By Dr. R. William Davey

LVO MD LRCP FFHOM AKC

Former Physician to Her Majesty the Queen

Natural childbirth without drugs needn’t mean intense pain any more.

Dr William Davey says he now recommends hypnobirthing for a less painful delivery...

WHEN I TRAINED IN THE 1960’S and did my midwifery course as a medical student, we had to deliver at least 40 babies as part of our pathway to qualification. We had intensive and thorough training at my medical school and I recall this as one of the best parts of learning to become a doctor.

The outcome was always triumphant for the mother (and for me!!) even if there were a few complications sometimes.

I really grew to admire the “Mums” who seemed to be so good and stoical and long-suffering. I think they knew full well I was under training and I wonder even now at their forbearance and tolerance.

Quickly I grew quite good at playing “the Stork” and seriously considered becoming an Obstetrician.

We had no shortage of ladies to care for, because then it was de rigueur, all first pregnancies were born in hospital. No argument, that was the rule.

In those days doctors were viewed as demigods and if that was the rule then all first pregnancies without question were delivered in hospital. It was then considered far too risky to “allow” home births!

Since then matters have changed.

Now approximately one in four births in the UK are delivered by Cesarean Section. This is offered if there are thought to be potential complications, for example the baby lying in the wrong position for a natural birth. But I used to deliver breech babies as a matter of course.

Now there has also arisen the choice of electing for a Cesarean as a matter of convenience and to avoid the pain of child birth.

However times are changing again, and the swing is now definitely towards natural childbirth and preferably at home. This is contrary to the health professionals' advice who continue to press upon the uninformed pregnant woman that she needs to have the baby in hospital.

A study just published in the British Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology has shown that recent research conducted in Australia demonstrated that women are prepared to accept greater risk and accept the pain of child-birth.

It now seems that women in Australia given the informed choice were less likely than the professionals to adopt a cautious approach.

Even if questioned about minor complications such as prolongation of the birth and superficial tears or even more serious possibilities of incontinence or severe tears, the research findings were the same. Women wanted natural child birth despite the advice from the professionals.

It has arrived over here in the UK now!

The study author Catherine Turner said: “Our study found that pregnant women were more likely to aim for vaginal delivery, and they accept a higher threshold of risks from vaginal delivery when compared with clinicians.”

The Journal’s Editor in chief Professor Philip Steer said: “This indicates experiencing labour and attempting a normal birth are two very important priorities in women’s decision making.”

Women now increasingly want to be “PRESENT” at the birth of their child.

Belinda Phipps Chief Executive of the National Childbirth Trust, admitted that it is possible that having seen the unpleasant complications that can sometimes happen, health professionals can get a negative view of outcomes which biases their view about the risks involved. They do not have time to get debriefed when involved in a tragedy and so their views are consolidated and confirmed towards this negative bias. Belinda Phipps added that: “I recognise that this is very difficult to avoid, but they need to realise that for most women, this is something that they feel it is important to do for themselves.”

But I have a footnote to add.

The prevailing sentiment is that childbirth is always painful and fear inducing.

NOT SO!

I have a colleague and friend Katharine Graves who can be found at: www.thehypnobirthingcentre.co.uk

She practises Hypnobirthing and she has fascinated me with case history after case history relating to her experiences. So many of her clients after attending her courses with their husbands have relatively easy births with much reduced pain. The letters of thanks she has received subsequent to mostly very successful outcomes are very touching and proof positive to me of the efficacy of hypnobirthing.

Bear in mind that I represent very much the old school of thought.

I now much recommend attending a hypnobirthing course if you are pregnant. Even obstetric colleagues of mine are showing new interest in what it has to offer.

Please remember, as always, these are my personal views. If you want to discuss any issue raised in my article then please go to www.drwilliamdavey.com or call me on: 01753 892329.