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natural childbirth

natural childbirth

4 4.0
Giving birth with little medical help and no drugs to reduce pain or help the birth
  • noun
  • /ˈnæʧərəl ˈʧaɪldbɜrθ/
translation icon : parto natural
  • I just think it's a really personal decision, though, if you go with an epidural or you have a natural childbirth.
  • natural childbirth movement
  • natural childbirth classes
  • women who do natural childbirth

I know people think it like makes them like, oh, I gave natural childbirth.

Examples

  • She has her babies by natural childbirth and breastfeeds them on park benches and city buses.

    Fiction book (1992)
  • I had no idea your brave wife did natural childbirth.

  • The company wants to know if it can switch to natural childbirth to save money in the long run.

    Fiction book (1995)
  • Maybe some of you should learn more about how natural childbirth works!

    Blog text (4)
  • Anyone who has experienced natural childbirth would get this photo.

    Blog text (4)
  • I've been taking the natural childbirth classes.

  • Thirty-nine years later, after two natural childbirths and a hysterectomy for cancer, I still remember that particular pain.

    Blog text (7)
  • We arranged with the instructors of the natural childbirth courses to meet with the pregnant participants during a regularly scheduled class session.

    Academic text (2002)
  • From what I can tell, this article doesn't support the argument that C-sections are less traumatic than natural childbirth.

    Blog text (9)
  • Many expectant parents choose natural childbirth to experience the birthing process without medication.

Synonyms

alternative birthing
vsnatural childbirth
6.3

A way of giving birth without medical help, often at home or in water

focuses more on having no pain drugs and minimal medical help during delivery
alternative birth
vsnatural childbirth
6.0

A way to have a baby with little medical equipment, often at home or in a birth center

highlights absence of pain drugs and minimal medical involvement in delivery

How Medical

cesarean section
  • Specialized
1 3.7
Read method
  • Archaic
7.5
natural childbirth
4 4.0
home birth
15 3.5

Surface Forms

Morphology

natural + childbirth

The phrase is a straightforward adjective+noun composition: 'natural' (without artificial or medical intervention) modifying 'childbirth' (the act of giving birth), so the meaning — giving birth with minimal medical intervention and no drugs — is directly inferable from the parts. This compositional pattern is common cross-linguistically and follows standard English semantics, so a B1 learner who knows both words should understand the MWE.

Etymology

Natural childbirth comes from the simple picture of a baby being born without machines or strong drugs, often with only a midwife to help. The word natural here means 'no drugs' and very little medical help, so the phrase now means giving birth with little or no medical help.