natural childbirth

American  

noun

1. childbirth involving little or no use of drugs or anesthesia and usually involving a program in which the mother is psychologically and physically prepared for the birth process.

---

natural childbirth British  

noun

1. a method of childbirth characterized by the absence of anaesthetics, in which the expectant mother is given special breathing and relaxing exercises

---

Etymology

Origin of natural childbirth

First recorded in 1930–35

Example Sentences

Her work came out of the natural childbirth movement of the 1970s, when alternatives to the standard hospital birth were being explored.

From New York Times • Apr. 25, 2024

Yet Charlotte's story which included loss, grief, IVF failure, adoption and eventually, natural childbirth — was vastly ahead of its time.

From Salon • Jun. 20, 2023

The women have options for medical intervention, including a procedure to re-open a narrowed vaginal opening to help with everything from urination and menstruation to natural childbirth.

From Seattle Times • Feb. 13, 2023

She said she dove into literature on natural childbirth and gave birth four times during the next six years “with absolutely no pain whatsoever.”

From Washington Post • Feb. 11, 2021

It has been proved by statistics that the danger of immediate death is fifteen times as great as in natural childbirth.

From Plain Facts for Old and Young by Kellogg, John Harvey