It is my profound belief that childbirth is a normal, natural and amazing process. . .
one that can be experienced as a joyous, positive and life-enhancing event when
a woman has educated herself on all of the choices available to her for this special
Education includes knowledge of the physical, emotional, psychological and
spiritual aspects of giving birth, and a deeper awareness of our bodies and our
strength as women. Preparing yourself for this special moment in your life is
important, because it will give you the confidence and resources to deal with this
physically challenging and rewarding experience.
When childbirth moved from the home setting, where a woman labored with the
loving assistance of her female relatives and friends, she left the only place where
birth was respected for the normal and natural process that it truly is.
In the hospital setting today, women must make more of an effort to achieve the
birth experience that they desire. Simple pain relief measures such as taking a
shower or the freedom to move around as needed to stay comfortable becomes
more difficult to achieve in a technology-driven setting that specializes in taking
care of those who are sick or injured.
Sorting out what is truly medically necessary instead of what is typical and ordinary
in today’s hospital births can be difficult and frustrating, especially since evidence-
based studies do not support much of today’s routine technology for childbirth.
Evidence-based medicine in Obstetrics means less reliance upon medical
interventions. It is up to each pregnant woman to determine whether medical
interventions suggested during labor and birth are truly medically indicated and
that they are NOT simply being used because they are convenient for medical
"The shift to evidence-based medicine reflects not only the constant
desire to improve practice but also the developments that have taken
place in clinical research, methodology and the increase in medical
literature."--- World Health Organization
The challenge for every pregnant woman is to try to find a compromise between
what she needs for her comfort in labor versus what is done to her and for her
by medical caregivers in typical hospital settings.
KNOWLEDGE OF CHOICES IS A KEY COMPONENT TO PLANNING A
There are many things a woman can do to create a joyous and empowering birth
experience. . .choose an appropriate birth setting, choose a philosophically
compatible medical caregiver, utilize a Birth Doula to provide additional comfort
and nurturing during labor, breastfeed her newborn, and utilize a Postpartum
Doula's assistance during the first few weeks after the baby is born to rest and
recover from childbirth as smoothly as possible.
Let this web site be the first of many steps you take on your journey to learning
about ALL of your choices for your childbirth experience.
ICEA-Certified Childbirth Educator, CAPPA and DONA-Certified Doula
Don't
Dilate Without a Doula! by Ann Mullen
**You
may not copy or reproduce any portion of this site without
express written permission.
|
