BY BEIA SANTOS-FLORETE
WHEN a woman is pregnant, there are so many dreams, wishes, and plans she suddenly has. She will daydream about her future baby and start planning all the baby needs. Sleeping arrangements in home, where the child will go to school, maybe even investment plans, and be so excited to find out the gender so the best part can begin – shopping!
But how about the birth? How many women visualize and plan for their birthing journey?
Giving birth requires more preparation than we expect. What kind of birth are we going to have? Where? How? With whom? All these are such important questions we need to find the answers for so we can have our perfect birthing experience. A birth free of suffering and trauma and one we can look back on, which brings only memories of love. “At least you and baby are alive” is one of the worst statements said when a mother goes through a traumatic birth experience. Are our standards of birth really that low? Are our regard for women’s physical and mental health almost non-existent?
How to prepare for your birth:
1. Table for 1– it is easy and extremely tempting to fall into the “I am eating for two” trap. You are not! The baby is the size of a pea and does not need a slice of pizza or burger for him or herself. Eat a proper, balanced diet and give in to the occasional sinful cravings.
2. Movement is magic– move, move, move. You don’t have to go all out on the exercise department, but you can’t sit on the couch and snack all day long, too. Keep yourself busy when you have the energy, get things done around the house, stretch often, and exercise when you can. You will need that strength to get you through labor and the physical demands of caring for a newborn, too.
3. Education is key– joining a birth preparation class is the best and first investment you make when becoming a mother. Learning about how capable your body is, dispelling any myths, calming your fears, finding out your rights, and seeing all the birthing options will help you and your partner prepare for birth. Do not simply rely on your doctor. Know your options and make informed decisions on the dozens of choices you will soon face. Join Facebook support groups such as Gentle Birth in the Philippines and attend any of the classes of the Pinay Doulas, Doula Betty San Luis, or Doula Irina Otmakhova to equip you with the confidence and knowledge you need when making all the birthing decisions.
4. Build your dream team– finding a birth team who is 100 percent supportive of your plans, approachable, empathic, and understanding of your wants and fears is key to a successful birth. All you need are your supportive partner (your mom or partner) and the right obstetrician for you. Others in the birth team can be a doula and midwife. You all must be on the same page, wanting the same for your birth, and they must respect that the birthing experience is really between a mother and the baby.
5. Remember your power– from the time you find yourself pregnant to the time your baby comes out and beyond, remind yourself of your power. Your body has made this baby; your body can grow it, birth it, and nourish it, too. You are enough, you are capable, and you are powerful. Surround yourself with only positive birth stories and supportive people, and you will see that you can overcome anything.
Empower yourself and have the wonderful birth experience all women deserve.(To be continued)/PN
