Choice and Accountability

What Can Women Do to Have the Best Birth Possible?

You cannot control everything about your birth, but there are a few things you can do to better prepare yourself:

• Choose a care provider and birth location carefully. (See “Unity with Providers of Care,”)
• Educate yourself and know all of your options as well as your rights. (See “Free to Choose”)
• Hire a doula. Having a support person with you who is familiar with birth can be very helpful and can increase your chance of having a positive birth experience. (Refer to “Benefits of Having a Doula,”)
• Study, Ponder and Pray.

Birth Plans

• How to Write a Birth Plan
• http://www.birthingnaturally.net/birthplan/how.html
• Options to explore when writing your birth plan
• http://www.birthingnaturally.net/birthplan/options.html
• Interactive Birth Plan
• http://www.childbirth.org/interactive/ibirthplan.html
• Preferences regarding breastfeeding
• http://www.breastmilkcounts.com/my-breastfeeding-plan.html
• Religious/Spiritual Preferences
• It is a good idea to let your birth team know what your religious preferences are and how they can show respect for your beliefs.  For example, you could mention that you may request a priesthood blessing or prayer.  Also, how do you feel about profanity?  It may be helpful for your providers to know that you appreciate them refraining from profanity or vulgar language.  Do you have preferences regarding modesty and who you may come in the room?

Mother-Centered Baby Showers

 Links:

• http://www.naturalbirthandbabycare.com/blessingway.html
• http://pregnancy.about.com/cs/blessingway/a/aa102202a.htm
• https://enjoybirth.com/how-to-add-blessing-way-awesomeness-to-a-normal-baby-shower/

Books:

• Mother Rising: The Blessingway Journey Into Motherhood by Yana Cortlund, Barb Lucke, and Donna Miller Watelet
• Blessingways: A Guide to Mother-Centered Baby Showers – Celebrating Pregnancy, Birth, and Motherhood by Shari Maser

Emergency Preparedness

• Emergency Childbirth, by Sarah Henry (LDS Emergency Preparedness)
• Neonatal Resuscitation Program (NRP)
• Neonatal resuscitation training with Karen Strange (geared to an out-of-hospital setting)
• The Worst is Over: What to say when every moment counts–verbal first aid to calm, relieve pain, promote healing, and save lives, by Judith Acosta and Judith Simon Prager

Creating a Sacred Cesarean Section