There is so much talk about preparing for birth. So I’d love for this post to be as interactive as possible. Please feel free to comment, leave suggestions you might have for expectant mothers, and tell us how you prepared for your birth/s.
Pregnancy, for most women lasts from 37-42 weeks, and while that seems like a long time, it really is not. In that time, couples/families become very involved in preparing for the birth, and I can’t help but wonder if families prepare enough. We all know that couples, especially first time parents, go a little wacko on baby registries, and I’m sure stores are thrilled with this. But are couples preparing adequately for the birth of their newest loves?
How did you prepare for your birth/s? Do you think you prepared enough? Do you think you could have ever been prepared enough? So here are some questions I’d love for you to weigh in on.
- Did you take childbirth classes? (If so, where were they offered? Do you feel like you learned enough to feel comfortable with giving birth?)
- Did you interview multiple care providers, and shop around at several hospitals/birthing centers?
- Did you take other classes? (Breastfeeding, Newborn Care, Etc)
- Did you research routine interventions that are used in hospitals?
- Did you research newborn care procedures in hospitals?
- Did you prepare a birth plan? If so, did anyone help you with this?
- Did you have all of your questions answered by your care provider? (Questions to Ask your Care Provider)
- Were you satisfied with the prenatal care your received?
- Were you comfortable with your care provider/hospital?
- Did you feel prepared to give birth?
I know that right now, in my community, there are two hospitals. I have attended births at both, and each has its own policies and procedures, some the same, and some very different. I cannot say that one hospital is better than the other, simply because I am not a woman who is preparing to give birth in either. Each woman preparing for birth, prepares in her own way. And the consensus I hear around my area is that women are not necessarily feeling prepared adequately.
The sad truth is that there is over-crowding in the hospitals, and the time that women receive with their care providers is little. I always encourage women to ask tons of questions, and ensure that her questions are answered before she leaves her doctors office – whether she feels good about the answers or not. I went to a Homebirth Meetup Group in Fayetteville a couple weeks ago, and heard a woman say that she felt like cattle in the system that is caring for pregnant mothers. No mother should feel that way, ever, but especially by the providers who will help her to birth her baby.
Preparing to give birth is HUGE. I believe that couples should research until they are blue in the face. Here are the things I think should be researched by every expectant couple:
- Proper nutrition during pregnancy
- Advantages of hiring a Doula/Labor Support
- Childbirth Classes – Which one is the best fit for you?
- Routine interventions – imposed by care provider, and by hospital
- Medical reasons for induction & augmentation of labor (when it is appropriate to do so)
- Medical reasons for Cesarean section
- Routine newborn procedures – who does them, when are they done, which are mandatory
- Circumcision – Do you want this done? (Here is a guide for you to look at if you’re curious about why or why not to have this done.)
- Vaccinations – Will you vaccinate, will you delay?
Another sad truth is that many people research what car to buy, what TV to buy, what cable service to use, where to have their dog groomed more than they do how to give birth, where to give birth, who to have in attendance, and what the process will be like for them. Some women do not feel confident with the care they receive, but do not switch providers. So, if I can make one suggestion, it would be to prepare for your birth, and this includes switching providers if you do not feel comfortable with them. Prepare for birth, for you and your baby.
Make this interactive: COMMENTS PLEASE.
