am i being naive to think i can have a natural birth?

[BellyBelly]

Gracie, good on you for wanting a natural birth, it is in the very low percent of people who do have one these days. Less than 3% of women in hospitals are having normal physiological births (thats with no thrid stage injections, pain relief, nothing). It's not because it's not possible, but the environment and socienty. I think the thing is you need to know and be aware of is what you are up against. Being in a private hospital with an Ob, you have a tougher job than in other environments

If you want a natural birth, it's important to surround yourself in an environment with carers who will help you have the best chance of that, those who believe in you and your ability to birth naturally and don't see birth as a minefield. The people I think are 'misguided' are the ones who write a birth plan saying they want a natural birth, but don't do anything about it, they don't educate themselves, plan and make sure they are prepared and supported for that, and think it will just happen! You don't just get what you write on the paper for your birth plan - you have to work for it and educate yourself!

Ways you can help to have a natural birth is to attend independent birth classes (check out Rhea Dempsey's classes), choose low risk birth facilities, like a birth centre or homebirth, educate yourself about the risks of drugs so that you have a real reason not to want them... and what I mean by that is someone saying they just dont want drugs so they can say that they had a natural birth - well thats not going to hold them in labour when the going gets tough. Knowing why, e.g. not wanting to have a c/s, or their baby to be exposed to those drugs for xxx reason, is going to give you more of a reason to hold on. You need to be committed, educated and supported. Get a doula or private midwife to support you.

Read the right books and not the popular commerical books like Up the Duff and What to Expect When You Are Expecting. Check out BB's recommended reading list, and there is also an article about aiming for a natural birth on the main site. Good luck