Natural Birth Tips:
Navigating Low-Intervention Birth in Collingwood, Barrie, and Simcoe County
For many expectant parents in the Georgian Bay area, the goal is a birth experience that feels grounded, supported, and as natural as possible. Whether you are planning to deliver at Collingwood General and Marine Hospital (CGMH), Royal Victoria Regional Health Centre (RVH) in Barrie, or at home overlooking the Escarpment, preparation is key.
As a local doula, I’ve seen firsthand how the right environment and support system can transform a labour experience. Here are my top tips for achieving a “natural” or unmedicated birth in our local community.
1. Choose a Birth Environment That Supports Your Goals
In the Simcoe County area, we are fortunate to have hospitals that are increasingly supportive of low-intervention births.
Collingwood (CGMH): Known for its intimate, community-focused maternity ward.
Barrie (RVH): Offers advanced facilities with rooms equipped for various labouring positions.
Pro Tip: If you are aiming for an unmedicated birth, discuss "intermittent fetal heart rate monitoring" (using a handheld device to check the baby's heart rate) instead of continuous electronic monitoring with your OB or midwife. This allows you to stay mobile—which is vital for progress! If continuous monitoring is necessary, inquire about a wireless or waterproof option.
2. Utilize Movement and Gravity
Movement is your best friend during labour and delivery. The "active birth" philosophy is about working with your body rather than lying on your back.
The Rebozo Technique: I often use a traditional Mexican shawl (Rebozo) to help sift and relax the pelvic muscles, which can be a game-changer during long labours.
Walking: If you are labouring at home in Wasaga or Thornbury before heading to the hospital, taking a long, slow walk along the water is a classic way to help the baby’s head engage. Pro Tip: Being near water, often referred to as "Blue Mind" space, triggers a physiological shift that increases oxytocin, the driving hormone of labour!
Crawling: Whether you are asked to get on the bed at RVH birthing unit for a vaginal exam, or are going to empty your bladder during your planned homebirth, crawling there is an exceptional way to help baby descend into the pelvis!
As my esteemed Waterbirth Education trainer — Barbara Harper of Waterbirth International — says: If you want to move the baby, move the mother!
3. Water Therapy (The "Doula’s Epidural")
Hydrotherapy is one of the most effective tools for pain management without medication.
At RVH or CGMH: Many rooms offer showers or tubs. The warmth and buoyancy of the water can significantly lower stress hormones (catecholamines) and boost oxytocin, the hormone responsible for labor progress.
At Home: Consider renting an inflatable birthing pool kit unless you have a very deep tub at home. Water should be at minimum 18-24 inches for safe waterbirth. Spoiler: we rent a birth-pool-in-a-box at Doula By The Bay — ask us if ours is available for your Estimated Due Date window!
4. Build Your "Birthing Bubble"
The "Where" matters, but the "Who" matters more. To stay in a natural rhythm, you need to feel safe and unobserved.
Dim the Lights: Most hospital rooms in Barrie and Collingwood have adjustable lighting. Keeping it low mimics the safety of home.
Local Resources: Consider taking a prenatal yoga class — Doula By The Bay offers these privately in-home in Collingwood and Barrie if studio options aren’t available. You might also practice Hypnobirthing techniques, visual affirmations, and breathing techniques to build your mental stamina.
5. The Role of a Doula at Your Birth
Statistics show that having a doula present can significantly reduce the likelihood of unnecessary medical interventions. In our local rural and suburban landscape, I act as your continuous support—helping you decide when it’s time to make the drive to the hospital and providing physical comfort measures like counter-pressure and hip squeezes the moment you need them. I also offer guided meditations, hands-on massage, yoga for birth, personalized birthing playlists, and waterbirth expertise.
Ready to plan your birth journey?
If you’re looking for a doula who has tools up her sleeve to support unmedicated birth in home or hospital, I’d love to chat.