Chain of Command: noun – a series of ranks in which each has direct authority over the one immediately below. With so much birth lingo, it’s easy to get confused! Learn the difference between a doula and different types of midwives. How much influence does your insurance have in your birth? The people you choose to have present will affect your birth. The Chain of Command begins with you.
Of course the person who should be in charge of your birth is you and your partner, but a lot of times that isn't the case. It also depends on where you birth, going back to part 1, of class 3.
Hospital
If you birth in the hospital you are more likely to not be in charge of your birth. A lot of hospitals are not natural birth friendly which means they will require you to have an IV, have constant fetal and mother monitoring and make you stay in a bed. It is a lot harder to have a baby if you have to stay in bed, which can lead you to more likely get an epidural which give you a hire chance of have a cesarean. While this isn't the case for all deliveries, it is the case for a lot.
Birth Center/Home Birth
In these two places you are much more in charge. You can be in charge in a hospital, but if your hospital and care provider aren't natural birth friendly you will most likely be fighting for what you want the whole time. If you are at one of these two locations you have a midwife who is all for natural birth and will do everything in their power to give you the birth you want, within the limits of safety.
Who Should Be Present At Your Birth
A lot of people don't really think about this in depth like they probably should. Of course you will have your care provider and nurses, depending on where you birth, a Doula and Birth Photographer if you choose to hire them, but what about family members?
What about mom, mother-in-law, grandmothers and sisters? A lot of people will let all these people into their birth, which can actually make their labor longer and more stressful. If you see someone in pain, especially someone you really love, don't you want to do everything in your power to make them feel better? Wouldn't you get anxious when you realize you can't make them feel better? This is what tends to happen when you have the women listed above in your delivery. There have been studies that have shown the anxiety that these women have can actually effect your labor because you start to worry about them instead of birthing your baby. Of course some people have no problem with their family members being in there, but it is something you should really think about and talk to your partner about before you decide.
Our decision was set from the beginning, Bobby and I were both on same page, thankfully. The only people allowed in our birth are our midwives, doula and us. We aren't even letting our family come to the birth center to see the baby. They have to wait until we get home, which will be around six hours after delivery.
Post Delivery Family Visits
Most of the time you deliver the baby and an hour later you have your closest family and friends there to meet her. They pass her around and take a lot of pictures. This probably is not the healthiest thing for a new family if you want to start off on the right foot. Studies have shown that the first several hours after birth are the most important for bonding and establishing good breastfeeding. So, if you have those goals you might want to wait a few hours before introducing the baby to family. Because these are my goals, after she is born it will just be us at the birth center. We will do as much skin to skin as possible and really establish breastfeeding. That way she bonds with Bobby and I before others meet her. Assuming everything goes well, we will be able to go home around six hours after birth and family and friends can come to the house to meet her.
A Doula
I mentioned a doula several times above, for those not familiar with doula they are someone you hire to support mom and dad and be their advocates during the birth process. They are especially important to have if you want a natural birth. While they are most important if you are having your baby in a hospital, they are very beneficial no matter where you decide to birth. They will help you navigate labor and help you get through the pain. They present you with all your options if there are complications and they are also available after birth to help with baby and postpartum care.
We are so thankful we found our doula, Lindsay. Our personalities really clicked and I know she will help make our birth experience great!
Notes from our Instructor
"Having your body prepared for birth is incredibly helpful in getting the birth you want. Many midwives recommend chiropractic care and notice the difference it makes in speed of labor and positioning of the baby. You will find chiropractors certified to work with pregnant women here at the ICPA website. If there is not a chiropractor listed near you, a doctor that is familiar with or trained in the Webster Technique can be wonderful. Webster is a noninvasive technique that simply involves adjusting the pelvis and then doing muscle work on some of the ligaments that are near the uterus.
A doula can also be a fantastic tool. Many organizations offer certification, and your instructor may even be a working doula.
Prenatal Massage Therapy has become a highly sought after form of relief for common pregnancy related aches and pains.
Remember, in the end, you and only you are in charge of your birth!
Relaxation Exercise: The Waterfall
Both partners will participate in the Waterfall exercise. The side-lying position, or sleeping position, is still preferred as you are learning to deeply relax. Dads, listen for the slow pace of the exercise, allowing time to conjure up the image of the warm, relaxing waterfall. Remember to trade off during the week so you can hear how she wants you to read it."
If I wasn't such a researcher I know I would have been surprised by learning the above at our class. I could tell a lot of the other couples had never thought about these things. Just one of the many reasons an in-depth birth class is the way to go, especially for first time parents.
*Disclaimer: This post in no way replaces the Birth Boot Camp class. All things in this post either came from the Birth Boot Camp website, are my insights or my instructors insights from class which have been appropriately cited. I am writing this post in order to help with future pregnancies, labors and deliveries.
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