Choices in Childbirth

Choices in Childbirth

For many the extensive choices available to them for pregnancy, childbirth and postpartum care can be very overwhelming. Often women do not find themselves thinking about changing care providers or having so many questions for their care provider until they are pregnant. The resources for parents have grown a great deal in the past few years and information is readily available for parents to help them make some of these decisions.

We at Belly Bliss are also working hard to help parents know of their resources. We have many local Denver OB’s, Midwives, doulas, childbirth educators and other resources available here at the studio and have several classes where parents can learn more about their options. We are committed to giving evidence based information and staying un-biased in what we present in our classes. All of our instructors feel strongly the best thing they can do for women in helping them make decisions concerning their care in pregnancy, childbirth and motherhood is give them the most information we can and let each family decide what is best for them. One class we are excited to be offering is Choices in Childbirth; this class discusses the different birth options from Hospital to Free Standing Birth Center, and Home Birth. Participants get the opportunity to learn about what each setting has to offer and the differences between settings, including how hospitals can differ. The differences between Doctors and Midwives are also addressed along with the pros and cons to each and who is eligible for either care. They also learn about the distinctions between the many sorts of doctors and midwives who provide pregnancy and childbirth care. We are also offering a monthly Meet the Doulas Night where parents can come and learn about what a doula is what they do and get answers to their questions. Parents will have the opportunity to meet different types of doulas and see if a doula is the right fit for them.

Other great resources that are available to parents right now are:

Childbirth Connection which helps women chose a caregiver, a place of birth and their options for support and pain relief. Childbirth Connection also has the Listening to Mothers Survey and Report, this report polls woman in the United States about their maternity experience. The New Mothers Speak Out report presents material from prior surveys and how mothers felt postpartum to their experiences.

Lamaze International also is an amazing resource for parents, part of the focus are the Six Care Practices that Support Normal Birth. These evidence based practices can help parents make decisions throughout their childbirth preparation and practice. The Six Practices are:

-Labor begins on its own

-Freedom of movement throughout labor

-Continuous labor support

-No routine interventions

-Spontaneous pushing in upright or gravity neutral positions

-No separation of mother and baby after birth with unlimited opportunities to breastfeed