Giving Birth Naturally versus Giving Birth with an Epidural

Abstract

Whether to give birth naturally or to do so with the help of an epidural is a commonly asked question among women in the United States. Giving birth naturally is defined as “a woman choosing to embrace the labor process using the power of her body and mind without the use of medical interventions” (Windmiller, 2017, p. 42). The main concern for women preparing for their births is whether or not they will be able to deliver vaginally successfully with one method over the other. Being pregnant is full of different, difficult choices for a woman, so it is the job of the nurse to know both the positive and negative aspects of both choices and how it will effect the woman’s ability to successfully deliver vaginally. This Evidence Based Practice Brief explores the different aspects of giving birth naturally or with the use of an epidural and how each method may affect the ability to deliver vaginally successfully.