Let’s not bet around the bush, as a first-time mum to be I was quaking in my boots about how a human baby would exit my vagina. I envisioned that giving birth would be painful, primal and long but I somehow just trusted that my body would know what to do.
If I could give my pregnant self a piece of advice now it would be this… Listening to your body is key for certain… but if you want to have an empowered birth in a hospital setting, there’s A LOT of stuff that you can research in advance to get you ready for any unexpected events that may arise during your time on the labour ward.
So, what did I wish I knew about before my time in hospital?
1. The hospital’s food and drink policy
So, I THOUGHT I’d done my homework when I’d popped round to the nearby hospitals, had a tour of the delivery suites and had a reassuring chat with the midwives.
It was only while I was actively giving birth, 4cm dilated and in the middle of asking my partner to track down some food, that I was told that food and drink wasn’t allowed in the birthing room (with the exception of ice cream and water – thankfully!).
So, make sure to take food and drink policies into consideration before choosing your birthing location.
If you can’t find any appealing hospitals in your area:
Why not look into Birth Centres or consider giving birth in the comfort of your own home accompanied by a midwife?
2. Fetal Monitoring can be uncomfortable
I knew that fetal heart monitoring was common during labour but I greatly underestimated how uncomfortable it would be.
Let’s put it this way, laying down on a bed and having a tight strap around your contracting uterus for thirty minutes at a time isn’t exactly ideal when it comes to creating the perfect ambiance for labour.
In fact, laying down flat on your back or on your side is probably one of the last positions you want to be in when trying to help a child exit your womb.
It might be that continuous or intermittent fetal monitoring just isn’t for you. Researching what policies different birthing locations have now could help you narrow down your choices.
If you’re looking for a place to start educating yourself on how to have an empowering birth with as little fear and intervention as possible, take a look at Ina May’s: ‘Guide To Childbirth‘.
With more than thirty years experience as a midwife, May focuses on a female centered form of care. She includes how to create comfortable environments for birth in any setting which can be very reassuring.
Some alternatives to continuous and intermittent electronic fetal monitoring:
a) Mobile electronic fetal monitoring: A wireless fetal monitoring system that allows women to give birth in upright positions away from the bed.
b) Hands on Listening or ‘Intermittent Auscultation’: such as the handheld fetal Doppler ultrasound device.
3. You might be offered an induction while giving birth
Our bodies know how to give birth.
These days though, it seems that inductions are commonly being recommended to women who have normal, risk-free pregnancies without any need for medical intervention.
Of course, inductions can be life saving and necessary under certain circumstances but it can be challenging to judge whether or not you fall into that category when you are in the middle of handling painful contractions.
If you’re leaning more towards having a medication free, natural birth, it might be worth reading up on different reasons why inductions are offered so that you can make a more informed decision in the case that you’ll face such a choice.
‘The Thinking Woman’s Guide to a Better Birth’ by Henci Goer is a great place to start. Goer aims to provide women with scientific research on childbirth and evidence based maternity care.
Topics include: inducing labour, electronic fetal monitoring, doulas and more.
Questions you might want to ask your care provider are:
What are the risks of having / not having the induction?
What are the alternatives?
4. Having a Doula with you can transform your experience
Until I became pregnant I had no idea what a doula was. Knowing what I know now, I would definitely consider saving up to hire a doula if I was to ever have another child.
Why?
Midwives and doctors are doing an amazing job but, at the end of the day, they might not always be available to answer your queries.
Having a doula by your side during labour gives you an emotional and psychological safety net which could help you feel more satisfied with your birth experience.
Doulas often offer consistency of care. They’re available to meet you before, during and after birth and will get to know the ins and out of your birth plan.
While giving birth, you’ll want to focus on getting through those contractions rather than on negotiating with hospital staff. That’s when doulas can step in to advocate for your birth preferences and help you feel empowered during labour.