Joyce Pring shares tips on having a natural labor, delivery

Joyce Pring has several tips for moms-to-be who are interested in having a natural labor and delivery—that means no inducing labor and no epidural or anesthesia.

On her latest vlog, Joyce said she experienced natural birth when she delivered her second child, Agnes Eleanor.

Because giving birth can be a scary process for some, the television host and media personality shared some of the things she learned from her own natural birth story.

1. Choose a health care provider that will be supportive of your natural birth plan.

According to Joyce, it's important to find an obstetrician-gynecologist who has the mindset that women's bodies are designed to give birth naturally.

She advised to ask about caesarean rates of the doctor and the hospital's rules regarding caesarean section. Some doctors believe that big babies will need to be delivered via CS, while others would induce labor when babies reach a certain size.

2. Get a birthing doula

A doula is a birthing coach of a sort who will support you during childbirth. Joyce said she can stay during the whole delivery process, or you can ask her to be there right before birth to help advocate for you.

For the birth of her second child, Joyce tapped the services of Doula Irina. She said it's helpful to find someone who encouraged her and gave her instructions during delivery.

3. Attend birthing classes

As in everything else, knowledge is important in childbirth. Joyce said she learned useful information when she attended birthing classes, such as the different stages of labor and the movements that babies make before coming out of the womb.

For those who have no budget for classes, Joyce said there are plenty of YouTube videos they can check out to educate themselves on the childbirth process. 

4. Create a birth plan.

According to Joyce, a birth plan is basically a list of preferences a woman makes regarding the childbirth process. This includes the type of pain management techniques she wants to do, the kind of monitoring she wants during labor, and even staying abed or walking around.

Joyce said it's easy to find a birth plan template with a Google search, but she said the plan must be tailor-fit to one's needs.

5. Practice breathing exercises.

Joyce said learning how to breathe through her labor is the most powerful thing she was able to utilize when she gave birth to her daughter. Breathing helps relax the body and avoid panic.

"The thing with labor and natural birth is the more than your body is constricted, the more that you're fighting contractions, the more painful it will become," Joyce said. "You have to breathe your baby out."

6. Stay active while pregnant.

Joyce advised that it's also important to stay physically active while pregnant, as giving birth exacts a huge physical toll on a woman's body. It's good to have some exercise and even just walking.

But of course, it's best to consult a doctor first about the kind and level of workout suitable for one's condition. Joyce also suggested consuming lots of protein to prepare for the birth.

7. Have a birth partner.

Having a support system while giving birth is a huge boost. The role of a birth partner can be filled by one's spouse, provided that they are as educated on the process as the woman giving birth.

For Joyce, she said her husband Juancho Triviño helped her during her labor with little Aggie, applying counter pressure to alleviate some of the pain she felt. He also assisted her in experimenting with different positions that will be comfortable for her. 

8. Stay focused.

Finally, Joyce said visualizing a natural birth helped her to stay focused during the entire process. She advises women to surround themselves with positive and encouraging stories that remind them of their capability to give birth.

In the end, however, Joyce said that most important thing is to have a positive birthing experience, which sometimes requires caesarean section or epidural. What matters is you and your baby are safe and healthy.

—MGP, GMA Integrated News