The tireless work of professionals and mothers aware of normal childbirth is paying off and little by little it has advanced enormously in this regard. A few days ago I was surprised by the pleasant news that In Catalonia, the number of women who prefer a natural birth has tripled since 2006 There are already more than 1500 births without interventions that occur annually.
Although not all mothers requesting a natural birth the process ends in this way the percentages have also varied and, as the number of applicants increases, the number of cases that end without the need to intervene is reduced or the mother requests it by requesting anesthesia.
This is not bad, since it indicates that security is guaranteed and that women can decide, although it could reveal that the best conditions for everything to happen naturally do not always occur.
The proportion of 3% of natural births to the total still seems very low, despite the fact that there are already 28 Catalan hospitals that, in theory, are prepared to attend them.
Let us not forget that training and the number of health personnel is important to allow a delivery without interventions and that also, without the slightest doubt, women should receive adequate and proven information in addition to a preparation oriented to see natural and natural birth and sure, which I really doubt is being fully realized. And freedom of choice is not complete without adequate access to information.
Birth is a natural physiological process in which it would not be necessary to do anything, just observe in a professional but non-invasive way to detect any problem. But for natural childbirth to occur, women must understand it as safe and healthy, not be afraid and learn to channel pain.
In addition, professionals must have experience and not be afraid either, and have adequate spaces to serve them. It is not necessary to shave, or put enema, or monitor continuously or internally, it is necessary to allow the free movement of women throughout childbirth and provide non-pharmacological pain control measures, such as balls, bathtubs and massages. In addition, the atmosphere of intimacy, gloom and silence, without entry and exit of personnel that are not strictly lacking are also important.
Once all this is achieved, it is possible for the center to begin offering natural births and that takes time. But the commitment to offer at least that possibility without the mothers who want it being attacked seems to me a great advance for which to congratulate the Catalan health network that has managed to triple natural births in four years
