5 Steps to Having a Positive Birth Experience

1.)   Be Informed! The first step to having a positive birthing experience is to take a childbirth education class (the more comprehensive, the better). Knowing what all of your options are, the pros and cons of certain procedures, and how to use natural comfort measures (even if you’re planning on an epidural) will be essential to your positive birth. One part of pregnancy and birth that most people find to be incredibly difficult, and understandably so, is the unpredictability and lack of control. There is not a whole lot that we can do to change that, but having the right knowledge can help you to understand what may happen, what to be on the lookout for and how to react appropriately as things arise during your pregnancy and birth. Not only that, but it will help to make you an effective and important member of your heath care team as you navigate any decisions that need to be made for the health and well-being of you or your baby.

2.)   Choose the right heath care provider & birth place setting for you. As you navigate pregnancy and birth your care provider is going to be one of your most important relationships during the process. Choosing someone who respects you, helps you feel comforted and assure, and takes the time to explain and weigh all of your options can make all of the difference in your experience. Take the time to meet with and interview providers and choose someone that feels right to YOU! While it is great to get input and recommendations, it is important to get a feel for that person yourself. The best doctor for your friend may not be the right choice for you. Sometimes the hospital that is closest to you is not your ideal birth place and an extra 20-minute drive is worth every one of those extra minutes. Establishing a strong relationship and trust prenatally can make decision making in the labor room much easier.

3.)   Get the right support team in place. Having continuous support during your labor has proven to have a significant impact on positive outcomes. Consider hiring a professionally trained doula to be there to support you and your partner emotionally, physically and educationally throughout the entire process. A doula is there as an unbiased support person whose job it is to ensure that you have everything you need from a cool cloth on the head to information and suggestions to facilitate a smoother labor. If hiring a doula isn’t a possibility for you, make sure your partner is ready and able to support you. Gift them with The Birth Partner by Penny Simkin or consider enrolling them in a comfort measures for partners class. Make sure you have detailed conversations ahead of time about how you both envision their role as a support person, what they can do to help you and what is important to you about your experience. Consider practicing comfort measures like massage, counter-pressure and certain positions ahead of time.

Just as important as who will be there, think about who maybe should not be there. A lot of people consider having their mother, friend, or sister in the room with them and sometimes this works beautifully, but often it does not. Think about your relationship with this person during past stressful situations. Did they bring nervous energy, panic, or make you feel increased anxiety? OR were they a calm and confident presence that brings you comfort? The answer to those questions should help you in making that decision.

4.)   Consider your preferences. It is important to think prenatally about what is important to you during your birth experience. Unmedicated or epidural? Hydrotherapy? Continuous or intermittent monitoring? There is a lot to consider! While having an open mind to certain things is great, it is also important to identify which things really matter to you and discuss those preferences with your support team and provider. This will help to ensure everyone is on the same page as you approach your birthing time. And while it is important to have an idea of what matters to you, it is also important to remain flexible and understand that everything usually doesn’t go 100% to plan. Understanding that birth preferences must have some flexibility can help to keep you on track if something does need to change.

5.)   Have patience. While watching your due date come and go can be both physically and mentally stressful, opting for an induction that is not out of a true medical necessity can make your birth longer, harder and more likely to need interventions. Waiting the extra days can be so worth it! Also, having patience when you are in labor is also important. Labor at home as long as you safely can and try to follow the natural pattern of labor that your body sets for you. Wait to start pushing until your body has the urge to bear down (epidural or not!) to save energy and make it a more enjoyable experience. As they say, good things come to those who wait!