birth team that respects your wishes and helps you stay focused on your goal can make all the difference during labor!

Tips for a Successful Natural Birth

1. Educate Yourself

Knowledge is power! Read books, attend childbirth classes, and speak to other mothers who have had natural births. The more you know about what to expect, the more confident you’ll feel going into labor.

2. Hire a Doula

This one doesn’t need to be explained – just do it.

3. Create a Birth Plan

While birth can be unpredictable, having birth preferences and communicating those with your team is incredibly important. Our 36-week prenatal visit is often very exciting because this is when we chat about all the things. Some of these may be your wishes for labor like whether you want to use a birthing tub, who

you want present during the birth, or whether dad would like to catch the baby. Regularly nourishing your body with your desired food & drink is another fun part to plan ahead for. When birthing outside of the hospital, Midwives understand the importance of replacing the much needed calories during the labor process, whereas most hospital systems still have antiquated “clear liquids only” policies.

4. Practice Relaxation Techniques

Breathing exercises, visualization, and mindfulness meditation can be powerful tools for managing pain and staying focused during labor. Practice these techniques before labor so that you can use them when the time comes. Birth is truly more of a mental than physical feat; your brain will want to quit before your

body will.

5. Stay Active During Labor

Movement can help ease pain and encourage labor to progress. Walking, swaying, squatting, or using a birth ball can all be effective ways to manage discomfort and help your baby move down the birth canal. I encourage clients to go for a long curb walk, for example, if labor comes to a stall. Doing a few contractions on the toilet every hour is also a common doula go-to as the birthing person doesn’t have to think about relaxing their pelvic floor. Contractions on the toilet might feel more intense but that’s exactly how you know they’re being effective!

6. Stay Open-Minded

While you may have a strong desire for a natural birth, it’s so very important to stay flexible. Birth can be unpredictable, and your body might need additional support at some point during labor. Having a supportive care team that respects your wishes while being open to necessary medical interventions will help ensure the best outcome for both you and your baby. We cannot predict how your labor will go, nor can we foresee when your baby will make their arrival; stay flexible and trust the process.

Choosing to give birth naturally is a courageous and empowering decision. Women have been doing this since the dawn of time. By educating yourself, preparing mentally, and surrounding yourself with a supportive team, you can approach this transformative experience with confidence.

Remember, no matter how your baby arrives in the world—whether through unmedicated birth, assisted birth, or cesarean—what matters most is the health and safety of you and your baby. Needing to transfer to the hospital for intervention is never a failure but rather a pivot in your birth plan, and your team will continue to support you no matter what that may look like. Our goal is for you to NOT to experience trauma during the birth process but rather feel the enormous sense of pride that comes afterward. Women who feel heard, respected, and cared-for during labor often reflect back positively on their birth stories, even if it completely pivoted from the original plan.

Trust your body, trust the process, and know that you are capable of handling whatever comes your way. The journey of birth is as much about your inner strength and ability to surrender as it is about feeling safe.

Written by: Bianke Prozesky, Doula & Student Midwife