Natural Childbirth Videos: Preparation or Anxiety? Expert Advice

Question
Hello,

I am preparing to give birth naturally for the first time and am wondering whether it's a good idea to watch natural childbirth videos?  Will it help me know what to expect or scare me?  If you think it's a good idea, are there videos you recommend and where can I find them?

Thanks for your help.

Answer
Hello Eugenia,


Excellent question!  For some women, viewing childbirth videos can be an educational, insightful experience that helps them prepare for their own "birth day".  For some women, viewing birth videos can raise their anxiety and be counterproductive to eliminating their fears about giving birth. For this reason, it can be a very personal decision that only the mother in question can decide as she knows which scenario is likely to be the case for her.  In general, I highly support the decision to view childbirth videos, unless the mother is certain it will increase her anxiety instead of reducing it.
 
Once a mother's made the decision to view birth videos, perhaps the most critical factor is in what type of childbirth videos she chooses to watch.  In general, I would recommend viewing videos of several birth types, from homebirth to birth center, hospital and even of cesarean section.  I especially recommend including videos of homebirth, even if you plan to birth in the hospital.


I believe this to be advisable because it allows you to see what normal birth, without unnecessary interventions or arbitrary "policies and procedures that may or may not be evidence-based or in the best interest of mother and child.  Viewing homebirth videos lets you see what birth can look like when women are encouraged to follow their own instincts in how they want to move and behave during birth, rather than in the hospital where they are often restricted to bed with continuous monitoring and limited options or control over their surroundings.


Many appropriate selections are available in these childbirth video galleries or even the natural childbirth video of my son being born unassisted at home.  For more mainstream options, including hospital or cesarean births, many selections of all types also exist on youtube.com.



Best,
Catherine Beier MS CBE
Giving Birth Naturally: Empowering Women to Trust Their Bodies
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