The birth of life is inherently a natural physiological process. Yet today, this natural rhythm faces excessive human intervention. Statistics reveal China's average cesarean section rate approaches 50%, with some hospitals exceeding 80%—far surpassing the World Health Organization's recommended upper limit of 15%.
Three Factors Affecting Natural Birth
Uterine Contractions
Stronger contractions accelerate labor, but their intensity depends on multiple factors including the mother's age, muscle tone and elasticity, and fetal weight.
Pelvic Size
Conventional wisdom suggests that a larger pelvis increases the likelihood of vaginal delivery. Medical theory also indicates that a mid-pelvic diameter of 9.8 cm or greater typically allows for uncomplicated delivery, while a diameter below 9.2 cm reduces the chances of natural birth. X-rays can be used to determine mid-pelvic diameter.However, in real life, pelvic size isn't the sole determining factor. Sometimes, even with a sufficiently large pelvis, delivery difficulties may occur. Conversely, a smaller pelvis combined with a smaller fetus can result in a smooth delivery.
Many expectant mothers believe taller individuals have an easier time giving birth, assuming height is directly proportional to pelvic size.While it's true that height generally correlates with pelvic size in most people, theoretically making vaginal delivery easier, numerous factors influence natural childbirth. Therefore, this assumption is incorrect—taller expectant mothers do not necessarily have an easier delivery than shorter ones.
Conversely, some expectant mothers assume that women with larger hips have larger pelvises. However, a larger hip circumference does not necessarily indicate a larger pelvis. Clinically, it is common to observe tall women with narrow pelvic outlets, while shorter women may have pelvic outlets that are not necessarily narrow.Some women have more hip fat, not necessarily a larger pelvis. If the fetus is too large and the mother lacks sufficient abdominal muscle strength, the delivery process may not proceed smoothly.If the newborn weighs over 3.5 kg and the mother's pelvis is insufficiently large, a difficult delivery may occur.
Three Exercises to Aid Natural Birth
Experts at the Mayo Clinic recommend three exercises to help facilitate natural birth, which expectant mothers can practice frequently during the final months of pregnancy.
Cross-legged sitting with feet together:
Keep your back and waist straight. Press the soles of your feet together, pull your heels inward, and slowly lower your knees. This stretches the muscles of your thighs and pelvis, improves birthing positions, maintains pelvic flexibility, and enhances blood circulation in the lower body.
If this position is challenging, lean against a wall for back support or place a cushion under your thighs—but always keep your back straight.
Pelvic Rocking:
Support your body with hands and knees, keeping head and torso level. Engage your core, hold for several seconds, and gently rock your back.Then relax your abdomen and back, lower your back down, keeping it as level as possible, and repeat the movement. This strengthens your lower back muscles and helps alleviate back pain during labor.
You can also perform a similar movement against a wall: Stand upright close to the wall, aiming to bring the area below your waist and above your hips as close to the wall as possible.
Wall Sliding:
Stand with your back against the wall, feet shoulder-width apart. Slowly slide down the wall into a seated position. Hold this seated position for a few seconds, then slide back up to standing. Repeat this movement 10 times. This exercise helps open the pelvic inlet, creating more space for the baby to enter the birth canal.
To reduce pressure on the knees, place a small ball against your lower back to decrease resistance during the sliding motion.You can also perform this exercise without a wall, keeping your back straight and feet shoulder-width apart.
Common Misconceptions About Natural Birth That Expectant Mothers Should Know
Misconception 1: Natural birth makes it difficult to regain your pre-pregnancy figure.
Natural birth does not make it difficult to regain your pre-pregnancy figure. It is a misconception that natural birth causes permanent changes to the pelvic structure, affecting your previous slender figure and making recovery impossible for a long time after delivery.
Expert Clarification: Natural childbirth not only does not jeopardize your figure but actually enhances its beauty.
One standard of feminine beauty lies in a full hip circumference. During vaginal delivery, the relaxation of pelvic ligaments widens the pelvic and hip circumferences, creating a more curvaceous appearance.New mothers should actively breastfeed, eat sensibly, and maintain regular exercise after delivery. Their figures will undoubtedly return to their pre-pregnancy state.
Misconception 2: If natural birth fails, a cesarean section is still required, so why not choose a cesarean from the start? If natural birth is unsuccessful, a cesarean section is still necessary. Why not opt for a cesarean from the beginning to avoid enduring the hardship twice?
Expert Clarification: The final decision on delivery method rests with your doctor.
Doctors professionally determine the most suitable delivery approach based on individual conditions. For women unsuitable for vaginal birth, doctors will inform them beforehand that a cesarean section is necessary.
Cesarean section is indicated when maternal or fetal complications arise, such as narrow pelvis, macrosomia, breech presentation, placenta previa, placental abruption, preeclampsia, or acute fetal distress. These conditions should not be used as reasons to fear vaginal delivery.
Misconception 3: Natural childbirth is too painful to endure. Natural childbirth is unbearably painful! How much better is a cesarean section? With anesthesia, there's no pain, and both mother and baby are safe—how wonderful! Expert Clarification: While cesarean sections are less painful than natural childbirth, they carry certain risks.
During vaginal delivery, focusing on distraction techniques and maintaining relaxation can help alleviate discomfort.
While anesthesia reduces labor pain in cesarean sections, the procedure carries inherent risks such as anesthesia complications, post-operative bleeding, and increased postpartum infection rates.