This last weekend I was up in Minnesota for a family Christmas celebration. Driving down the highway, I noticed the digital signs read:
Resolution:
Buckle Up
Phone Down
Those are simple, but important reminders for drivers, and they got me thinking about some simple, concise resolutions for a better birth. Here’s what I came up with:
Resolutions for a Better Birth:
Be Informed
Be Supported
Let’s talk about these two resolutions for a better birth and explore what they mean and how they can benefit you.
Be Informed
Information is critical for dispelling myths. And dispelling myths is central for eliminating fear. Eliminating fear is crucial for labor progress. It's an intricate cycle!
There are lots of ways to get information about birth! But how do you find credible information? In this day and age of info at your fingertips 24/7, how can you tell if what you're learning is fact or fiction? What I recommend to all of my doula clients is to take a Bradley Childbirth Class. This class is the best, most complete class out there. You will get A TON of information about pregnancy, birth, and postpartum. Check out our Bradley page or reach out for the details about upcoming classes.
Reading is another great way to learn about pregnancy and childbirth. You don’t have to log on to Amazon and buy every birth book ever published. Check out your library; they have many quality books. Also, I have a lending library full of books about fertility, pregnancy, birth, breastfeeding, baby care, and postpartum that I loan out to our clients.
The internet also has a lot of excellent information about pregnancy and birth. It has a lot of junk, too! Check with your doula for recommended websites. I like The VBAC Link and Evidence Based Birth.
Be Supported
Hopefully everyone has someone in their life to support them as they learn and grow. Athletes have coaches. Realtors have mentors. Resident doctors have overseeing doctors. College students have professors, and professors have department chairs. Support is important to achieving the goals we set for ourselves.
If you want to have a better birth, find someone to support you!
Your support team may include your husband/partner, birth doula, postpartum doula, Bradley teacher, midwife or OB, mom, sister, friend, and labor nurse. You team could also include a chiropractor, massage therapist, pelvic floor therapist, reflexologist, and mental health practitioner, too. The possibilities are endless!
You have to choose your support people with care. You will want to find a health care provider who supports the goals you have for your birth. OB vs. midwife. Hospital birth vs. home birth. There are many choices to make. I’ve attended a lot of births, and I think that the majority of the providers in our area are wonderful. But their communication styles can be very different. The provider who I think is the best at obtaining informed consent is Bethany Gates, CPM, at Shiphrah Birth Services. She makes sure her patients know what she is doing and why, and she waits for their consent before she does it.
A doula is an integral part of being supported in pregnancy, birth, and postpartum. Birth support is our business; it’s our passion. A good doula supports her clients, no matter what they choose for their birth. At Zenith Birth Services, we don’t have an agenda. We put your choices first! We love the opportunity to work with moms and dads, to support their wishes, and to help them achieve their better birth!
So, if you’re pregnant this New Year, resolve to have a better birth!
Resolution:
Buckle Up
Phone Down
Those are simple, but important reminders for drivers, and they got me thinking about some simple, concise resolutions for a better birth. Here’s what I came up with:
Resolutions for a Better Birth:
Be Informed
Be Supported
Let’s talk about these two resolutions for a better birth and explore what they mean and how they can benefit you.
Be Informed
Information is critical for dispelling myths. And dispelling myths is central for eliminating fear. Eliminating fear is crucial for labor progress. It's an intricate cycle!
There are lots of ways to get information about birth! But how do you find credible information? In this day and age of info at your fingertips 24/7, how can you tell if what you're learning is fact or fiction? What I recommend to all of my doula clients is to take a Bradley Childbirth Class. This class is the best, most complete class out there. You will get A TON of information about pregnancy, birth, and postpartum. Check out our Bradley page or reach out for the details about upcoming classes.
Reading is another great way to learn about pregnancy and childbirth. You don’t have to log on to Amazon and buy every birth book ever published. Check out your library; they have many quality books. Also, I have a lending library full of books about fertility, pregnancy, birth, breastfeeding, baby care, and postpartum that I loan out to our clients.
The internet also has a lot of excellent information about pregnancy and birth. It has a lot of junk, too! Check with your doula for recommended websites. I like The VBAC Link and Evidence Based Birth.
Be Supported
Hopefully everyone has someone in their life to support them as they learn and grow. Athletes have coaches. Realtors have mentors. Resident doctors have overseeing doctors. College students have professors, and professors have department chairs. Support is important to achieving the goals we set for ourselves.
If you want to have a better birth, find someone to support you!
Your support team may include your husband/partner, birth doula, postpartum doula, Bradley teacher, midwife or OB, mom, sister, friend, and labor nurse. You team could also include a chiropractor, massage therapist, pelvic floor therapist, reflexologist, and mental health practitioner, too. The possibilities are endless!
You have to choose your support people with care. You will want to find a health care provider who supports the goals you have for your birth. OB vs. midwife. Hospital birth vs. home birth. There are many choices to make. I’ve attended a lot of births, and I think that the majority of the providers in our area are wonderful. But their communication styles can be very different. The provider who I think is the best at obtaining informed consent is Bethany Gates, CPM, at Shiphrah Birth Services. She makes sure her patients know what she is doing and why, and she waits for their consent before she does it.
A doula is an integral part of being supported in pregnancy, birth, and postpartum. Birth support is our business; it’s our passion. A good doula supports her clients, no matter what they choose for their birth. At Zenith Birth Services, we don’t have an agenda. We put your choices first! We love the opportunity to work with moms and dads, to support their wishes, and to help them achieve their better birth!
So, if you’re pregnant this New Year, resolve to have a better birth!
