Birthing By Heart

Choosing the team of people to support you through your labour and birth is one of the empowering and proactive things you can do in preparation for your birth. It’s  your choice as to how many people  you wish to have at your birth. Some people prefer an absolute minimum - enough people to make them feel safe, where as others like to make it a community affair.

Your birth team ought to be people you feel 100% comfortable with, and people who you can trust.

If you’re considering freebirthing, your birth team will consist of no medical professionals - you might consider having a doula, your partner, and or close friends to support you.

If this is the first birth of you and  your partner, the wisdom and support of a woman who has supported many births may prove invaluable. A doula can provide this. Some doula’s code of ethics prevent them from attending freebirths - as being the only “professional” (medical or otherwise) is considered lay-midwifery (Which in many states and countries is considered illegal)

If you are choosing midwife care, you’ll need to select a midwife. Your selection comes down to a couple of things - where you live, what services your state provides, and whether you want public or private care.

Once you’ve narrowed down what is available to you - select a midwife who makes you feel comfortable,  you may want to ask them a list of questions about their experience, and methods:

• How long have you been a midwife?
• What made you choose to become a midwife
• Have you got children? Where did you birth them? And what made you choose that way of birthing?
• What’s your hospital transfer rate?
• For what reasons do you recommend transfer?
• Do you have authority to be my primary midwife at the hospital you recommend transfer to?
• What is your approach towards monitoring (vaginal exams, baby’s heartrate etc)
• What are your payment terms?
• How many births have you attended?
• How many women do you take on in a month?
• How do you handle a situation where 2 of your women are labouring at the same time?
• Do you have a backup midwife? When do I meet her? How is she involved in my care?
• What is your approach to the third stage? Do you support me in birthing the placenta natually?
• Are you able to suture if I require stitches?
• Are you able to assist in establishing breastfeeding?
• Are you supportive of my having a doula/partner/child attending my birth?

Your midwife will usually have a backup midwife who may also attend your birth.

You may also wish to have a doula present. A doula can provide support, and advice throughout your birth.  Some information on what a doula’s role is at birth can be found here

If you have a partner, you may wish for them to be present at the birth - this is deeply a matter of personal choice, and depends on the relationship with your partner.  If  your partner is present, it’s a good idea during your pregnancy to educate them on what  to expect during labour and birth. And give them ideas on what their roles, and things they can do to assist you are.

If you have a doula, she will be able to help your partner support you!

You may also wish to have your older children present at your birth. Preparing an older sibling for the arrival of their brother or sister, is something you can share with your partner througout your pregnancy. Birth is a normal and natural process, but it may be a little scary, particularly for a younger child, seeing their mother in pain.

If you have your older children present at your birth, you may wish to have a support person for them, in case they become frightened, tired, or just overwhelmed.