Low-intervention birth: What you need to know

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, HCA Virginia Health System’s obstetrician-gynecologists (OB/GYNs) and certified nurse midwives (CNM) will listen to you and work with you to ensure your peace of mind and the healthy arrival of your precious baby.

Why some prefer low-intervention births

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 midwives strive to avoid any unnecessary procedures.

Partnering with a midwife

Mothers planning birth with midwives generally experience fewer interventions. With their advanced training in the female reproductive system and childbirth, CNMs may help to lower medical intervention during pregnancy and delivery. They are experts who can aid and advise you during pregnancy, delivery and postpartum. They’ll 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 midwife 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.

Preparing for a low-intervention birth

Communicate with your midwife or 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 midwife can work with an OB/GYN or labor and delivery team, so you and your baby continue to get the care you 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. If you are unfamiliar with doulas, they are privately hired and professionally trained to provide pregnancy, labor and postpartum support. 

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 both 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 midwife or 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 midwife or 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.

We offer short, free childbirth and new parent education classes at some of our hospitals. See available classes at our hospitals across the state as well as virtual classes.

Early labor at home 

If you’re in a low-risk, healthy pregnancy, you’ll likely want to labor at home until appropriate. Spending the early hours of labor at home can increase your comfort and help prevent unnecessary interventions. Listen to your body, stay hydrated and eat if you are hungry and feel like eating.

Walking, bouncing on a birthing ball, listening to peaceful sounds and staying supported by those around you can help a lot in those early hours.

Ask your midwife or 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 the 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 HCA Virginia Health System, our labor and delivery experts are here to support you. Reach out to our midwives 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.