Childbirth Videos That Are Helpful

(Even When You're Pregnant)

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Childbirth videos can be both beautiful and educational - or just plain frightening.

Here we have collected a number of birth videos that we think are both educational in different ways and completely fine to look at whether you're pregnant or not.

They are all showing natural childbirths in one way or the other. Not because we have anything at all against pain relief, but since these women have often taken a decision to practice and execute natural pain-relief they tend to be more relaxed and more of an inspiration than the "lying-on-your-back-with-lots-of-medication" clips.

If you are even the slightest nervous about giving birth, I really recommend the childbirth classes created by Catherine Beier. They are superb and all about empowering each woman to take responsibility of their birthing. You can read my exclusive interview with Catherine here.

Still pregnant, you may also want to take a peek at these fetal development videos, to learn more about the little one inside of you.

Childbirth Videos

You have to be at least 18 years old to watch some of these videos, according to Youtube.

Animated educational videos
Water births
Hypnobirthing
Doula assisted natural birthing with birthing stool and relaxation
Amazingly relaxed
Vaginal birth of twins

Animated educational videos

The first two video clips are animated and teach you what happens inside your body when giving birth. I think this is a good way to understand the labor process.

This first video shows the baby's way through the birth canal.

This second video clip explains the different stations of presentation that the baby passes on its way to be born.

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Water births

The next four giving birth video clips are of water births at home and in hospital. While this is not a very common way to give birth, it is certainly a way to help mom relax and cope with the labor pain. As you can see in all these videos, the woman giving birth is quite relaxed, even in the fourth video, where twins are being born.

You can read more about the potential risks associated with water birth here. The first video is from a homebirth. Beautiful and peaceful.

And so is the second one. See how they use a mirror to see the crowning of the baby, i.e. when the babys head is starting to come out.

I find this third water birth video from a hospital simply amazing. The mom is actually cuddling the baby while traveling through the birth canal. Talk about a relaxed childbirth!

And finally a twin water birth. Something that can obviously work out really well too.

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Hypnobirthing

This video shows a woman practicing hypnosis to relax and cope with labor pain. She is doing an excellent job!

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Doula assisted natural birthing with birthing stool and relaxation

Here you can follow a woman's stages of labor in a natural childbirth situation. The whole labor took 27 hours, and she still manages to keep sane and positive. Her doula, husband and later midwife support her, and she gets through the process really well. Maybe a comfort for those who can't understand how it is possible to endure so many hours of labor. The first part shows labor up until delivery, and also spends quite some time explaining the process.

In this second part of this woman's childbirth, you can hear about and watch delivery while using a use a birthing stool as well as giving birth in an upright position. Also see how the dad-to-be supports the woman giving birth. (For tips on how dad can support mom during childbirth, click here.)

There is a lot of talking and explaining is this video, which you may or may not like. We find it very informative. The actual pushing scene, while on the birthing stool, is intentionally blurred, but you will still be able to see that the woman is in an upright position and you do get a peak of the stool. There is also a doula, as well as a midwife in the room, encouraging the mom.

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Amazingly relaxed

The next video clip I added simply because the woman is so amazingly relaxed. She actually smiles! While most women probably don't feel much like laughing while pushing, being relaxed and using breathing as a tool to focus really helps!

(The video has a web address in the middle of the screen all the time, which is annoying, but the video clip is still worth watching.)

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Vaginal birth of twins

This last video shows a vaginal birth of twins, where the second twin was in breech position. The doctor has to reach up and actually pull out the baby. This may seem scary, but the video is actually very encouraging. The mom gave birth in pregnancy week 37, she was warned before the childbirth that the doctor may pull out the baby, so she wasn't scared by it at all. She is calm and relaxed and the babies are just fine. Often, twins births are planned C-sections, but this video shows that vaginal birth of twins is entirely possible if the babies and mom are healthy.

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I hope these childbirth video clips could inspire you to take charge of your own birthing process. A good way to get started with thinking through what YOU want, is to go through and answer the questions in this birthing plan.

Good luck!