Why do women refer to their epidural/hospital birth as natural?

Question

A hospital is the farthest u can get from nature. When i hear women say they had natural childbirth "with an epidural of course" it makes me laugh. Are women really that out of touch with nature?

Answer 1

Well, I'd laugh if I knew of a woman (in America or another developed country), running outside to deliver her baby, in nature... Since it was nature you mentioned, then even a homebirth with no meds, fits your criteria for 'natural.' ;)

Answer 2

What i assumed as Natural birth is when you have it via Vaginal and with no DRUGS. But I guess Natural would mean like in nature. Its a good question.. I know I had my daughter in the hospital with IV because I was dehydrated but I had no drugs helping me, and it was via vaginal and I guess I considered all natural.. but I guess I was wrong.  

Answer 3

i would imagine they mean they delivered it vaginally rather than having a c-section.

Answer 4

I've never heard anyone refer to an epidural birth as a natural one.  Natural birth is considered to be one without drugs.  Personally I think those ladies are crazy as there is no way i'd have a baby without an epidural.  Epidural's are heavenly.

Answer 5

They mean vaginally as opposed to cesarean.

Answer 6

Hahaha, apparently.  I have never heard anyone refer to having an epidural as natural childbirth!  LOL, too funny.

Answer 7

I would assume that by naturally, they mean vaginally and without pitocin... My personal idea of natural is with no intervention though it may or may not be at a hospital. Even Bradley insists that a hospital is 'natural'.

Answer 8

Having a baby in the hospital  vaginally IS having a natural birth. Having a c-section and/or an epidural ( like I had to do) is not considered a natural birth. I personally would not have wanted to wander off in the woods to give birth to my daughters. I did opt for an epidural after the first 10 hours of labor because i was in a lot of pain. After 22 hours of labor and lots of concern for my unborn babies health the doctors finally decided they needed to get her out and soon so I had to have an emergency c-section. She could have died had I not been in the hospital. I also had to have a c-section with my second daughter do to safety reasons. My body just wouldn't have been able to handle natural birth this second time.

Answer 9

Unfortunately that now shows that the term natural childbirth is meaningless.  

Answer 10

i think what they mean to is vaginal, as vaginal is the more natural way opposed to C-section. and you can have a natural birth in a hospital, you don't need to bee outside or in the forest, come on don't be so picky about it. if you go drug free in a hospital it is a natural birth.

Answer 11

I would guess that the women who say that are using natural as a synonym for vaginal.

Answer 12

Wow hun. A natural birth doesn't refer to "nature". It means a vaginal birth rather than having a C-section. lol goodness

Answer 13

No, women refer to an epidural/hospital birth as natural because that is what the doctors tell them, and vaginal birth is considered natural whether or not you use drugs. I guess you can look at it however you want, others just have different thoughts on it.