Your guide to a low-intervention birth

Hoping for an unmedicated birth? Here's what you can do to help ensure your peace of mind and your baby's healthy arrival.

Childbirth can be a beautiful and empowering experience. Whether you’re wanting an unmedicated or a low-intervention birth, Sunrise Health System’s obstetrician-gynecologists (OB/GYNs) will listen to you and work with you to ensure your peace of mind and the healthy arrival of your precious baby.

Understanding and preparing for a low-intervention birth

Recent research from the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists shows it’s preferable to use techniques involving minimal interventions. While certain actions such as labor induction, epidural, fetal monitoring and cesarean sections (C-section) are sometimes needed or desired, our physicians and strive to avoid any unnecessary procedures.

Your OB/GYN will help you customize your birth plan and build a strategy so you can choose the procedures and providers that align with your needs and wishes, even after baby is home.

Maintaining a healthy pregnancy is the first step to a low-intervention birth. Your doctor will help balance you and your baby’s unique health needs and birth plan and will encourage you to have a healthy labor using your natural physiological abilities.

Communicate with your OB/GYN often and early about your birth plan and make changes if necessary. Make sure you and those supporting you understand what’s most important to you (for example, declaring that you don’t want to push as long during labor, or making choices to speed up recovery after birth).

Remember, if complications arise, your OB/GYN will coordinate with you and your labor and delivery team to provide the care you and your baby need.

Doulas, birth partners and support people

Having a great support system may reduce the need for intervention and improve your experience as your child is born.

Continuous support from your doula, a birth partner or support people, including nurses and midwives (or all of the above) may help your body’s labor process. Continuous support can help you feel more confident, strong and in control during birthing time. Your support system could also help lower your chances of postpartum depression.

Keep moving

Keep exercise in mind as a way to help you physically and mentally. Keeping mom as healthy as possible throughout the pregnancy is especially important for low-intervention births. Exercise options like group classes, low-impact training and prenatal yoga make great options for staying active.

Exercise throughout your pregnancy, whether it’s the gym, brisk walks, prenatal yoga or something else. Talk to your doctor about what exercises can help your baby’s position in the womb, along with exercises that can strengthen you and help you have the most optimal labor for you and your baby.

Making a birth plan

Developing your birth plan early can help guide you and your team as you go through the process. Share it with your doctor so they know why and what’s important to you, what kinds of decisions you prefer to make and consider making a contingency plan for what to do in the face of necessary interventions.

Thinking of your birth plan as a guideline rather than as the rule can help, too. Keep talking to your doula, birth partner or others in your support system about what you want to happen.

Unmedicated (natural) childbirth education

Look for a childbirth education class that you’re interested in and will enjoy. Decide if you prefer a virtual or in-person class, and research different childbirth education classes (Lamaze, Bradley Method and so on).

Some classes focus on managing unmedicated childbirth. Many classes are one-time, but others continue for weeks and are not only wonderful learning experiences but terrific bonding experiences among parents/birth partners with similar goals.

You may find that a class that teaches techniques such as visualization to support you during an unmedicated birth is especially helpful. Hypnobirthing and childbirth education classes do a deep dive on what to expect, planning for a low-intervention birth, managing discomfort and overcoming fear. There are other programs that can help teach positions and educate parents on techniques for comfort and a smoother childbirth progression.

Ask your doctor what else can help you during early labor at home. When it’s time to come to the hospital, we will be ready to give you the labor and delivery care you deserve.

Understand benefits and risks

Remember “BRAIN” as you make choices for your birth. Ask yourself:

• Benefits: How can this benefit my baby and me?
• Risks: What is the risk to my baby and me?
• Alternatives: Are there other procedures I can consider?
• Intuition: What is my gut telling me?
• Nothing/need more information/no: What would happen if I did nothing right now?

At Sunrise Health System, our labor and delivery experts are here to support you. Reach out today to make the next step in your birthing journey! We also offer a variety of classes and events tailored for new and expectant parents, including tours of our maternity units, designed to prepare you for the journey ahead.