Birth Ed or Birth Prep?
Last week I wrote about the first two questions I ask all of my Consultation Clients and Pregnancy Partner Clients:
“What do I/we believe about birth?”
and
“Who is going to support me/us in these beliefs?”
While one might think that these are important questions to consider in the third trimester, on the contrary, it is vital to answer these questions in pre-conception or first trimester.
Why?
What you believe about birth can and should affect the care model that you enter in your first trimester and throughout your unique experience. Your pregnancy, labor and delivery, and postpartum experience.
This week, I want to talk about building your momentum, specifically through your education and preparation for pregnancy, birth, and postpartum.
Why am I so passionate about this? Well, let's look at the cycle that nearly every first-time-parent-couple takes:
Couple receives positive pregnancy test
Care begins at a hospital-clinic
In the second trimester, couple signs up for a hospital-based childbirth education class.
Is this popular cyclical pattern serving families well? Consider this:
I talk about birth often. If we’ve had the pleasure of meeting, we’ve probably chatted birth! I have yet to hear of one family, ever, who has reported that they felt extremely confident and prepared as a result of their hospital based birth education class alone.
I have yet to meet a partner who knew his partner’s birth plan thoroughly, and how to advocate with appropriately-timed “yes, no’s, or let’s wait’s…”
I have yet to meet mamas who told me the 5, 6, 7 different positions she knew to work through as early labor turned active, active turned transitional, transitional turned pushing.
Friend, as you can see, more than head-knowledge is needed to adequately prepare for birth. One simply cannot expect that a four-week series class is going to lead to adequate birth preparation. This is a vital component—the process of education translating to preparation— that most first-time parents completely skip over, and it does not fair well on labor-day.
I absolutely love educating on topics from preconception through postpartum. Going forward here at My Birth Choices, I will be sharing “Bite-Size Birth Ed” through my social media pages and my newsletter. The preparation will come for families when intentionally choosing one-on-one Preparation Consultations and/or Pregnancy Partnership.
I am humbled and gratified by the positive outcomes from Consultation and Pregnancy Partnership families served so far. Check out three short testimonials:
“Working with Kayla at My Birth Choices was incredible. We chose to do pregnancy partnership after our free consult, and then later decided to include doula services as well, and that was an excellent choice for us. Right from the initial consult, Kayla was insightful, supportive, and knowledgeable. She truly listened to us, and everything from her resource recommendations to her birth education was individualized and timed exactly when we needed it. Pregnancy partnership was extremely valuable and all moms-to-be, regardless of birth setting or phase of parenthood, would benefit from it.”
-Hannah, first-time mom
“We left the consultation encouraged and empowered to have the birth experience we want. My husband gained more confidence in specific ways to support me in and after labor. I learned more ways to advocate for myself and have more faith in my body’s ability to have a healthy, safe birth. Kayla is an excellent communicator and encourager, I would recommend seeking her expertise to every mom!”
-Kailee, second-time mom
“Our 1:1 consult was more valuable than other resources we've used. Loved the 1:1 approach and being in our home.”
-Laurel, second-time mom
Do you know someone who is ready to go beyond birth education and intentionally step into birth preparation?
I’m here for them, I’m here for you,
