Some women want to have a birthing experience where they are fully aware and fully functional during labor. Natural childbirth may be desired for several reasons. Some of the reasons may be: religious beliefs, fear of harming to fetus with anesthesia, fear of an epidural, afraid they will not be able to push under the influence of anesthesia, and fear of cesarean. 

Generally women who have natural childbirth do get a local anesthetic called pudenial block. This numbs the vaginal area before the actual birth of the baby. The pudenial block decreases the tingling and stretching sensation of the vagina during the birth of the baby.