The first step is understanding what can happen… Every choice leads to a consequence that ultimately affects your birth journey. Childbirth has a beginning, a middle, and an end. It is a series of events that occur due to the natural progression of bringing a baby into the world.
Preparing for your labor Becoming aware of what is happening to your body and your baby during labor is vital. Knowing what position your baby is in, getting answers to your questions and having a Doula present to help negotiate around the medical terminology and confusion, are things that can help you have a better, more positive outcome. Daily exercise, along with good nutrition, are key for a healthy pregnancy AND in preparing for labor as well!
Sometimes, it’s the choice that you make. Sometimes, it’s the choice that you don’t make. Sometimes, you don’t have a choice at all.
The second step is understanding the choice... Natural Childbirth If you choose to have an un-medicated birth, this is how I will help you achieve our goal:
Encourage you with affirmations
Redirect you through pain with positioning and massage
Position changes to help facilitate proper baby positioning & to help hasten labor
Breathing techniques
Imagery and/or visual aides
Help you to maintain focus on your goal
Medicated Childbirth Epidural anesthesia can provide optimal pain relief to a laboring woman. It can be a wonderful reprieve when a woman has had all she can take. But consider this example for a moment...
When administered, an epidural may cause a sudden drop in blood pressure. When the mother’s blood pressure dips, the baby may experience heartbeat decelerations. At this point, fetal heart monitoring is already in place via a belt on the mother’s abdomen. If the baby goes into distress for a period of time, a more invasive monitor is introduced. A scalp electrode may be placed on the baby’s head for more precise information. This continues the Cascade of Interventions, as the mother is now laying in bed with an oxygen mask, hooked up to a blood pressure cuff, IV and monitors. The mother is now limited to do anything naturally. Having an epidural placed leads to loss of mobility. It prevents:
walking - allows gravity to put pressure on the cervix to help dilate
position changes - encourages effacement, dilatation
squatting - opens the pelvis to create space
Examples of the most common interventions…
AROM (artificial rupture of membranes)
Medications used to induce or augment labor i.e. Pitocin, or Prostaglandins
Epidurals anesthesia and /or other narcotic pain relief medications
IV fluids
Episiotomy
Making your choice Is a very personal decision. Information, education and positive support are the most valuable gifts you can give yourself and your baby during this time.
Interventions are sometimes needed. Each case has its unique circumstances that make it impossible to predict what will happen.
I have experienced many births with interventions and without interventions. Regardless of what you choose, I will support you and your partner and work with you to fulfill that goal. You will always be made to feel safe and respected by me, throughout the entire process. It’s all about YOU, and what YOU want in your journey. My goal to is help you be optimally satisfied with your birth experience!
Remember the ultimate goal. Healthy Mom and Healthy Baby!
