natural childbirth

A method of childbirth in which medical intervention is minimized and the mother often practices relaxation and breathing techniques to control pain and ease delivery.

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

natural childbirth

(Gynaecology & Obstetrics) a method of childbirth characterized by the absence of anaesthetics, in which the expectant mother is given special breathing and relaxing exercises

Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014

nat′ural child′birth

childbirth involving little or no use of drugs or anesthesia, involving a program in which the mother is psychologically and physically prepared for the birth process.

[1930–35]

ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:

Noun

natural childbirth - labor and childbirth without medical intervention; no drugs are given to relieve pain or aid the birth process; "natural childbirth is considered the safest for the baby"

Bradley method, Bradley method of childbirth - a method that prepares a mother for natural childbirth by providing education and exercises and nutrition and techniques of breathing and relaxation (with the assistance of the father)

accouchement, childbearing, childbirth - the parturition process in human beings; having a baby; the process of giving birth to a child

Lamaze method, Lamaze method of childbirth - a method that prepares a mother for natural childbirth; the pregnant woman (in classes and at home) practices (usually with the help of a coach) and learns about the physiology of childbirth and techniques of relaxation, concentration, and breathing

Leboyer method, Leboyer method of childbirth - a method of childbirth that tries to minimize the trauma for the newborn; delivery occurs in a quiet dimly lit room and the infant's head is not pulled and immediate bonding between mother and child is encouraged

Read method, Read method of childbirth - a method of natural childbirth that assumes it is a normal process and that the pain is largely psychological; involves education and breathing exercises to foster relaxation and other exercises

Translations

natural childbirth

n → parto naturale

Collins Italian Dictionary 1st Edition © HarperCollins Publishers 1995

Mentioned in

References in periodicals archive

In this sense, while humanized ideas and concepts might encourage active and participatory women, the natural childbirth movement can also essentialize women to being only their bodies.

From expectation to experience: humanizing childbirth in the Brazilian National Health System/Da expectativa a experiencia: humanizagao do parto no Sistema Unico de Saude/De la expectativa a la experiencia: humanizacion del parto en el Sistema Brasileno de Salud

"We must understand that there is a lot of preparation that can help in improving the chances of having a natural childbirth for a pregnant woman.

Having a baby past 35? Here's what you should know

Amy Tuteur, a former obstetrician and vocal critic of the natural childbirth movement, told me Gaskin's philosophy "really accomplished a lot when it came about, because childbirth was very patriarchal." But now it's gone too far the other way, Tuteur says: We hear all the great parts about natural childbirth, but "there is very little about women who end up incontinent or with sexual dysfunction or broken bones, because no one really considers that a big deal."

What to expect: why aren't we talking about the surprising number of women injured by childbirth?

Back in England, Kitzinger became active in the newly created Natural Childbirth Association (later the National Childbirth Trust, NCT), a group that relied first on the Dick-Read method and then on Lamaze, expanding options for birthing women in the country.

Dancing through labor & delivery: the passion of Sheila Kitzinger

Dr Bryan Beattie, head of Cardiff-based educational charity Innermost Learning, has responded to claims by Dr Michel Odent that natural childbirth is being evolved out by an over-reliance on Caesareans and other interventions.

Call for calm after natural birth claim

She was a passionate advocate of natural childbirth but never denied the potential dangers, believing vital equipment should be on hand for emergencies.

I can thank you now, Sheila. But back in the birthing pool? Not so much

A champion of natural childbirth, she later went on to enjoy an international career, working in New York and Seattle before settling down in north Cornwall.

It's a privilege to bring babies into the world; Janet Tansley calls the midwife Marguerite Herr, who cycled round Liverpool in the '50s and '60s

Whatever happened to natural childbirth? Evidence shows that poverty, insecurity and depression can lead to poor diets, mental health problems and unhealthy lifestyles.

Tackle root of the problem; Views of the North

After a long labour - 36 hours - and no pain relief as it was a natural childbirth hospital (I had a caesarean the next time!), I delivered a healthy 8lb baby boy.

We must hear new mums' cries for help

Nurtured Beginnings, a natural childbirth center, is designed to provide that support, and will open Sept.

New center to provide parental support; Nurtured Beginnings will focus on natural childbirth

The birth centre has birthing pools as well as aids to support natural childbirth.

Delivering city's new baby centre

The hospital said the baby is the "biggest baby ever born in Spain through natural childbirth." "In my 40-year professional career I have never known of any case of a birth with this weight by natural childbirth.

Briton gives birth to biggest baby ever born naturally in Spain