Crash Birth Course: Who Should Stand By You and What Do They Need to Know?
Show Notes:
[1:35] This week's episode is all about how to include people into your birth space as kind of your own personal doula. If you have your mom, sister, aunt, birth partner, friend, or other family member that you want in that birth space, send them this episode if they are planning to be there to assist you, and you want to give them a crash course.
[2:11] What are the benefits of having someone who can guide you through birth?
- You will reduce your length of labor. When you have support people that know what they're doing and can be of support to you, your labor time is less.
- Studies have shown to decrease the amount of pain that a mom experiences.
- It is shown to boost confidence and improve the experience of labor, including how you feel when you look back on it, hopefully with joy.
[6:20] If you are a My Essential Birth mom, and you have somebody helping you out, they should definitely be watching the birth course. There are definitely very specific things that your birth partner should be doing during your labor process. But if your mom or your sister or somebody else is going to be there, take them through the birth course, and have them watch it. They need to understand what is going on in your head and in your body, what you have learned, and what the process of birth looks like, so that they can really help you and be hands on.
[8:23] You have to decide what things work well for you and then relay that information, communicate that information to whoever is going to be supporting you.
[10:47] They should definitely have their own birth bag. For example, a change of clothes, cell phone charger, B12 vitamins, high protein, non stinky food, water, toothbrush and toothpaste, mints, straws for mom, chapstick, deodorant, etc.
[13:45] What should the person helping be doing?
- practice before going into the actual labor
- practice doing some counter pressure
- ask mom what feels good (playing with her hair, rubbing her arm, etc.)
- walk her through relaxation
- check the area (essential oils, lighting, music, etc.)
[17:00] During labor, what should the person helping be doing?
- have mom change positions every 30 minutes
- give them water and keep them hydrated
- have mom use the restroom every hour
- work through affirmations with mom
- counter pressure
- take pictures and document the birth
[31:05] " When you are choosing somebody to be in your birth space to support you, it shouldn't just be the person that makes you feel guilty for not having them there, that you invite in. This should be somebody that is going to love you and protect you and protect your space and do exactly what you want to do. They have no other motives, no other desires. They're not trying to heal their own birth experience by supporting you through yours. This is somebody who believes in whatever you need them to believe in you during this time."
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