From many of the unmedicated birth stories that I read here, it seems like
there are always nurses in the background watching with admiration, or
bringing in other nurses to watch, saying things like, "Wow, we don't see
many women go without meds here" -- that type of thing. So it sounds like
it's not as common as having an epidural. I think most women about to give
birth, the "average" woman, is already planning her epidural, and most of
her friends had an epidural. It's just a very very common aspect of
childbirth most places. Not saying good or bad, right or wrong, just
common.
--

Jamie
Earth Angels:
Taylor Marlys, 1/3/03 -- Little Miss Director, who says, "No Mama, you have
to do it THIS way!"
Addison Grace, 9/30/04 -- My Little Communicator, who, when asked if she was
ready to take a nap, shook her head no and said in Baby Signs, "Night night
all done, downstairs."

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"Lady Penelope Creighton-Ward" wrote in message
oups.com...
I mentioned a while back that of all the women I know who've had
babies, the only one who didn't receive some kind of medical
intervention at birth was the woman who had the baby at home. Everyone
else was either induced, augmented, c-sectioned, or forcepsed. I
exclude epidurals from the list deliberately (all but the home-birth
friend had them).

I was curious if there are any statistics in the US on exactly how many
natural births occur in hospitals here.

My hospital provides stats on percentage inductions, percentage
c-sections, etc, but doesn't give percentage non-interventions, so I
don't have a realistic idea of how many of their 'patients' get meds to
assist with the birth.