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.
In the United States circa 1900, before the introduction and improvement of modern medical technologies, there were about 700 maternal deaths per 100,000 births (0.7%).
In the United States, the middle classes were especially receptive to the medicalization of childbirth, which promised a safer and less painful labor.
[3] The use of childbirth drugs began in 1847 when Scottish obstetrician James Young Simpson introduced chloroform as an anesthetic during labor, but only the richest and most powerful women (such as Queen Victoria) had access.
[4] The appeal of natural childbirth rested in the idea that merging physiological, psychological, social, and spiritual aspects of reproduction would create the best comprehensive care.
[citation needed] In the 1970s, natural childbirth became a movement associated with feminism and consumerism, stressing obstetrics' lack of concern for the whole person and technology a method for controlling women's bodies.
Frédérick Leboyer is often mistakenly believed to have advocated for water births, but he actually rejected the alternative as he felt it was not beneficial to the health of the baby.
[7][4] Instead of medical interventions, a variety of non-invasive methods are employed during natural childbirth to ease the mother's pain.
[citation needed] These techniques include hydrotherapy, massage, relaxation therapy, hypnosis, breathing exercises, acupressure for labor, transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS), vocalization, visualization, mindfulness and water birth.
[8][9] Methods to reduce tearing during natural childbirth (instead of an episiotomy) include managing the perineum with counter-pressure,[10] hot compresses, and pushing the baby out slowly.
[16] Another study found that infants born at home have a three times higher chance of death in the first 28 days of life.