Create a Safe Space.
Hospital birth, in the media is portrayed as something dangerous and scary, something to be afraid of and something where anything and everything could go wrong at a moment’s notice. Honestly, it is sometimes portrayed that way in the more “natural, crunchy” birth world as well.
Here’s the thing about birth in general. It’s been going on for thousands, if not millions of years, depending on what you believe. All species of animals have been giving birth since the dawn of time. The medical industry, however currently advanced, is MUCH newer in time than birth.
Animals have been giving birth in general for 4,000 to 600 million years. Women have been giving birth in hospitals for less than 115 years. Let that sink in. Birthing babies is just something that is done. It’s something every species on earth does in some way, without help, millions of times per day.
That’s not to say that there isn’t some risk in childbirth. Of course there is. There is risk in every single physical act we do every day. There is also much more pure joy and ecstasy in the majority of the physical acts we do every day. If there wasn’t, statistically, we wouldn’t exist. The human race could not be overpopulating the earth the way that it is now if birth was as inherently dangerous as it is made out to be.
So let’s just throw that out the window right now. There are exceptions to every rule, of course and modern medicine is here to help when needed.
Fearing birth, no matter where it happens, is what makes it dangerous and scary. Fear tenses the muscles and interferes with the natural productions of hormones in birth that make everything work automatically and correctly. Eliminating fear is the key to making your Hospital Birth Calm and Gentle.
1. Preparation.
Being prepared is key. Get your personal birth team together as soon as the stick turns pink. A Doula, a Childbirth Educator, Chiropractor, Massage Therapist and anyone else you feel will give you the tools to make you fearless during birth.
2. Plan.
Once you have your birth team in place, decide what exactly you want and don’t want for your birth. Create a Birth Blueprint. Build your beautiful birth that makes you feel safe, warm and protected. Use the knowledge of your birth team to move around some outlets or plumbing as needed and know what happens if you decide to change your mind and knock down a wall. The key is to be educated enough to make changes without fear.
3. Find your safety net.
AFTER you’ve done all of the above, THEN find the provider to watch over you and make sure that medically your plans will be supported. Whether you choose a midwife or an OB for your care during pregnancy, remember that often times they may not be the ones actually attending your birth. Your preparation and planning are important for continuity of care. Deciding who your care providers will be is not JUST about whether they support your plans. You need to also make sure that any other provider from that practice supports you and that the hospital you are attending supports you. The typical protocols for your provider and the protocols at your place of birth may not be the same. Make sure that no matter whom you choose, you will feel safe and supported, even if things need to change.