August 23, 2020
This post has been a long time coming. If you’ve been here for a while, you know I am passionate about unmedicated childbirth. Not just unmedicated though, all birth is downright amazing no matter how you chose to do it! I really just believe you should have the birth you want, not the birth your Doctor, friends, or family members think you should have. Birth is life-changing and matters. That being said, I have given birth both medicated (induction) and unmedicated (spontaneous labor) and feel like since I have experienced both can offer my thoughts, so that those Mamas who are maybe considering unmedicated childbirth have some encouragement. For whatever reason, people think their opinion about YOUR birth (especially unmedicated) matters and the only opinion that matters is YOURS, Mama.
Phew, now that I’ve gotten that out of the way I want to say this. I am not a medical professional, Doula, or Midwife. I am simply a Mama who feels compelled to share my birth experiences in hopes that someone else might have an amazing birth experience. These are the things that I did and that worked for me, but you have to do the research for yourself and find what works for YOU! There are so many different options when it comes to birth and it is important that we are educated and know them. I think that is the part of the entire natural birth process that I fell in love with the most, getting to make decisions for myself and feeling confident in my decisions because I was educated on the matter! Knowledge is power!
**Keep in mind, all of the following are Naturally Minded books and resources, so be prepared for that. Even if you chose not to go unmedicated there is so much knowledge that lies here!
Prep List
Decide between Doctor or Midwife– This is such a personal decision. I knew for me I felt most comfortable using a Doctor. I had complications with my first pregnancy and knew I wanted to be closely monitored with my second. I also love getting ultrasounds. Midwives are HIGHLY trained birth professionals but do not usually do things like Ultrasounds and are best when you are a low-risk pregnancy and delivery all around.
Find a Doula- A doula is a professionally trained support personnel for pregnant, birthing, and postpartum women. They are not a healthcare professional but are extremely educated on birth. This was hands down the best decision I made. I think every Mama deserves a Doula- no matter what kind of birth she is having! She was my voice, my advocate, she reasoned with me, helped me understand things during pregnancy and labor that I might not have otherwise. She was there for my husband and was there when I needed her because he wasn’t doing pressure points right. She was there after I had baby and for postpartum questions and visits. Just all around the best decision and my husband agrees! Obviously, some people chose not to have a Doula or simply cannot afford one, know that you can still have an amazing birth experience without one, just do your homework!
Create a Birth Plan- This is something you can do with the help of your Doula or in your birth class. I had some direction and kept notes of things that were important to me, then I researched some sample birth plans online and put one together with the help of my Doula and Husband. It covered all of my hopes and wishes but also covered important information about medical decisions and such. I went over this with my Doctor around 35 weeks and also took it with me to the hospital and gave it to my nurses! It is easy to forget things when you’re in labor and tired or stressed, so having it printed for them to review in the event that questions arise makes it so easy!
Know Your Why– I know, I know this sounds sooo cliche. But you have to know why you’re doing this. It’s no easy task and you have to go back to that reminder several times, especially during labor. I can’t count how many Tim es my doula said to me “Do you remember why you’re doing this?”
Research
Watch– I started by watching the documentary “The Business of Being Born” on AmazonPrime, it is also available on a few other platforms. This is a super low budget documentary, and is kind of graphic (I mean, it’s birth), but was SUPER informative and eye-opening. Highly, highly recommend!
Take a birth course– I took two, The Bradley Method and The Mongan Method (hypnobirthing.) I loved both of them and used both of them during labor and delivery but I did end up using more of the Bradley Method. There are several different “methods” that you can use, so I highly suggest doing your research and finding one that feels right for you! I liked the concept of both Mongan and Bradley methods, so that is why I chose to do both! I personally think a birth course that you can take in person is the best option but there are lots of online options as well! Midwifes are a great resource for finding birth courses, or you can check with you local hospital!
Books
Here are the books that I read during my pregnancy. Let me just say this, I am not a huge reader… But I genuinely loved all of these and felt like they were so informative!
Other To-Do’s
Birth Affirmations– This was HUGE for my preparation. As part of the Mongan Method (Hypnobirthing) book/course it is recommended that you do “birthing affirmations.” TBH I was nervous these would be weird and was unsure if I was going to use them, but since I had committed to doing my classes 100%, I decided to try out the affirmations and “Rainbow Relaxation.” Let me just say… INCREDIBLE! Seriously, these were a game-changer. They taught me so much about how to relax and focus on something other than my fears or pain. I did this everyday for the last 10 weeks of my pregnancy and I still use the techniques they taught me to this day! Life-changing. If you purchase The Mongan Method Book the CD is included in the back of the book. I just downloaded them on my computer and uploaded them to my phone so I could listen whenever. You can also get them HERE!
Exercises- This is important. In my Bradley Method Birthing class we learned several stretches to help prepare our bodies for birth. They were so helpful in keeping me comfortable throughout my pregnancy, especially towards the end. Pelvic Rocking was one of my very favorite. I highly suggest researching this further!
Nutrition- Okay, I don’t want to be preachy here. We all know we should eat good, especially while pregnant… but it really is true! I ate so much better this time around and not only did I feel WAY better, Lettie was a healthier baby at birth. I don’t know if it was the direct reason, but still… I feel a responsibility to take care of my body while I’m pregnant and growing another human! Don’t get me wrong, I had all the snacks, and treats and bowls of cereal I wanted! But, I also made sure to balance it out with plenty of fruits, veggies, and LOTS of protein. You may or may not know that protein is super important when you’re pregnant and you need to get LOTS of it! Ask you, Doctor or Midwife, for recommendations on the amount you should be taking in each day.
Supplements– My doula recommended a supplement called ” The 6 Week Formula” that you take the last six weeks of pregnancy to help prep your body for both. It is all natural and I SWEAR by it. You can purchase it HERE. I truly believe it is what helped Letties birth go so quick! However, please consult your Doctor or Midwife before taking this or anything else!
Podcasts– I really enjoyed listening to birth podcasts while I was working around the house or in the car. I loved “The Birth Hour” and “Evidence Based Birth.” 10/10 Recommend
Read This Mama…
Mama, whatever happens, whatever you choose, it is going to be amazing and life changing! Birth is seriously so special but also full of up’s and downs. Do not think that your birth is less amazing if you choose or have to have an epidural or C-section, the most important thing you have to remember is this… “Healthy baby, healthy Mama.” THAT is what matters most. That is the ultimate goal, right? Do not let your ideas of having the “perfect” birth get in the way of having a SAFE birth! Always do what is best for you and baby, and I know you will because you’re am amazing Mama and that is just what we do! Nothing else matters once they place that perfect little baby, fresh from heaven, on your chest! Is there any better feeling than that!? I think not ♥ XO- Cherish
