Erica L Kroll
Certified Whole Birth Educator 
doula/labor support 
Herbalist/Aromatherapist 
birthwise@gmail.com
www.womeninbloom.com 
573.445.5053

Natural Birth

More and more women are "taking back their birth" and having home births or birthing in birth centers where their wishes to birth without intervention or interruption is honored. Some hospitals and a few care providers are also beginning to be more supportive of a woman's choice to birth naturally; however, many women find that the protocol and routines of hospitals conflict with their ability to birth naturally there.

The most important thing for women to understand is this:

What kind of birth you have depends directly on who you choose as your care provider and what *their* philosophy is.

It simply is not realistic to believe that you can easily give birth naturally in a setting that treats pregnancy and birth as an illness to be managed. I tell my clients that this is like ordering tofu at McDonald's....it simply isn't on the menu. However, with preparation; support; and informed, active decision making you can give birth naturally in the hospital by creating some birth protocols of your own.

Always ask your care provider about their birthing philosophy, epidural rates, cesarean rates, and episiotomy rates. If it is important to you, make sure your doctor or midwife supports your wishes to birth in your position of choice. Always ask open ended questions and never accept "Oh, don't worry we'll take care of everything." or "I only do episiotomies when necessary." It is never to late to change care providers to one who is more supportive of your wishes.

 
waterbirths 
are available in your home or at the birth center! For great pictures and waterbirth 
info visit http://www.birthbalance.com 
Laural Walters is a wonderful MD who supports natural birth in the hospital and 
attends births at the birth center and at home. She may be reached at 
The 
Whole Health Family Birth Center 
1511 Chapel Hill Road Columbia, Mo. (573) 445-0100 

http://www.wholehealthcolumbia.com/

Of course there are a few Obstetricians who are very supportive of natural birth. I highly suggest talking with other women and doulas who have worked with the care provider you are thinking of hiring.

There are childbirth education classes offered in the Columbia area that offer wonderful information on birthing naturally, including comfort measures and coping techniques, as well as typical hospital procedures. These classes are very helpful for couples wanting to birth naturally within the hospital as well as home. These classes include:

Kim James teaches classes with an emphasis on home birth through the Whole Health Family Birth Center (see above for contact information)

Dee Dee Farris Folkerts teaches childbirth classes that focus on not only on the basics, but on personal growth and the transformation that takes place during and after birth. This class is kept in a small group setting with opportunity to discuss personal stories and concerns.

Contact Dee Dee for class schedule at (573) 443-8574

Of course, my prenatal yoga classes are an excellent compliment to any childbirth education program.