Natural birth has passionate advocates. Some Catholic women feel pressure to birth unmedicated—as if intervention indicates spiritual failure. Others feel guilt for wanting an epidural. What does the Church actually teach?
The short answer: The Church does not require natural birth.
What the Church Says
Pope Pius XII (1956): Pain Relief Is Permitted
In a landmark address to anesthesiologists, Pius XII explicitly approved pain relief during childbirth:
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5 Prayers for Labor & Delivery
A Catholic prayer for every stage of birth. From the first contraction to holding your baby.