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A woman's journey into motherhood is one of the most monumental journeys of her life; a journey she will remember all her life. The decisions and choices a woman makes regarding how she brings her baby into this world will be the first she will make as a mother. One would never embark on a journey up the side of Mount Everest without adequately preparing for that journey. So, when it comes to your birth journey...learn all you can and make a preference plan! An educated birth is an empowered birth. When we know better we do better! |
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Learn all You Can and Make a Birth Preference Plan...
As your chosen doula, my mission is to support you in giving birth in your own best way. In order for me to do that, you need to determine what your own best way is. Writing a birth plan makes the decisions relating to your body, your birth and your baby clear to me, your entire birth team and, most importantly, to you.
Taking the time to sit down and think about your birth will illuminate what is really important to you. Having this clarity can help make any decisions that need to be made during your birth feel much less overwhelming.
Additionally, once you have things written out, you can use your plan to guide important conversations with the primary attendants you are using for your birth. This helps build trust and confidence between you and your attendants. The first time you have a good chat about choices and options shouldn’t be during your birth.
Finally, it helps your attendants get to know you. Having substantive prenatal discussions sets you apart as an individual, and shows your birth attendants that you are someone who thinks for yourself and may question or decline routine procedures.
Let’s start with some routine medical birthing procedures/interventions that you have the right to question or decline. *Each topic is hyperlinked to more information. I’ve tried to source information that presents the benefits and risks when applicable.
Taking the time to sit down and think about your birth will illuminate what is really important to you. Having this clarity can help make any decisions that need to be made during your birth feel much less overwhelming.
Additionally, once you have things written out, you can use your plan to guide important conversations with the primary attendants you are using for your birth. This helps build trust and confidence between you and your attendants. The first time you have a good chat about choices and options shouldn’t be during your birth.
Finally, it helps your attendants get to know you. Having substantive prenatal discussions sets you apart as an individual, and shows your birth attendants that you are someone who thinks for yourself and may question or decline routine procedures.
Let’s start with some routine medical birthing procedures/interventions that you have the right to question or decline. *Each topic is hyperlinked to more information. I’ve tried to source information that presents the benefits and risks when applicable.
- Artificial Rupture of the Membranes (AROM)
- Cervical/Vaginal Exams During Labour
- Fetal Heart Monitoring
- Induction or Augmentation of the Birth Process
- Epidural
- Cesarean
- Episiotomy
- Directed Pushing
- Delayed or Optimal Cord Cutting
- Immediate Skin-to-Skin Contact after Birth
- Vitamin K
- Eyedrops
- Foreskin Removal/Circumcision