Natural childbirth

Natural childbirth is childbirth without routine medical interventions, particularly anesthesia. Natural childbirth re-emerged in opposition to the medical model of childbirth that is common in industrialized societies. Natural childbirth attempts to minimize medical intervention, particularly the use of anesthetic medications and surgical interventions such as episiotomies, forceps, ventouse deliveries, and caesarean sections. Natural childbirth may occur during a physician or midwife attended hospital birth, a midwife attended homebirth, or an unassisted birth.

Natural childbirth is seen by some as empowering and a way to push back against paternalism and lack of patient say in the medical system. Other commentators describe it as a way to judge and shame women who need or choose medical interventions. Home births specifically are associated with increased risks compared to hospital births, including an increased risk of death for the infant in the first 28 days of life.