 As a mother, Doula and Childbirth Educator, I know one thing with certainty when it comes to birthing your baby.....KNOWLEDGE IS POWER and ignorance is definitely not bliss. Many people think, "humans have been having babies forever, it will be fine." Approaching birth with that myopic lens is highly problematic, too many people walk away from their birth experience feeling unheard, disrespected and what's worse, up to 34% of people who give birth experience feelings of trauma. Why am I telling you this, to scare you, absolutely not, I want to tell you how to have a better birth!
Hire a Doula, studies consistently show that Doulas improve birth outcomes and your overall satisfaction with your birth. While Doulas don't guarantee that you won't need a Cesarean for example, they will guarantee that you have all of the information, education, emotional and physical support that you need to birth from a place of confidence and not fear whatever the exit route your baby requires. A Doula is not in everyone's budget, but there are volunteer Birth Doulas if it is a financial stretch. Take a prenatal education class. Let me repeat...take a class. Here you will learn crucial information about labour, birth, infant care and early parenting. Birth, is generally considered and managed (by the medical system) like an illness rather than a normal life event and a rite of passage. A good Childbirth Educator will teach you all of the insider tips that you need to know to have an informed birth, one where you are clear about your options, preferences and wishes. Birth is not the time to wing it! Get informed and prepared so when your labour starts you are ready to face the awesomeness of birth from an informed place of clear confidence. That is a path to a better birth! |
