Natural Birth Advice From 40 Experienced Mamas

Planning on having a natural birth or know of someone who is? These 40 natural birth tips (from 40 experienced moms!) are just what you need.

There is still an air of mystery (how do you do it?) and fear (I’m terrified of the pain!) that surrounds the topic of unmedicated childbirth. Unfortunately, it is depicted on TV and even by some healthcare professionals, as something scary that women shouldn’t put themselves through.

INSTEAD… what should be shown as beautiful, empowering, supernatural, and a rite of passage is depicted and treated as a medical emergency. Of course, things can happen during labor and delivery that call for the use of life-saving medical interventions, but most pregnancies and births can be expected to end well for both mom and baby and without the use of interventions. 

As a mom who’s had two unmedicated births, I can tell you that I’d do it again in a heartbeat. Yes, it is challenging both mentally and physically but it is also life-changing, beautiful, and SO incredibly empowering!

So I’m here, along with these 40 other moms, to tell you that you too can do it! Take note of these practical and encouraging natural birth tips.

#1: See a chiropractor

See a Webster-certified chiropractor that will do pelvic alignments! Getting baby in the right position helps soooo much with pain management and labor duration. -Charity

#2: Be patient

Be patient. Remember that the birth process is a dance between you and your baby, but you’re not always leading! A willingness to let your baby birth on his/her timetable lowers stress and allows your body to respond in the most physiologically natural way. Three natural births, including two water births. -Karen

#3: Relax your body

I had two natural births using Hypnobabies. Whether you’re into the idea of “self-hypnosis” or not, the key idea of relaxing your body as much as possible makes it so much easier. It takes effort to get yourself to relax, but it helps ease the pain when you’re not tensed up. -Allison

#4: Be prepared

Preparation is key to a successful natural birth! My mom is an OBGYN who had two natural births and taking natural birth classes is her number one recommendation to anyone who wants one.

Personally, I can’t say enough amazing things about Hypnobabies. I had an incredible, comfortable birthing time thanks to the program. -Natalie

#5: Stay focused and keep an open mind

I had twins via a natural birth with no drugs, and my advice would be don’t put too much pressure on yourself. You could have made all the preparations in the world, but no one knows what’s going to happen during labor so if things don’t go to plan don’t beat yourself up about it. -Ashley

#6: Take a childbirth class

I’ve had two unmedicated natural births and my biggest tip would be to take a natural childbirth class. It helps you understand what’s happening to your body which takes away the fear.

A lot of women are afraid of the pain of labor, but when you know what’s happening to your body you eliminate a lot of that fear. That’s hugely helpful in managing pain during a natural birth.  -Christina

#7: Stay active

I didn’t realize how important my physical strength would be during my labor. I was really active my whole pregnancy (walking, yoga, running our little homestead) and that strength was vital!

Now that I’m prepping for baby #2, I’m trying to maintain that same strength! -Katie

#8: Look into optimal fetal positioning

Make sure that your baby is in the optimal position for birth.

I wanted an unmedicated birth but my midwife somehow missed that my daughter was sunny side up…after 36 hours of labor I ended up with a c-section. If we had known prior, we could have tried to turn her and I might have gotten the birth experience I wanted. -Ally

#9: Believe in yourself

I’ve had 3 natural, out-of-hospital births, and one of the biggest hurdles for me the first time around was letting go of the fear and believing I could do it.

Our society does a good job of teaching us that birth is scary and something that happens to you. But what we should be telling mothers is that our bodies are made for this, and you are part of the process. Watching a ton of empowering birth videos and learning everything I could about birth really helped me let go of fear and believe in myself. -Karla

#10: Think beyond the pain

Pain is usually the thing women fear most when preparing for birth. In my experience, the fear is worse than the pain, though.

When we go into labor the fear that the pain will get worse and unbearable sends us down a vicious cycle of tension and more fear, which causes the pain to feel worse. If you can find a way to keep your mind centered, your body relaxed, and turn the fear into a positive feeling, it is a game changer!

I had two unmedicated births and kept thinking the pain would get unbearable, but it never did. It was hard and definitely exhausting, but it was also wonderful, and I’m so glad I had the chance to experience and witness my body’s strength and power. -Stormy

#11: Create a birth plan

Share that birth plan with anyone who’s going to be there in the delivery room’s face, starting with your doctor/midwife. Make sure it’s well laid out and clearly mentions your expectations. -Avanti

#12: Preserve your energy

Don’t start pushing too early, or you’ll wear yourself out. I’ve had two home births and loved them! I treasure those memories so much. -Danielle

#13: Advocate for yourself

After having two unmedicated hospital births, I’d say speak up for yourself and take charge of your birth experience. Make sure that everyone with you in that room is on the same page as you so there is no confusion and disappointment and you can focus on birthing your baby! -Anna

#14: Take a class

I’ve had three unmedicated births. The biggest thing that helped me was understanding what was happening in my body.

I took childbirth classes and so I knew that the \”pain\” I was feeling was my uterus pulling the muscles tight to open things up for the baby to come out. So the pain was reframed in my mind as just my muscles working.

Visualizing the opening of the muscles with each contraction was really helpful for me because it seemed more like a workout, instead of just this unexplained pain that kept coming. Knowing the reason for the different things that were happening in my body made them make sense for me. This helped me feel in control of the situation. -Lauren

#15: You are stronger than you think

You can handle much more pain than you actually think you can. I’ve had two natural births less than two years apart and they each taught me that. -Ioana

#16: Visualization is powerful

Think about your body connecting to the gravitational pull of the earth, getting your baby out with each contraction! -Teresa

#17: Your body knows what to do

I’ve given birth naturally once. It was something I started thinking about halfway through my pregnancy. I didn’t have a very detailed birthing plan. I just knew I wanted to try giving birth naturally.

When it was time to give birth, I had a plan, but it fell through. So I just trusted my body. Something naturally kicks in and tells you what you need to do.

I remained calm and listened to my instincts and my body naturally did the work on its own. I mean I ended up delivering in a hospital, so I was hooked up to a machine. The nurses were telling me not to push yet. They didn’t think I was dilated enough for my baby to come.

But with every contraction, my body was pushing on its own. I couldn’t control it. My baby girl was born with my legs in a butterfly position. I did it without the drugs. So trust your instincts. -Aurionn

#18: Take charge

I envisioned myself riding waves to my baby. Changing positions and humming also helped.

Always breathe through the pain.

Counter pressure on my lower back helped. Don’t feel shame for taking control of your birth. -Y.E.

#19: Let it go

Remember, tensing up during contractions is working against yourself. Holding tension will make contractions more painful and last longer.

It’s hard, but remember to keep relaxed and loose. Think of the contractions as a wave, it will have a slow rise, a peak, and a decline. But you must remain calm and relaxed throughout each phase to meet your baby.  -Morghan

#20: Try different labor positions

Due to circumstances, I was mainly in bed the entire time I was laboring. I wish I had read more about labor positions and tools to help me labor while confined to a bed.

I was still able to achieve my natural birth, but I feel it was much longer and more stressful than it would have been had I been more aware of tools I could use in that situation. -Rebecah

#21: Hire a doula

Hire a doula! It’s such a great investment. She helped me get into the right ’mindset’ and go inside myself during contractions rather than dwelling on the pain.

I remember starting this low growling sound, and after the contraction passed she asked if I growled. I was so embarrassed, so I started to shake my head no. She told me it was totally normal, and my body was telling me that it was almost time to push.

My midwife checked and I was fully dilated and ready to push when I felt the need. I remembered at that moment a part from Ina May’s book that growling is completely natural and having a loose jaw while being ’wild’ helped. I really think it did help, as I continued to growl ( totally got louder the longer I pushed) it helped me through the contractions and pushing. I felt powerful and that I could do this.

As soon as I let go of the thought that this natural occurrence was embarrassing, it became a tool to help me work through the pain and helped me push. -Farrell

#22: Create a relaxing atmosphere

Music and aromatherapy oils were awesome during labor. Change positions as you feel the need to.

And remember you can say no. -Jacqui

#23: Get creative

I would recommend laboring with the lights off, and even using an eye covering. This may sound strange, but I needed complete darkness to focus on my breathing! My husband had a bandanna in his bag, so he tied that over my eyes.

I labored all night but the lights on the monitors bothered me! The bandanna was such a help. -JK

#24: Be in the moment

One contraction at a time. You can do anything for one minute. -Laura

#25: Trust in your body

I wish I had trusted my body and not gotten the epidural. That thing numbed me so much that it was pretty much useless.

I couldn’t feel a thing at all and my pushing wasn’t efficient. My baby was here within 2 minutes after they removed my epidural. Next time I’ll avoid getting the epidural and hopefully, I won’t have to spend 3 hours pushing to no avail.

Your body is meant to do this. It can do it. Just let it. -Y.R.

#26: Watch some birth videos

I watched hundreds of YouTube videos during pregnancy to figure out how I wanted to birth. During labor, I kept telling myself, “it’s pressure, not pain” and slept between every contraction and didn’t have any pain until I crowned. -Shelby

#27: Get your birth partner involved

Have someone’s job be to give you sips of water after each contraction or push and keep a fresh cloth for your forehead and neck. -Rebecca

#28: Find your focal point

Breathe and try not to tense up your body during a contraction!

Give yourself something to focus on. I had a song stuck in my head and I kept the same lyric in my head during each contraction.

When you think the pain is so bad, remind yourself it’s only a minute long. -Lindsey

#29: Listen to your body

Don’t do directed pushing but instead, push when you are ready and in the way you want. It will help your perineum stretch and work with your baby. -Kristin

#30: Set yourself up for success

Do anything you can to normalize the birth process. Listen to birth story podcasts, read birth story blogs, ask a friend who has had a positive birth to tell you their story. That way, when the intensity of labor hits you, you will know it is normal, and you are safe. -A.C.

#31: Focus on the beauty of birth

Mind over matter. Prepare your mind to accept the surges as beautiful waves bringing life into the universe and not as pain. In my opinion, visualization and meditation practices are key to a successful unmedicated natural birth. -Dani

#32: Educate yourself and see a chiropractor

Prepare yourself mentally throughout your pregnancy (read books, watch natural births, understand the risks of medication to you and your baby) and get chiropractic care if you can! I had no back pain the entire labor and pregnancy, and I think that is why. -Heaven

#33: Move during labor

Movement! The ball they offer you to sit on helps you manage the pain so well! Don’t just lay in the bed. Get up and move around during labor as much as you need to. -Rose

#34: Personalize your birth space

Deep breaths are important. They keep you from going crazy.

And honestly, the environment plays a big role as well. Setting the right atmosphere is key! I was lucky enough to have a natural birth in a birthing suite and I ABSOLUTELY loved it. I had my favorite music playing on my Bluetooth speaker, the lights were dim, I had my diffuser going as well with lavender essential oil. I had my baby’s grandma feeding me ice chips and giving me cold towels for my head and neck.

I had a doula that never left my side. She was constantly reassuring and motivating me. I only had the people in there that I wanted and the atmosphere was very soothing. I started out in my birthing tub, because I wanted a water birth but ended up pushing on the bed.

After giving birth, my baby didn’t leave my sight. They had everything they needed in the room. Loved my stay in the birthing suite. And I loved having a natural birth in general. -Asheá

#35: If you need something, ask!

Don’t be afraid to ask for what you want during labor. Whether it’s silence, no lights, more ice, etc…

If you need it, ask! Also, don’t try to fight the contractions embrace them.  -Caprice

#36: Don’t underestimate yourself and the power of breathing

Learn breathing techniques! I only had a 4-hour-long labor.

I’ve always underestimated the power of breathing but it really does work. Contractions were the most painful for me pushing was a breeze. Just breathe and things will be good! -Dyamond

#37: Let your birth team hold you accountable

Have a solid birth team and support system. I told my boyfriend practically every day that I didn’t want an epidural and he questioned it, so I was worried that he wouldn’t be able to be supportive to me during labor.

Then, when the big event came, I was practically begging him to not judge me if I get one. He told me to just try to make it a little longer, and that helped get me through. I was very proud of him! -Lindsay

#38: Surrender

Give in to your contractions, do not fight them. Remember to breathe, find a focal point and focus. Once you hit the “ring of fire,” it’s almost over. Push through that burn. -Kirsten

#39: Get in tune with your feelings

Be sure to check in with yourself, and understand the difference between feeling pain and true suffering. If you feel pain, know that you are not in danger, and it will not last forever. If you feel that you are truly suffering, try a position change, try to calm yourself, and/or voice it to your support person. -A.C.

#40: Train your mind to think positively

Birth is 90% mental and 10% physical. Get your mind right! Remove any fears or doubts you may have and don’t be afraid…And the pain is not as bad as people make it seem! -Khalia

I really hope that you found this natural birth advice to be helpful!

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