The prospect of giving birth can be daunting, and you may be tempted to put it all out of your mind until it happens. But Glade Curtis, advises "In my experience, women who learn about birth ahead of time are more active participants in their own birth process, which leads to better outcomes," he says.
Consider taking a birth class, in which you can learn about the stages of labor, options for pain management, breathing techniques, and medical equipment that may be used during your delivery. Class offerings vary, so survey the options in your community to find the one that most appeals to you. It's a good idea to start looking into classes mid-pregnancy to make sure you get one you like – and have time to take it!
Learn about your options for labor, birth, and after, and make your wishes clear.
You can also learn about birth by watching videos from our library here.
While learning about the ins and outs of delivering a baby is important preparation, it doesn't give you ultimate control over your own labor.
"There are so many twists and turns that labor can take, and no one can predict how it will go," says Dianne Randall, a childbirth and lactation educator at a Hospital for Women and Newborns in San Diego. "The more you understand and accept the unpredictability, the lovelier your birth can be."
Instead of focusing on "the perfect birth," build your knowledge of different labor outcomes and decide how you'd want to deal with the various possibilities. You can learn about your options for labor positions, pain medication, how your baby is cared for after delivery, and more.
help@pregnantandalone.org
1-800-553-2229 (BABY)
Consider taking a birth class, in which you can learn about the stages of labor, options for pain management, breathing techniques, and medical equipment that may be used during your delivery. Class offerings vary, so survey the options in your community to find the one that most appeals to you. It's a good idea to start looking into classes mid-pregnancy to make sure you get one you like – and have time to take it!
Learn about your options for labor, birth, and after, and make your wishes clear.
You can also learn about birth by watching videos from our library here.
While learning about the ins and outs of delivering a baby is important preparation, it doesn't give you ultimate control over your own labor.
"There are so many twists and turns that labor can take, and no one can predict how it will go," says Dianne Randall, a childbirth and lactation educator at a Hospital for Women and Newborns in San Diego. "The more you understand and accept the unpredictability, the lovelier your birth can be."
Instead of focusing on "the perfect birth," build your knowledge of different labor outcomes and decide how you'd want to deal with the various possibilities. You can learn about your options for labor positions, pain medication, how your baby is cared for after delivery, and more.
help@pregnantandalone.org
1-800-553-2229 (BABY)
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