Options for Childbirth

Before you become pregnant and early in your pregnancy there are many options to consider while preparing for your birth.   Here is a helpful guide to the options you may consider.
1. Location – In the CNY area you have two options for birth location…

• Home
• Hospital – if considering a hospital birth ask friends and/or local birthworkers for experiences at local hospitals.  Tour several hospitals and get a feel for the environment and if they are supportive of your birth goals.

2. Choose your provider – Once a location is chosen then finding a provider is your next step. 

• Ask for recommendations from women who have had birth experiences like the birth you desire
• Interview several providers ideally before pregnancy or in your first trimester (a list of questions you may want to consider asking can be found here www.thebump.com/a/interviewing-a-new-ob)
• Choose a provider that supports your goals

3. Know your options –

• Educate yourself!
• Take an excellent childbirth education class ideally a class that focuses on the goals you would like for your birth.  Many times the easiest, cheapest, most convenient or quickest options is not always the best option.
• Read good books and websites
• Hire a doula

4. Learn how to talk to your provider for informed consent – remember to use your BRAIN

• B – Benefits (what are the benefits of the test, intervention, recommendation you are making to me)

R – Risks (what are the risks)
A – Alternatives (what are the alternatives)
I – Intuition  (what is my gut saying is the right thing to do)
N – Need time (I need some time to think about this, research this, talk to my partner and doula)
Write a birth preference plan – This is to present what you would like to occur during your birth but you are not tied to this plan.  Keep an open heart and mind to your birth experience knowing that rarely does what you plan for occur exactly how you envision it.
Learn natural birthing techniques - All women would benefit from learning natural birthing techniques, as you will likely need to use them during some or all of your labor, even if your plan is medical management of pain.   An excellent childbirth education class and a doula would teach labor coping strategies to you.