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 myth. Dispelling myth is central for eliminating fear. Eliminating fear is crucial for labor progress.
There are lots of ways to get information about birth! My favorite way, and 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. We are blessed to have Erin and Paul Simmer teaching Bradley Classes locally at Made to Birth.
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 first-rate books. Also, I have a lending library full of books that I lone out to clients. So does Erin Simmer, so check with your doula or childbirth educator to see if they have any books to lend.
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 VBAC Facts and Evidence Based Birth.
Be Supported
Everyone has someone in their life to support them as they learn and grow in a specific area. Athletes have coaches. Realtors have mentors. Resident doctors have overseeing doctors. College students have professors. 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 birth support team can include husband/partner, doula, OB or midwife, mom, sister, friend, labor nurse. The possibilities are endless!
You have to choose your support people with care. You 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 almost all of the providers in our area are very good. 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 and birth. 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 in 2018, 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 myth. Dispelling myth is central for eliminating fear. Eliminating fear is crucial for labor progress.
There are lots of ways to get information about birth! My favorite way, and 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. We are blessed to have Erin and Paul Simmer teaching Bradley Classes locally at Made to Birth.
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 first-rate books. Also, I have a lending library full of books that I lone out to clients. So does Erin Simmer, so check with your doula or childbirth educator to see if they have any books to lend.
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 VBAC Facts and Evidence Based Birth.
Be Supported
Everyone has someone in their life to support them as they learn and grow in a specific area. Athletes have coaches. Realtors have mentors. Resident doctors have overseeing doctors. College students have professors. 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 birth support team can include husband/partner, doula, OB or midwife, mom, sister, friend, labor nurse. The possibilities are endless!
You have to choose your support people with care. You 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 almost all of the providers in our area are very good. 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 and birth. 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 in 2018, resolve to have a better birth!
