The BIGGEST Decision Concerning the Birth of Your Baby
Did you know that the number one factor as to HOW your birth experience will unfold is who you decide to choose as your care provider.
At the end of the day, your care provider makes all the decisions about your delivery and so it is paramount that you trust them 100%.
Choosing a care provider to assist at your birth is important! You will remember this day for the rest of your life and you deserve to have great memories of the day you met the LOVE of your LIFE!
THIS IS YOUR CHOICE and the biggest deciding factor of your birth outcome.
Did you know that it is not your OBGYN's job to assist you in labor? Their job is to ensure a safe delivery for you & baby. And, technically, delivery happens at the end of labor. This means that your OBGYN is not with you the entire time you are laboring. They arrive for the last 10-20 minutes before your baby is born.
Your OBGYN's job is to ensure that mother & baby are safe & healthy (and, yes, we want them in that role). HOWEVER, this means their job is NOT to ensure you have the birth experience you want. They are not invested in the quality of your experience.
SO...
For those of us that want to invest in our birth experience, have a connected experience, feel like we are active participants this process and feel heard, YOU NEED TO GET PROACTIVE!
Yes, that means you and your partner should take childbirth classes and educate yourself on choices and options!
Yes, that means you should hire a doula and invest in an expert whose sole job is to ensure quality of your experience.
YES, that means you must seek out a care provider that you trust 100% with one of the most important days of your life!
And, YES, this may mean that you switch care providers, change medical groups and make extended calls to your insurance company!
Questions to ask your provider when you want individual care versus standard care:
At what point/week do you induce & why?
How do you feel about a written plan that describes my birth preferences?
What do you think of professional labor support? Doulas?
What do you think of childbirth classes?
What do you think about non-medicated childbirth (if you desire this)?
Do you routinely give episiotomies & why?
Is pitocin routinely given or used only when needed?
What is your cesarean rate & why?
If you are attempting a VBAC (vaginal birth after cesarean), ask your doctor if they support VBACs and what is their success rate.
The way your care provider answers these questions should give you a good idea about their policies, philosophy and how they view possible options that are important to you.
AS A REMINDER:
You are NOT sick, pregnancy is NOT an illness! It is a natural and normal physiological event.
If you have any questions about this topic please feel free to email us.
We also offer birth consultations if you feel you need extra guidance on this topic.
When in doubt about who to choose, check out our amazing resident hospital midwife, Lisa Sherwood, she works out of Saddleback Memorial in Laguna Hills.
