By Jackie Scrivanich & Teri Latier-Lytton, Contributing Writers
So you have decided you want a natural birth, possibly even a homebirth. How do you prepare for this? How do you ensure you do everything in your power to succeed?
First, find a care provider you trust. Find someone that you connect with, someone that understands your goals and desires, and someone who you know will make a great addition to your team. It is best to switch providers if you do not see eye to eye! Your comfort, safety, goals, and trust in your care team is the most important!
Secondly, find a doula. Doulas are trained to give support in all birth situations. They are there to help support you physically, emotionally, and educationally. They are not part of your medical team but your care team! Many women find having a doula in addition to their husbands or other support people a very good addition to the birth team.
It is important to also research about different labor and birth positions and complications to ensure you are most prepared for birth. Write some birth affirmations to empower you on your journey. There are many different things that you can do to be prepared for childbirth.
Seven Natural Childbirth Programs
Many women find a childbirth technique or method that is most suitable for them, and they take a class to be prepared.
Evidence Based Birth
Evidence Based Birth is a valued part of the birth community. You can find articles and listen to podcasts on just about everything birth related. They give you the knowledge to make informed choices about your birth, body, and baby. In a world where scare tactics are used often, they are there to make sure you have the real information, statistics, and options to make the choices for you!
You can check them out here.
Spinning Babies
Spinning Babies is a physiological approach to preparing for and caring for birth. With them there is a focus on the body, not medication or technology. This is done through movements, exercised, and positions during pregnancy and labor. Thier techniques help ensure that the baby is in the best possible position and mom’s body is ready for childbirth, reducing pain and can help with making labor more efficient.
Check out more Here.
The Bradley Method
The Bradley Method is most effectively taught through 12 weeks of classes where the mother and her birth partner are taught how to have a natural birth. The focus is on understanding how the body work during pregnancy, labor, and birth and working with your body to reduce pain and make labor more efficient. During the 12 weeks, couples will learn everything from best nutrition and exercise during pregnancy to techniques for labor and delivery, as well as postpartum care and breastfeeding information. It is a really well rounded course for couples who wish to be informed.
This method is also known as husband-coached child birth because it places an emphasis on the husband or partner as the birth coach.
To find out more information about The Bradley Method, go here.
Hypnobirthing
Hypnobirthing is taught over the course of 5 classes. This method prepares a woman to give birth in a peaceful manner by considering both the psychological and the physical well-being of those involved. The program focuses on education that includes “special breathing, relaxation, visualization, meditative practice, attention to nutrition, and positive body toning”. This is done mostly through self-hypnosis. Hypnobirthing focuses on the truth that nature perfectly designed women’s bodies to birth.
To learn more about Hypnobirthing, go here.
Hypnobabies
This program, which also focuses on self-hypnosis, is regularly taught through 6 classes. This program focuses on teaching about nutrition, pre-natal exercises, birth plans, optimal fetal positioning, how to avoid back labor, birthing choices, unexpected situations, and much more. It is a very comprehensive program for new parents. Through self-hypnosis, a woman works to train her inner mind that contractions will be felt as pressure and tightening and movement sensations instead of pain. Many women claim to have very comfortable, even pain-free, births.
To get more information or find a class, go here.
Lamaze
Lamaze is the one birth program that many people think of when they talk about birth programs. They imagine different breathing techniques being used. Lamaze is actually more than that.
The class is taught in a variety of formats. The class in my area is taught during a one-day or two-day session, whichever works for you. The primary goal of the course is to help provide couples with both the knowledge and motivation to advocate for their childbirth health decisions and also to provide care for their newborn. The program discusses the different procedures and outcomes used during typical childbirth, how to communicate their childbirth decisions, what skills are needed to deal with birth pain (both non-pharmacological and pharmacological options), as well as information on post-partum and newborn care. The program covers a lot in a short timeframe.
Go here to learn more.
Calm Birth
Calm Birth is a program that focuses on meditation as a technique for pregnancy, birth, and beyond. During this program women and their partners are taught different meditation techniques that have an array of benefits. This empowering program helps to reduce anxiety and fear and promotes calm and comfort during childbirth.
Check out Calm Birth here.
If you are unable to attend a class, home study of these programs is also an option. For many women and their birth partners, going to actual classes over the course of a few months is more beneficial than doing study at home where there is no interaction between them and their teacher.
