Unmedicated vs. Medicated Birth: Which is Best?
When it comes to giving birth, there’s no one size fits all. Whether you’re planning a water birth at home or feel more comfortable with an epidural in a hospital, what matters most is that you feel safe, informed, and supported in your choices.
As a midwife, I’ve witnessed birth unfold in many different ways. I’ve also seen how conversations around birth can sometimes become rigid, as if there’s only one “right” way to do it. But birth, in its entirety, is about making informed, supported decisions that feel right for you, even if your journey takes unexpected turns.
There is real power in informed choice. It gives you the freedom to adapt without undermining your autonomy or confidence. Flexibility doesn’t mean losing control, it means trusting yourself and your support system to honour your needs, whatever they may look like.
Health professional giving support in water birth.
What Is a “unmedicated Birth”?
“unmedicated birth” refers to giving birth without medical pain relief or interventions. It can happen at home, in a birth centre, or in hospital, and may include supportive tools like:
Water (birth pool or shower)
Hypnobirthing techniques
Breathing exercises
Massage and movement
TENS machines
Many women feel that giving birth without interventions allows them to feel more in control of their body and the experience. It can be empowering to fully participate in the birth process and trust the body’s ability to do what it was made to do. Choosing a unmedicated birth is about preparing for what your body can do and having the right support system in place.
Advantages:
Increased mobility during labour e.g., walking, changing positions freely.
Shorter recovery time post birth.
No medication side effects for mother or baby.
Often associated with a strong sense of achievement and control.
Encourages physiological hormone release like oxytocin, which supports bonding and breastfeeding.
Disadvantages:
Intense pain, which can be physically and emotionally exhausting.
May be harder to manage if labour is long or complicated.
May not be possible or safe in all situations e.g., high risk pregnancies.
Pressure to “succeed” naturally can lead to disappointment or guilt.
What About Medicated Birth?
A medicated birth refers to childbirth where medical pain relief methods or interventions are used to support the birthing person during labour. It can include a range of medications and techniques designed to reduce or manage labour pain, assist with birth, or support the health of the mother and baby.Using medication doesn’t make birth less meaningful or unpredictable. Medicated options include:
Gas and air (Entonox) – fast acting and non invasive.
Pethidine or diamorphine – opiod based pain relief.
Epidural/Spinal– a local anaesthetic that can provide significant pain relief.
Induction and augmentation drugs – to help labour start/progress.
For many, a medicated birth can create a more positive birth experience by easing pain, reducing exhaustion, or preventing interventions later on. Sometimes, it's also the safest option, especially in high-risk pregnancies or long labours.
Advantages:
Effective pain relief, especially with epidurals.
Can reduce anxiety and exhaustion, particularly in long labours.
Allows for a more restful experience in some cases.
May be medically necessary for complicated births.
Disadvantages:
Limited mobility with an epidural.
Potential side effects e.g., drop in blood pressure, prolonged births, headaches.
Intervention cascade risk e.g., need for assisted birth.
May impact early breastfeeding or bonding due to hormone disruptures.
Baby being born via Caesarean section
There's No Award for Mode of Birth
Let’s be honest, birth is no easy feat. Whether you birth in water or with an epidural, vaginally or via caesarean, with a doula or a consultant led team, it’s all birth. Every experience is valid and worthy in its own right. Comparing your birth to someone else’s can sometimes leave you feeling deflated or like you didn’t do “enough.” Birth is deeply personal and no two journeys are ever the same. What matters is that you’re informed, respected, and cared for.
Choosing What’s Right for You
Hearing other people’s birth stories can be powerful and even healing, as long as it doesn’t lead to self-judgment or pressure. What worked for someone else, whether unmedicated, medicated, quick, or long, doesn’t define what’s right for you.
Other people’s experiences should inform, not influence, your decisions. Your choices should come from your needs, your body, and your circumstances, not from the pressure to fit into anyone else’s version of “the ideal birth.” Including that of your healthcare professional.
The best plan is one that:
Makes you feel confident, not pressured.
Leaves room for flexibility, because birth can be unpredictable.
Is centred on your needs, not just outcomes.
Birth is powerful, raw, and sometimes unpredictable. There’s no award for doing it a certain way, only the power in making decisions that feel right and safe for you.
Here are some useful resources:
Nyisha x