Last month I debunked the myth of the science in medicine and I was pleased that so many people took the time to read the article and send their comments.

This month, I thought I would try childbirth (not literally, thank goodness).

One of the dreams Jane and I had in setting up Naturality was to create a healthier society and to do that we need our friends and patients to become knowledgeable about how to live without drugs and surgery, which is why we spend so much time trying to let you know how you can protect yourself and your family from the dangers well-intentioned meddlers and drug-pushers.

Unfortunately, birth is now medicalised to such an extent that most of us have lost touch with what constitutes a natural birth.

Did you ever wonder how anyone ever had gave birth before ultrasound?

So let's just take each step in a normal obstetrical pregnancy and contrast it with a natural approach. 

Ultrasound

Many authorities now recommend that children not be given mobile phones because of the possible damage done by (microwave) radiation to the developing cells of the child's brain. Why then, do parents allow and encourage ultrasound scans of their embryos and foetuses?

            Here is the past Director of Women's and Children's Health at the World Health Organization

            "Although ultrasound is expensive, routine scanning is of doubtful usefulness, and the procedure has not yet been proved to be safe, this technology is widely used, and its use is increasing rapidly without control."http://www.midwiferytoday.com/articles/ultrasoundwagner.asp

Delivery

If the woman's diet is good and her low back and pelvic muscles are free of interference, there is no reason why she should not have a trouble-free labour and delivery.

            In nature, a mother about to deliver will take herself somewhere quiet and comfortable. In isolated societies women would go together to give birth.

            The process of giving birth is an entirely natural one in which women pass into another world, a trance-like state over which there is little to no control.

            In Western society we often interfere with this process. Women in labour are often subjected to bright lights, impersonal surroundings, strangers and any number of examinations and monitors.

            Whatever else fetal monitoring achieves, it brings the woman out of her trance. Michel Odent, the obstetrician and natural childbirth campaigner even suggests that partners try not to interfere in this stage of labour as their exaltations to "breathe - breathe" may have just the wrong effect.

            An experienced midwife knows exactly at what stage of labour a woman is in by her breathing. There is little need for internal examinations.

            It is no wonder that home-births are making a come-back. Many women are pleased they had their baby in hospital because there were complications, but I can't help wondering how many of those complications were as a direct result of being in hospital. We can never know.

" Overwhelming scientific evidence shows that the home is a perfectly safe place to give birth if you are one of the more than 80 percent of women who have had no serious medical complications during pregnancy."http://www.midwiferytoday.com/articles/technologyinbirth.asp

            In Nature, women would be able to move around and find their own position for delivery. Gravity helps the process so many women find squatting the best position for delivery, although this can be prevented by standard obstetrical practise including epidurals, monitors and examinations.

            In Nature, the baby would be put straight onto the breast of the mother after delivery. Even if the baby does not suckle, the contact of the baby, it's crying and it's smell will cause natural oxytocin to be released, saving the need for an injection. In hospital birth, Oxytocin is often given by injection after the birth of the baby to "deliver the placenta" and "reduce the risk of infection," which seems odd when the effect of the drug is to force the uterus to contract so fast that considerable traction needs to be placed on the placenta to get it out in time. This may result in haemorrhage and an open wound that has an increased risk of infection.

           
            The umbilical cord should be left until it stops pulsing (at least 3 minutes) before being clamped and cut, so that the baby is not deprived of oxygen in those first few minutes after it is born. The baby can lose one third to one half of it's life-saving oxygen supply if the cord is clamped and cut early. See the excellent websitewww.cordclamp.com to understand how early cord clamping can cause cerebral palsy ADHD, autism, ASD, learning and behavioural disorders and mental deficiency.
           
            In hospitals, delivery may be induced. Elective induction increases the risk of a first-time mother needing a Caesarian Section by 50 - 250%

            Forceps or Ventouse may be used, misshaping the baby's head, sometimes causing bleeding and altering the shape of the skull. This can affect the development of the spine and the size and shape of the brain.

            The baby's heel is pricked to test for phenylketonuria. The incidence of phenylketonuria is 1 in 10,000 meaning 9,999 tests are negative for every one that is positive. This test is compulsory if your baby is born in hospital in the US.

            Vit K is given by intramuscular injection to prevent a very rare complication called Hemorragic Disease of the Newborn. HDN only ever occurs with early cord clamping when the clotting factors essential to the baby are left in the placenta. 

            Well that's it. I guess if you're like most people, you think about birth rarely. It's one of those subjects like making a will, or sorting out a deceased estate - you figure that you'll muddle through when the time comes. You tend also to have to rely on experts to help you through it.

            Unfortunately, unless you know of the potential danger those experts are going to put you and your baby in, you tend to just trust the process. I hope that if you tuck this email away, it might just save you or your loved ones a lot of heartache.

            Remember, pregnancy is an extremely physical event, placing great strain on the body. All pregnant women should have their muscle tone and reflexes checked at least once during their pregnancy to make sure their body in in peak condition.

            Chiropractic, Reflexology and Acupuncture can all help stimulate delivery if the baby is late.  Massage and reflexology can help make the pregnancy more enjoyable and relaxing.

Best wishes

Simon King