Have you considered what giving birth may look like for you if you were in control and had the freedom to do what felt right? How would that make you feel? Women who feel confident and safe with themselves and their birth team are much more likely to have more positive outcomes surrounding the birth of their children. 

‍

When you choose to give birth with My Family Birth Center, you are choosing freedom. Let’s talk about how that can look.

Freedom to Move

At My Family Birth Center, you’ll have the freedom to move around during your labor because you won’t be hooked up to an IV or continuous fetal monitoring, and you won’t have medication preventing you from being able to stand unassisted. You can work with gravity to bring your baby down by walking around, swaying, and moving how your body wants.  

‍

When it comes time to push, you don’t have to lie on your back unless you want to. You decide which position feels the most comfortable for you. You also have options as to where you want to be when pushing. For example, you may want to take advantage of the benefits of pushing in a birthtub. The water can help release muscle tension, provide pain relief, and give your baby an easy transition from womb to world. Some women feel more comfortable pushing on our cozy beds, maybe because beds are where our bodies go to relax and restore our energy and the mind connection can help you relax during labor. 

Choose Who You Want Present

You get to decide how many people you want to be present for your child's birth. If you have older children and want them to be present for the birth of their sibling, they are welcome to be there. Although we do suggest having a designated caretaker for the older children, someone other than your partner, so you and your partner can focus on getting through the birth at hand. 

‍

Let the midwives know if there is anyone specifically that you do not want in the room while you are laboring and delivering your baby. They will kindly remove anyone you do not want to be there, even if you previously wanted them present and later changed your mind. Don’t be afraid to speak up, it’s your birth and you get to decide who can or cannot be there.

Eat What You Want

Sometimes, hospitals tell their patients that they can’t eat during labor because there’s a chance they might need to be taken back for an emergency c-section and need general anesthesia. Eating before being put under can cause respiration, but most women who have c-sections get an epidural rather than general anesthesia making all of this moot. 

‍

Unfortunately, this fasting can lead to laboring mothers burning through all of their energy with no way to replenish it. Women with low-risk pregnancies should not be grouped with high-risk pregnancies and be made to fast during labor. We recommend laboring mothers get plenty of hydration and eat light snacks/meals. You can even pack snacks in your birth bag to refuel when you need them most. Eating a big meal could upset your stomach. Remember, labor is a marathon and not a sprint. Your energy should be restored accordingly.

Enjoy Immediate Family Bonding

Immediately after giving birth, your baby will be placed on your chest for skin-to-skin contact while you wait for the placenta to detach and be delivered. As long as you and your baby are doing well and don’t need urgent medical attention, the midwives will help you to the bed if you’re not already there and assess you and your baby. During that assessment, you will get to enjoy skin-to-skin time and bonding with your newborn. You will then get to shower, eat, and then head home to continue family bonding. 

‍

To learn more about your options for pregnancy, labor, and delivery, contact our midwives today!

‍