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What choices matter and knowing what you want from your childbirth.
When you think about your birth, you usually think about the things you don't want. You may even have a long list. But, what about the things you do want? You may not know it, but choices are being made about you, your pregnancy and birth. You have a choice, and if you know what your choices are, you can be a better birth consumer.
Our childbirth education class will help you walk through your choices, and make decisions that will affect the outcome of your birth, and your level of personal satisfaction. When you eat a burger, you choose if you want ketchup, mayo, mustard, lettuce, onions or tomatoes. Some of these choices may have caused you to have a strong reaction. If you don't like mustard, do you put on your burger? No. You choose something else. Childbirth is full of choices that you can make, if you are aware of them.
Our purpose is to expose you and your labor partner to the options, and help you consider which options you do and don't want. You make the final selection, and we help you write a birth plan to express those choices. If you are have already had a baby, then you will have a better idea about the options available. But, a first time parent may only be aware of the options they have heard about from family and friends. We want you to have all the knowlege that you want. Our job is not to give you bits and pieces, but to give you the whole picture. A first time couple can go into birth with a great deal of knowledge, and adequetely make decisions for yourselves.
Our childbirth education class will help you walk through your choices, and make decisions that will affect the outcome of your birth, and your level of personal satisfaction. When you eat a burger, you choose if you want ketchup, mayo, mustard, lettuce, onions or tomatoes. Some of these choices may have caused you to have a strong reaction. If you don't like mustard, do you put on your burger? No. You choose something else. Childbirth is full of choices that you can make, if you are aware of them.
Our purpose is to expose you and your labor partner to the options, and help you consider which options you do and don't want. You make the final selection, and we help you write a birth plan to express those choices. If you are have already had a baby, then you will have a better idea about the options available. But, a first time parent may only be aware of the options they have heard about from family and friends. We want you to have all the knowlege that you want. Our job is not to give you bits and pieces, but to give you the whole picture. A first time couple can go into birth with a great deal of knowledge, and adequetely make decisions for yourselves.
Priceless!
What is that? Do I really need one? My doctor knows what I want and says I don't need to give them a birth plan. When you are working with a provider and he or she has spent time with you identifying your wishes, they may tell you that they don't need a birth plan. It's up to you and your partner to decide if you want one. Consider how frequently the nursing staff changes at any hospital, and you may get an idea of how often you have new nurse. Will you labor and birth in 10 hours, 20 hours or 30 hours? There is no way to know the answer, but we can assume that you will have at least one nursing shift change.
How do you identify your wishes? A birth plan is typically shared with the nurse when you arrive to the labor and delivery unit. Your nurse will look over your birth plan and probably will ask you questions related to the information you share, to clarify your wishes. Imagine having to share that information each shift change? Can you count on your nurse to relay it to the new nurse? She would much rather point to your birth plan and ask the new nurse to read it.
Your doctor may or may not look at your plan, but you have had several prenatal visits, so your doctor will have an idea if you want a vaginal birth, a vaginal birth with an epidural, or a Cesarean birth. The real reason you may want to write a birth plan is to know you are prepared, knowlegable about the stages of birth, knowing what you may encounter, and how you will handle those situations. Ultimately, this is for you!
How do you identify your wishes? A birth plan is typically shared with the nurse when you arrive to the labor and delivery unit. Your nurse will look over your birth plan and probably will ask you questions related to the information you share, to clarify your wishes. Imagine having to share that information each shift change? Can you count on your nurse to relay it to the new nurse? She would much rather point to your birth plan and ask the new nurse to read it.
Your doctor may or may not look at your plan, but you have had several prenatal visits, so your doctor will have an idea if you want a vaginal birth, a vaginal birth with an epidural, or a Cesarean birth. The real reason you may want to write a birth plan is to know you are prepared, knowlegable about the stages of birth, knowing what you may encounter, and how you will handle those situations. Ultimately, this is for you!
Your Private Class Is Tailored To Your Needs
Learning about proceedures at your hospital will give you a sense of control. Knowing what you can change, and what you have to accept will go a long way towards having a memorable time during labor. Planning and sharing your birth preferences allows you ownership to your very own birth. You will have a sense of satisfaction that only comes with preparation. Our childbirth education manual will be a point of reference through out your pregnancy as you begin to realize what your labor will look like.
Learning about proceedures at your hospital will give you a sense of control. Knowing what you can change, and what you have to accept will go a long way towards having a memorable time during labor. Planning and sharing your birth preferences allows you ownership to your very own birth. You will have a sense of satisfaction that only comes with preparation. Our childbirth education manual will be a point of reference through out your pregnancy as you begin to realize what your labor will look like.
When you allow yourself to imagine what your labor and birth will be like, there may be some images that get in the way. We all have preconceived notions about what will happen. TV, magazines, books and personal accounts are where we get those images. We will talk about birth culture and protecting yourself from negative images that will not promote relaxation during birth. Your mother, grandmothers, sisters and best friends will all have opinions. What is important? Your very own opinions based on actual childbirth knowledge! You will have a working knowlege of the stages of labor, and will be able to identify them during your labor and birth. This is especially empoweing to new mothers.
Your Birth Experience
We will help you envision your ideal birth experience. We realize that parents can have differing views of the same birth, and we help you both comunicate that to each other. The sights, sounds, smells, tastes and feelings you have in your mind will reflect your different exposure to birth, and with that information, we help you exchange this effectively. You will have a shared vision after your class is completed, that helps you to be ready for your birth emotionally. Families tell us that envisioning their birth is the single most important thing they take from the class. Having knowledge is simply not enough!
We will explore your personalities and needs, which will help you work better as a team.
You will have an understanding of the entire birth process, starting with the stages of labor. We spend some time focusing on your nutrition. Having a healthy pregnancy goes a long way towards having a successful birth. We will discuss exercise, including specific preparation for your labor. We have found that hands on practice makes you more confortable when you are in actual labor.
We will look at information about fetal positioning. When your practitioner discusses this with you, you will be able to join in with the conversation with complete understanding. Since hormones play an important role in birth, and you can't give birth without them, we will talk about their cause and effect.
Relaxation is important during labor as you make your way through the stages. Fight or flight is a very real thing. You will be able to stay calm, and focused. We will go over the many ways to practice relaxation, Using affirmations during labor is a way to keep your mind calm. We will look at affirmations that are helpful, and you can write your own.
Your Birth Experience
We will help you envision your ideal birth experience. We realize that parents can have differing views of the same birth, and we help you both comunicate that to each other. The sights, sounds, smells, tastes and feelings you have in your mind will reflect your different exposure to birth, and with that information, we help you exchange this effectively. You will have a shared vision after your class is completed, that helps you to be ready for your birth emotionally. Families tell us that envisioning their birth is the single most important thing they take from the class. Having knowledge is simply not enough!
We will explore your personalities and needs, which will help you work better as a team.
You will have an understanding of the entire birth process, starting with the stages of labor. We spend some time focusing on your nutrition. Having a healthy pregnancy goes a long way towards having a successful birth. We will discuss exercise, including specific preparation for your labor. We have found that hands on practice makes you more confortable when you are in actual labor.
We will look at information about fetal positioning. When your practitioner discusses this with you, you will be able to join in with the conversation with complete understanding. Since hormones play an important role in birth, and you can't give birth without them, we will talk about their cause and effect.
Relaxation is important during labor as you make your way through the stages. Fight or flight is a very real thing. You will be able to stay calm, and focused. We will go over the many ways to practice relaxation, Using affirmations during labor is a way to keep your mind calm. We will look at affirmations that are helpful, and you can write your own.
Comfort Measures
What brings you comfort during labor is an important part of your childbirth class. We will practice these so that you know what helps you the most during labor. Your partner will get to try out some examples, and you can offer feedback so that he or she can dupport you during labor. Your doula will work with your partner once you discover your preferences, and that can be helpful. Many couples use rebozos, birth balls, massage and music. We will go over these options and more.
Putting It All Together
When it's time to go to the hospital, you will have an excellent understanding of the process from arriving to the hospital, being admitted, electronic fetal monitering, the potential use of IV fluids, getting a heplock, what you can eat and drink during laboras well as movement and showers during labor. We will cover "natural childbirth" which is unmedicated childbirth, labor induction and augmentation, evaluating the Bishop's Score, AROM, Ppain relief options, and other options. You can make potential choices during your class, which can be used with approval of your doctor.
The Birth
Cord blood banking, cord clamping, pushing options and positions, the birth if your baby, birth of your placenta and post-labor information in detail, in addition to the first two hours after your baby's birth which includes what may happen with you and your baby if everyone is healthy, or if there are problems. Our class includes normal infant proceedures such as the vitamen K shot, infant eye ointment, and other possible injections and infant screenings. We will also talking about feeding options (breastfeeding or formula feeding).
Going Home
Support after your birth is very important, so we will discuss your options. Some couples find it helpful to create a going home plan, so they know there are no gaps in coverage for the new mom, the new dad, the new baby and any other children in the home.
Q&A
The end of your childbirth education class involves questions and answers. You can reach out to us for more Q&A once your class is over.
Resources
We share our resource list with every family who takes our class. This is a valuable list that will help you as you dive feet first into parenting your new baby!
We are looking forward to helping you on your journey. Memphis Family Doulas offers labor and postpartum doulas. We also offer a Newborn Care Class, which is private as well. Sign up for this wonderful class before you have your baby!
Memphis Family Doulas is your first choice in pregnancy, childbirth and postpartum care. Call us TODAY to schedule your private, at home childbirth education class.
Your Birth Experience Childbirth Education is a complete step-by-step journal to help you envision, prepare for and achieve the birth you want. Written by Missy David, BS, CD, CYBET.
Amelia Tummalapalli
901-346-1459.
What brings you comfort during labor is an important part of your childbirth class. We will practice these so that you know what helps you the most during labor. Your partner will get to try out some examples, and you can offer feedback so that he or she can dupport you during labor. Your doula will work with your partner once you discover your preferences, and that can be helpful. Many couples use rebozos, birth balls, massage and music. We will go over these options and more.
Putting It All Together
When it's time to go to the hospital, you will have an excellent understanding of the process from arriving to the hospital, being admitted, electronic fetal monitering, the potential use of IV fluids, getting a heplock, what you can eat and drink during laboras well as movement and showers during labor. We will cover "natural childbirth" which is unmedicated childbirth, labor induction and augmentation, evaluating the Bishop's Score, AROM, Ppain relief options, and other options. You can make potential choices during your class, which can be used with approval of your doctor.
The Birth
Cord blood banking, cord clamping, pushing options and positions, the birth if your baby, birth of your placenta and post-labor information in detail, in addition to the first two hours after your baby's birth which includes what may happen with you and your baby if everyone is healthy, or if there are problems. Our class includes normal infant proceedures such as the vitamen K shot, infant eye ointment, and other possible injections and infant screenings. We will also talking about feeding options (breastfeeding or formula feeding).
Going Home
Support after your birth is very important, so we will discuss your options. Some couples find it helpful to create a going home plan, so they know there are no gaps in coverage for the new mom, the new dad, the new baby and any other children in the home.
Q&A
The end of your childbirth education class involves questions and answers. You can reach out to us for more Q&A once your class is over.
Resources
We share our resource list with every family who takes our class. This is a valuable list that will help you as you dive feet first into parenting your new baby!
We are looking forward to helping you on your journey. Memphis Family Doulas offers labor and postpartum doulas. We also offer a Newborn Care Class, which is private as well. Sign up for this wonderful class before you have your baby!
Memphis Family Doulas is your first choice in pregnancy, childbirth and postpartum care. Call us TODAY to schedule your private, at home childbirth education class.
Your Birth Experience Childbirth Education is a complete step-by-step journal to help you envision, prepare for and achieve the birth you want. Written by Missy David, BS, CD, CYBET.
Amelia Tummalapalli
901-346-1459.
