Natural childbirth is a philosophy that attempts to minimize medical intervention, particularly the use of anesthetic medications and surgical interventions such as episiotomies, forceps, vacume extractor deliveries and caesarean sections. Many women consider natural birth empowering. A woman who is supported through labor as she instinctively wants to be supported is a woman who will likely feel positive about her birth experience and future parenting skills. Her baby is more alert and placed on her skin (promoting maternal bonding) and breastfeeding is more likely to be enjoyable and successful.

Proponents of natural childbirth note that anesthetics may increase the likelihood of complications, because labor may be slowed and the naturally occurring hormones of birth are not passed on to the baby. With anethesia, the woman may not be able to adequately move her body during labor or work with her body during final delivery. All epidural medications given during labor cross the placenta and affect the fetus, and it has been shown that pain medication can affect the feeding behavior of the newborn and reduce the chances of successful breastfeeding. A natural birth increases the probability of a healthier postnatal period and an easier recovery due to better hormonal balance and less post-operative discomforts.

A woman who has given birth with minimal intervention does not have to recover from major abdominal surgery (cesarean section), instrumental delivery (by forceps or vacuum), cutting of the perineum, (called episiotomy), bruises from IV lines, or severe headache and backache (a possible and well-documented side effect of epidurals).