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Contributed by: Clarke Reader on 6/26/2008

Here a some tips to help get you ready for a joyful, fear free birth experience. Notice I didn't state easy or perfect. One doesn't gain anything of importance from easy or struggle-free.

1) Block the "health" channels from your cable/satellite. There is rarely anything healthy, positive or normal about how women and birth are characterized in those shows.The negativity and management of all the births teaches the viewer that they are fragile, unable to birth, unable to go into labor... That isn't the truth, that is drama and current cultural view on birth. Women can and do go into labor,birth well every day all over the world with very little need of intervention of any kind. Alas those stories do not make for good television. I urge you to stop letting those shows infiltrate your peaceful gestation.

2) Unsub from online pregnancy and birth message boards off that deal in fear based chatting and care provider worship. These message boards do the same thing as the tv shows. They undermine confidence and trust in one's body and baby. They undermine critical thinking and care provider questioning. There are a good many online groups and message boards that support normal birth and birth options. Email me offlist and I will help you locate some.

3) Go to the library check out some great books on childbirth - Ina May's Guide to Childbirth, The Official Lamaze Guide, Gentle Birth Choices, The Birth Book (a little dated but good), The Thinking Woman's Guide to Childbirth, Pushed, among others. These type of books build confidence and knowledge in normal birth. PleaseputWhat to Expect and the Girlfriend'sGuide away.

4) Stop listening to horror stories or bad birth experiences - Other women love to share horror stories about birth. When someone starts sharing tell them you are not taking birth storeis as the baby is listening. Or say I am gestating peaceully, only taking positive birth stories. When we continually hear horror stories, just like those TV shows they can become part of our fabric. Fear takes the place of confidence and peace.

5) Attendchildbirth classes that support normal birth practices and are not "How to be a good patient" classes- Be very careful choosing to take a class that is offered by the location where you are birthing. Some hospitals classes are only geared toward teaching you about hospital practices, protocols and what to expect when you arrive in labor. These type of classes do not offer unbiased education and sometimes elminate essential information because it is in direct conflict with what the hospital wants you to know. Also, choose a class that is a minimum of 12 hours in length. Anything less than 12 hours has been shown to not equip parents with enough information and skill for birth as they will likely not retain the information or feel confident with the amount of practice time. If the class is 10 hours, find out ahead of time what will be covered before spending the money on it. The 5 hour one-day classes are only good as a refresher, for first time moms, it is like throwing the money away. Classes that are based in normal birth will evidence-based medicine at the core of the instruction, truthful information on interventions and medications, instruct on all the options of labor, delivery and immediate postpartum, and be confidence building.

6) Hire a doula - Having a professional labor support person attending you in birth decreases cesarean rate, narcotic and epidural rate, induction rate, increase positivie birth experience, increase breastfeeding success,

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CONTRIBUTOR INFORMATION

Clarke Reader

Arvada , CO

Clarke Reader has posted 4 stories and 0 comments since joining on 2/23/2007. Clarke Reader 's average story rating is 5.

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