, , , ,

People often ask me, “What’s the point of a natural birth?” meaning a drug-free vaginal birth. I mean we do live in the 21st century in which we can just numb the pain and magically a new baby appears. So, why then would we aim to endure a natural childbirth process?

That epidural that is so common to relieve pain and the pitocin used to induce labor or speed up labor in majority of the women brought into a hospital both have side effects. Often these side effects are overlooked or brushed under the rug just as long as a healthy baby is the product.

There is a time and a place for medical interventions such as the two mentioned above. However, with the frequency that such procedures are used today and how common it is in our society, I feel the responsibility to spread some knowledge. It is not normal to make use of an epidural or pitocin, but unfortunately, in our society it is quite common and viewed in relation to something as mundane as brushing our teeth.

Health professionals are aware of the risks that pitocin, the synthetic version of oxytocin, has on the mother. Pitocin produces abnormal labor. Meaning that it throws the woman’s hormones out of whack. Labor is no longer controlled by the woman’s hormone regulation system but by the continuous administration of a pitocin IV drip. Labor becomes intense and unbearable rather than short pulses of contractions. With the long pitocin contractions, the baby has no time to recover, and subsequently the baby becomes distressed. Then, a woman’s chances of a vaginal birth become slim to none.

In the next few years, more and more studies will be released in regards to the adverse effects of such things as pitocin not only on the mother but the child as well. I read a study today describing the negative effects of pitocin on the child. This study may be the first of its kind, but it’s much needed.

Read for yourself.

  Screen shot 2013-05-22 at 10.12.17 PM

Childbirth is not an instant gratification process. It will require a lot of preparation and mental toughness, but the reward will, without a doubt, be worth it.


In 8 minutes,

Complete 50 Thrusters (95, 65, 45, 15)


5 Push ups

10 Air Squats

20 meter Bear Crawl (10m down, 10m back)



  • The weights for advanced, intermediate, beginner, and ‘never lifted anything’ are listed.
  • Push ups can be scaled from knees and elevated on plates or even a wall.
  • Bear crawl can be substituted for a crab walk.
  • Thrusters can be broken up into power clean, front squat, and push press.
  • Use a KB if belly is growing:)