Figuring Out Your Birth Philosophy for A Better Birth
I’m sure if you’re here you have probably thought at least a little bit about how you “hope” your birth might go. But how do you know what you really want out of it? Of course, a healthy baby and momma are key, but what else?
The thing to start with is figuring out your birth philosophy. What is that?! The way you think birth is meant to or “should” be. Some people believe that birth is best done in a controlled environment with skilled providers ready to help birth be as easy and painless as possible. Others believe that our bodies grew the baby, they know how the baby needs to be birthed with minimum to no assistance from outside influences, including providers. Still others believe that birth can be a beautiful sacred experience where both parents feel empowered no matter how baby needs to be born because they are respected, heard, and informed. Anything in between those examples could be your birth philosophy.
So, how do you decide where you stand in your birth philosophy? You can ask yourself the questions below to help you determine what your birth philosophy includes.
How do I feel about birth as a normal, natural process?
How do I want to cope with the pain of childbirth? Medication, movement, water, etc?
Who Do I want there?
Where do I feel most safe or most at peace when I think about having my baby?
Do I have some anxiety about pain or childbirth? If yes, will learning more through a childbirth class ease that anxiety or make it worse?
Who do I trust to care for myself and my baby through pregnancy? OB, midwife?
Now there are pros and cons of all philosophies of birth. At SJ Childbirth Education & Doula Services we believe that clients should never feel judged because of their birth philosophy or choices. They should never feel bad or make choices on what their doula will think. If a cesarean is what you need to help your anxiety about the unknowns of birth, we will support that and make sure it’s a special experience for you. If you want an epidural because you know you can’t do the pain, by all means we will help and support you in that. If you want a home birth with a midwife and no other medical tools, we will support you in that. If plans change for you, we will be there to hold your hand and help you navigate the next steps. That’s our job, and we love it!
Next week, we’ll talk about differences in providers and how the provider you choose can effect your birth experience.
Tell us about your birth philosophy! We’d love to connect with you!
