Top Things to Consider (or avoid) for a Positive Hospital Birth. From a Doula.
Meeting your child is one of the most important days you will ever have.
For many people in the United States, this happens in a hospital. As a doula, my TOP priority is creating a positive experience with the least amount of stress as possible. Unfortunately, there are extra challenges associated with having this very normal, biological experience in a place that is designed for sick and injured people. If I had cancer or a serious illness, the hospital is the place I would want to be. However, pregnancy. is. not. a. disease. and the majority of pregnancies are low-risk. If this is you and you want to have a more physiological experience in a medical setting, read on! These are the top considerations I have for you, as an experienced doula and mom of three.
1. Rethinking Routine Cervical Checks in Late Pregnancy and Beyond
Starting during your late pregnancy, I would avoid the temptation to get many (or any) routine cervical checks. The bottom line is that they do not tell you anything beyond what your cervix is doing in that exact moment. While it's a common practice, a cervical check does not predict when labor may start or how it will last.
Your cervix can change and it is very normal to not have any “signs” of labor before labor actually starts. More often, I see checks causing unnecessary stress and pressure for my clients during the end of pregnancy and during labor. I certainly felt this myself during my own pregnancies. It. Was. Not. Helpful.
Do you know what will tell you more than having a cervical check? Observing the woman. A big shift in mood and behavior is usually your biggest clue of progress.
2. Prioritize Mental Preparation Over Textbook-style Birth Prep
While learning some fundamentals is important, excessive emphasis on textbook-style knowledge of labor and birth is not actually the most important thing to know for a positive experience. Instead shift your attention to focusing on your mindset. Trying to predict the duration of labor, knowing every potential sign and symptom and obsessing over timing of contractions only goes so far. You cannot control much about the labor process: when it will start, how long it will last or the frequency and intensity of your contractions. However, you can prepare yourself to surrender to the process and trust in yourself to navigate your birth in the way that is best for you.
Want some quick and simple steps for a better birth? 3. Consider Alternatives to Continuous Monitoring
Continuous monitoring of fetal heart rate and contractions is common practice in hospitals, but it's worth knowing that 1, it is not mandatory if you don’t have heavy medications, and 2, the routine use of continuous monitoring has not been shown to be superior in terms of safety or improving outcomes. Discuss the possibility of intermittent monitoring with your healthcare provider. Intermittent monitoring allows for greater freedom of movement, encourages natural positions, and promotes an active labor. It can contribute to a more comfortable and empowering birth experience and may potentially help you avoid some unnecessary stress.
4.Don’t get stuck on the hospital bed
While the bed may seem like the default location, it's essential to remember that movement and different positions can significantly impact your comfort, your progress and the position of your baby. Don’t forget about the many great alternatives you have like the tub, shower, toilet, birthing ball, birth stool, squat bars, walking or upright positions. Discuss your desire to move with your healthcare provider and make sure they are supportive of your wishes. Have your partner plan to encourage you to stay active. Once labor starts and the sensations get stronger you may need a reminder and another pair of hands and arms to help you move your body. Staying mobile can encourage optimal fetal positioning, and can facilitate a smoother birthing process.
5. Make a COMPLETE plan for pain management even if you plan for an epidural.
Don’t make the mistake of creating your entire birth plan around having an epidural and neglect everything else. I’m here to tell you that an epidural is not a birth plan. It's just a potential tool that sometimes works as planned, sometimes doesn't. An epidural is not a fail safe way to a good birth. Sometimes they don’t provide complete relief (more often than you think) sometimes they have extra side effects. You may also have to wait or early labor is more difficult than you expect. It’s wise to have a plan in place for every possible scenario. Learn all the ways you can cope without medication and make sure your partner has knowledge of how to assist you. Even if you desire an epidural at some point, you want to have some tools to help you be more comfortable before the epidural and understand how to minimize any potential side effects. Even if you have pain relief from the epidural, most people still need support throughout the rest of the labor and birth. Remember, an epidural can block pain sensations, but it cannot remove any of the other potential difficulties.
There are a lot of ways that you can plan for success and reach your birth goals in a hospital setting. These are just a few but some very important things you can do to make a big impact and avoid some unnecessary stress as you navigate your labor and birth.
It takes some preparation but you can absolutely have a positive experience in a hospital setting.
Want some more help planning and reaching your birth goals? The day you meet your baby matters and you deserve a day filled with confidence and joy. Reach out today!
