Being a birth partner doesn’t always come naturally to even the most adoring intimate partner, mother or close friend. For some, it can feel like a daunting task that requires some preparation. If that’s you, you are not alone! With some basic planning and preparing, you can be the perfect birth support person for the mom-to- be in your life. The best way to get a handle on the skills of supporting someone in labor is to attend a Childbirth Classes but here are a couple short-cut tips to get you started.
Is your partner, daughter or friend expecting a baby? Are you going to be the main support person at the birth? If so, here are some basic guidelines for being a great birth partner.
Being a birth partner doesn’t always come naturally to even the most adoring intimate partner, mother or close friend. For some, it can feel like a daunting task that requires some preparation. If that’s you, you are not alone! With some basic planning and preparing, you can be the perfect birth support person for the mom-to- be in your life. The best way to get a handle on the skills of supporting someone in labor is to attend a Childbirth Classes but here are a couple short-cut tips to get you started.
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What is the first question we ask when a woman says she is pregnant?
"What's your due date?" is close to the top of the list. Only five percent of women give birth on the "due date." That means fully ninety five percent of women are either early or late. What if instead we have a due month? When someone asks, "When are you due?" the reply might be, "Oh sometime in August." Expanding the sense of when the baby is "due" offers a spaciousness and feeling of relaxation. We no longer need to worry if the baby arrives within a particular twenty four hour period, we have a whole month. In fact we might consider a due five week period. Midwifery regulations allow home delivery between 37 and 42 weeks. Eighty percent of babies are born within these parameters. Only ten percent come before 37 weeks and 10 percent come after 42 weeks. And of the babies born outside the due month, the vast majority are perfectly healthy. The two standard methods of determining the due date, Last Menstrual Period and ultrasound scan have a margin of error of two weeks, that is seven days on either side of the due date. Neither one of these methods is an exact science. Since a healthy gestation period differs for every pregnancy, healthy birth needs a wide berth --the due month. The due month is a simple way for women to experience pregnancy and birth with the individual timing required. The due month lessens anxiety about when the baby is "due" and increases confidence that the baby will arrive just on time. Trusting the natural physiological process of pregnancy and birth promotes both physical and psychological health. Written by Meria Loeks, Midwife, Doula Mentor, Childbirth Educator
Caring for yourself and your baby in first 40 days postpartum can dramatically improve your healing process and increase your bond with your child. We made an easy to follow infographic that shows you how to ask for and receive the help you need in this exciting time.
Remember, you can also contact us for one-one support! Picking your Provider: A guide to what you need to know about choosing a maternity provider6/14/2015
Choosing a provider may not be as simple as you first think. In fact, who you choose can change the course of your birth experience. For so many reasons, the provider's philosophy directs the options they give you! Right down to how they handle variations of normal to what position they want you in to have your baby. Doctors and Midwives carry their own expectations for birth and what is the 'ideal experience' for a birth and they may not match yours.
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AuthorThis blog is collaboration between co-owner Shabd Simran Adeniji (BA, BM, MPH) and guest bloggers Categories
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