7 Tips for a Great Birth

Hire a Doula!
Doulas provide all kinds of support. They not only mother the mother but support the father by giving him breaks or giving helpful ideas on how he can help. See the page on Doulas to see statistical data on how Doulas help birth outcomes.

Educate yourself
Read all kinds of childbirth education books to make sure you are getting a well rounded view of childbirth, and/or take a class.

Find the right caregiver.
Whether that be an OB or midwife, make sure that your caregiver shares your own philosophy or that you are okay with theirs.

Find the right birthplace.
Seriously consider your options.  There are many hospitals in town that vary in their attitudes towards natural childbirth and in percentage of inductions or Cesareans. There is also a lot of information on the safety of home births and many midwives are more than willing to provide you any additional information.

Labor at Home as long as possible
If you are planning a natural birth this is the best way to achieve it.  Women are usually more comfortable at home, are able to rest easier and take in regular nourishment (which is sometimes abstained in the hospital) that can give you the energy you need to push the baby out. It also reduces your chance of induction.  If you are planning on receiving some kind of pain medication, this means you will only receive it at the end part of your labor.  Which reduces the possibility of your baby being affected by it.  This can result in a more aware newborn and a better opportunity to initiate breastfeeding.

Nourish Yourself
This doesn’t only mean nutrition.  During your pregnancy you should try to pamper and nourish your mind, body and your spirituality.  This is a great time to start a new yoga class, drink lots of pregnancy tea, read a beautiful novel, and get stronger in your faith.  Finding your inner calm can really aid you in labor and being a better parent.

Conquer Your Anxieties
Is there anything about labor that you find unsettling? Do you have any fears about… making noise, what you’ll look like, what could go wrong, how would you react if you needed to give birth by Cesarean? All of these are very good questions.  It is very good and healthy to talk, paint, or sculpt about these anxieties.  It brings them to light and makes it easier to deal with if they arise.  Burying fears can cause undue anxieties during labor and can actually impede on your progress.  Your hormones are greatly affected by emotion during labor and the *Fight or Flight response is strong.  You can work around this response by choosing a comfortable atmosphere, being okay with the procedures being done, and trusting the people around you.

*Fight or Flight – The hormonal response of pumping out adrenaline when you are scared.  During this adrenaline rush your body actually starts pumping more blood to your major organs in case there is an injury.  Unfortunately, your uterus is not one of those major organs, and so the Fight or Flight response can stall or stop your labor completely.