• Menu
  • Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to secondary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Kopa Birth®

Online Classes for Pregnancy, Natural Birth, Breastfeeding & Baby Care

  • ABOUT
  • ONLINE BIRTHING CLASSES
    • Pricing
    • Course Content
    • This Course Is A Great Fit For You If…
    • Course FAQ
  • BLOG
    • RESOURCES
      • Find a Local Kopa Birth® Class
      • Find Other Birth Resources in Your City
    • Pregnancy
    • Natural Hospital Birth
    • Breastfeeding
    • Baby Care
    • Testimonials
  • SHOP
  • Search
  • MY KOPA®
  • Contact Us
  • Terms & Conditions
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Become a Childbirth Educator
  • Affiliates
  • ABOUT
  • ONLINE BIRTHING CLASSES
    • Pricing
    • Course Content
    • This Course Is A Great Fit For You If…
    • Course FAQ
  • BLOG
    • RESOURCES
      • Find a Local Kopa Birth® Class
      • Find Other Birth Resources in Your City
    • Pregnancy
    • Natural Hospital Birth
    • Breastfeeding
    • Baby Care
    • Testimonials
  • SHOP
  • Search
  • MY KOPA®
You are here: Home » Natural Hospital Birth » What is Natural Childbirth?
WHAT IS NATURAL CHILDBIRTH

What is Natural Childbirth?

November 2, 2017 //  by Katie Griffin

If you’re pregnant, you’ve likely heard people talking about natural childbirth.  But what does that mean, exactly?  Not surprisingly, it means different things to different people.  Let’s discuss the meanings of the terms commonly used to describe childbirth.

Estimated reading time: 3 minutes

Table of contents

  • What is natural childbirth?
  • Natural childbirth vs vaginal birth
  • Natural childbirth vs normal birth
    • WHO weighs in on “normal birth”

What is natural childbirth?

Typically, natural childbirth is defined as giving birth without the use of epidural or narcotic pain medication.  

With that said, “natural” birth really isn’t our preferred term.  Whenever possible, we try to use the phrase “unmedicated childbirth” instead.  “Unmedicated” is a much more accurate description of the experience.  However, the phrase “natural childbirth” persists in familiarity and popularity.

Unfortunately, the word “natural” carries a sense of superiority to some people.  The term risks encouraging women who choose pain medication to feel like their birth is suddenly less than ideal.

Natural birth is not something every woman should do.  However, at Kopa Birth®, we believe it’s something every woman should have the option to do.  Preparing for a natural childbirth empowers you with a wide range of options.  This includes practice in a variety non-medicinal coping tools as well as information about pain medication options.

Learn more: Top Natural Childbirth Benefits for Babies and Parents

Natural childbirth vs vaginal birth

Vaginal birth is when the baby is born through the birth canal.  This stands in contrast to a cesarean birth, where baby is born via a surgery and removed directly from the uterus.

Sometimes people mistakenly use the term “natural childbirth” to describe a vaginal birth.  When talking about the path of delivery, it’s most accurate to describe the birth as vaginal or cesarean and to just leave “natural” out of the conversation entirely.

Natural childbirth vs normal birth

Another term you might occasionally hear tossed around is “normal birth.”  For example, the mission of Lamaze International is to promote normal birth.  Yet, they recognize that the meaning of the words “normal” and “natural” have many interpretations.  A Lamaze study found that 36% of women felt that ALL vaginal births are “normal birth,” while 63% of Lamaze Childbirth Educators defined “normal birth” to be a birth without medical intervention (1).  It’s confusing, right?!

WHO weighs in on “normal birth”

The World Health Organization (WHO) adds clarity by defining normal birth as one that has the following elements (2):

  1. Labor starts on its own
  2. Low-risk pregnancy, labor, and delivery
  3. Baby is born in a head-down position between 37 and 42 weeks of pregnancy
  4. After birth, mom and baby are in good health

A natural childbirth (one without pain medication) that is low-intervention and meets the above criteria is a normal birth.

As with natural childbirth, the phrase “normal birth” can evoke a feeling of judgment.  It can be hard to read the word “normal” without focusing on its opposite — abnormal.  Given the risk for miscommunication, most organizations have switched from the phrase “normal birth” to promoting birth that is safe and healthy.  Still, most agree that for low-risk women, the safest and healthiest births avoid unnecessary intervention.  According to WHO, “In normal birth there should be a valid reason to interfere with the natural process.”

Kopa Birth’s online birthing classes allow you to prepare for natural childbirth in the comfort of your own home, 24/7. Enroll today in our free online childbirth class to learn more about preparing for natural childbirth. 

References:

  1. Prusky, Sharon.  (2017, February 17).  What is the Meaning of Normal Birth? [Blog post].  Retrieved from https://www.scienceandsensibility.org/p/bl/et/blogid=2&blogaid=188
  2. World Health Organization.  (1996).  Safe Motherhood Care in Normal Birth:  a practical guide.  Department of Reproductive Health & Research, Geneva.

Here are some other birth articles and stories we know you’ll love.

  • How to Have a Natural Birth in a Hospital: The Ultimate Guide
  • C Section vs Vaginal Birth: Benefits of Vaginal Birth
  • Natural Childbirth vs Epidural: Side Effects and Risks
  • Why Choose Natural Childbirth in Hospital
  • Home vs Birthing Center vs Hospital: Where to Give Birth

Category: Natural Hospital Birth

About Katie Griffin

Katie Griffin, Founder of Kopa Birth,® is a Registered Nurse, Lamaze certified childbirth educator, and mom of 7. Using her nursing background and 11+ years of experience teaching birthing classes, Katie has become an expert in the field of natural hospital birth. Kopabirth.com is the culmination of her thousands of hours of research and observation, and all posts are current and evidence-based. Katie is also the instructor for the KOPA® PREPARED online childbirth course and offers online coaching for pregnancy and natural birth.

Previous Post: «NATURAL BIRTH PROS AND CONS Natural Birth Pros And Cons
Next Post: Top Natural Childbirth Benefits for Babies & Parents Top Natural Childbirth Benefits for Babies and Parents»
  • Contact Us
  • Terms & Conditions
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Become a Childbirth Educator
  • Affiliates

Copyright © 2023 · Kopa Birth®

View Class #1 of Kopa's natural online childbirth class for FREE

GET YOUR FREE CLASS NOW!