This post contains affiliate links.
Hello! My name is Jennifer. I am a mama to one beautiful little boy and am dedicated to helping women like you during their first trimester of pregnancy and beyond.
I find solutions for YOU and share them everyday here on this blog… (like the super helpful FREE beginning prenatal birth class my readers are loving)
Labor and delivery are scary for most of us new mamas. I sure had a hard time grasping the concept of pushing a human being out of myself.
How to Be Empowered for Birth
Birth is one of the most transformative and powerful experiences in life. It can also be challenging, unpredictable and overwhelming.
That’s why it’s important to prepare yourself mentally, physically and emotionally for this amazing journey.
In this blog post, I will share some tips and resources on how to be empowered for birth, whether you plan to have a natural, medicated or cesarean delivery.
What does it mean to be empowered for birth?
Being empowered for birth means that you are confident, informed and supported in your choices and preferences. It means that you trust your body, your instincts and your care providers.
It means that you are an active participant in your birth process, not a passive recipient of medical interventions. It means that you respect and honor the sacredness of birth, regardless of the outcome.
How can you be empowered for birth?
There are many ways to be empowered for birth, but here are some of the most essential ones:
- Educate yourself. Learn as much as you can about the physiology of birth, the stages of labor, the benefits and risks of different interventions, the options and alternatives available to you, and your rights as a birthing person. Read books, watch videos, listen to podcasts, take classes, join online groups and forums, and talk to other parents who have had similar or different experiences. Knowledge is power!
- Choose your care provider wisely. Find a doctor, midwife or nurse who shares your vision and values for birth, who listens to you and respects your wishes, who provides evidence-based and individualized care, who supports your autonomy and agency, and who has a good rapport with you and your partner. Interview several providers before making a decision, and don’t be afraid to switch if you feel uncomfortable or dissatisfied.
- Hire a doula. A doula is a trained professional who provides continuous physical, emotional and informational support to you and your partner during pregnancy, labor and postpartum. A doula can help you cope with pain, comfort you, encourage you, advocate for you, facilitate communication with your care team, and enhance your satisfaction and well-being. Studies have shown that having a doula can reduce the need for interventions, shorten labor time, lower the risk of complications, and increase positive birth outcomes.
- Create a birth plan. A birth plan is a document that outlines your preferences and expectations for your birth experience. It can include things like where you want to give birth, who you want to be present, what kind of atmosphere you want to create, what kind of pain relief or comfort measures you want to use, what kind of interventions you want to avoid or accept, how you want to handle emergencies or complications, how you want to welcome your baby, etc. A birth plan is not a contract or a guarantee, but a tool to communicate your wishes and needs to your care team.
- Trust yourself. You are the expert on your body and your baby. You know what feels right or wrong for you. You have the intuition and the wisdom to make the best decisions for yourself and your family. You have the strength and the courage to face whatever challenges may arise. You have the power and the grace to give birth in your own way. Trust yourself!
If you are nervous and need a little inspo and encouragement. This TED talks list is golden.
TED talks are awesome because they encourage us and inspire us, and I wanted to bring this to Habitat for Mom in an easy to watch and scannable layout.
I hope you enjoy these awesome and powerful TED talk videos for Labor and Delivery…
1#)
#2)
#3)
#4)
#5)
#6)
#7)
If you enjoyed this video curation post please share it with a mom friend 🙂
Sign Up for a FREE Baby Registry That Has All The Perks and Benefits
My favorite baby registry (based on solid research) is the Amazon baby registry, mostly because its super convenient for the time we are living in. You can easily sign up for FREE by clicking here and the best part is you get a FREE welcome box too!
You can just shoot your Amazon baby registry link over to everyone you know through text messaging, email, facebook messenger, instagram messenger, twitter, you get it…
They also have many more perks and benefits I found out about while doing all the researching, you can read my post about it here.
