Page "Natural childbirth" Paragraph 6

Instead of interventions, a variety of non-invasive methods are employed during natural childbirth to aid the mother, since they do not to carry the inherent risk of medical procedures.

Many of these stress the importance of " a mind-body connection ," which the techno-medical model of birth tends to ignore.

Pain management techniques other than medication include hydrotherapy, massage, relaxation therapy, hypnosis, breathing exercises, acupressure for labour, TENS, vocalization, visualization, mindfulness and water birth.

Other approaches include movement and different positions ( i. e. using a birthing ball ), hot and cold therapy ( i. e. using hot compresses and / or cold packs ), and receiving one-on-one labor support like that provided by a midwife or doula.

However, natural childbirth proponents maintain that pain is a natural and necessary part of the labor process, and should not automatically be regarded as entirely negative.

In contrast to the pain of injury and disease, they believe that the pain of childbirth is a sign that the female body is functioning as it is meant to.