It's easy for expectant parents to be overwhelmed with the rafts of information available these days. With the extensive experience of our team members with our own parenting journeys, as well as walking with many hundreds of other parents, we've got a pretty good handle on the main themes and evidence based information we feel is worth starting your research journey with...
1. Learn about the physiology of the birth process
And how best to support your body through it. This involves understanding the environment that a labouring woman's body needs. Dr Sarah Buckley stresses the need to feel "private, safe and unobserved". When we have these feelings, the body releases the right hormones in their correct sequence.
Authors like Nadine Richardson in her book She Births describes this very succinctly, as does Dr Buckley. You can completely geek out on the hormones of birth in her thesis The Hormonal Physiology of Childbearing, available for free. The main message to also understand is that the majority of healthy women experiencing a normal pregnancy can experience a normal birth. The chances of this are increased when you understand how to support your physiology.
We have many wonderful podcast episodes here that you can binge on regarding everything from conscious conception to pregnancy, labour, birth, postpartum and beyond. However, Melanie the Midwife has a hugely popular podcast that's taking the birth world by storm these days and really needs to be checked out too, The Great Birth Rebellion.
A beautiful account of a birth where the hormones flowed uninterrupted is found in this article by former PBB Radio presenter, Oni Blecher. (This is a particularly beautiful article for fathers to read as well.)
Authors like Nadine Richardson in her book She Births describes this very succinctly, as does Dr Buckley. You can completely geek out on the hormones of birth in her thesis The Hormonal Physiology of Childbearing, available for free. The main message to also understand is that the majority of healthy women experiencing a normal pregnancy can experience a normal birth. The chances of this are increased when you understand how to support your physiology.
We have many wonderful podcast episodes here that you can binge on regarding everything from conscious conception to pregnancy, labour, birth, postpartum and beyond. However, Melanie the Midwife has a hugely popular podcast that's taking the birth world by storm these days and really needs to be checked out too, The Great Birth Rebellion.
A beautiful account of a birth where the hormones flowed uninterrupted is found in this article by former PBB Radio presenter, Oni Blecher. (This is a particularly beautiful article for fathers to read as well.)
2. Learn about the appropriate environment for birth
Once you realise what's required for optimal birth (privacy, a familiar environment, being only in the presence of trusted loved ones, darkness), then you also realise that there is much about the standard hospital environment that is contraindicated for normal physiological birth. This doesn't mean normal birth isn't possible in a hospital, you just need to take additional steps to limit your exposure to bright lights, talking, being in the presence of strangers, the sight of medical equipment, smells of antiseptic, etc. Research has shown that even the sight of tiling and stainless steel raises cortisol levels, and not just for the birthing woman, but for the staff who work in hospitals every single day (Foureur, et al).
Tips for reducing the stress of hospital environments include:
Tips for reducing the stress of hospital environments include:
- Look for continuity of midwifery carer, so you get to know your primary carer through the course of your pregnancy. If this isn't available to you, consider engaging a doula. They can give you that continuity and sense of familiarity, while also being experienced in understanding how to navigate the maternity care system. Your partner will need this support too.
- Wear an eye mask when you transfer to hospital. Melatonin is an important birth hormone and its release is very easily disrupted with exposure to any light, especially bright hospital lights.
- Being very selective with who you choose to be in the birth room with you. It is surprising how some people can disturb a woman's birth process if she is not completely comfortable with everyone present. This is an important evolutionary adaptation and needs to be respected for efficient birthing.
- Turn off the lights in your birth room. Take other personal things to give a sense of familiarity. There are many resources to explore on this topic, such as She Births by Nadine Richardson.
3. Understand the parameters of what the maternity care system provides
Rafts of research from Australia and across the developed and developing world over decades show that the safety of birth for most healthy women experiencing a normal pregnancy is not increased by being in hospital. Interventions from the maternity care system have been steadily rising over the past 3 decades with no appreciable improvement to stillbirth rates. Instead we are seeing increased NICU admissions and birth trauma rates are now at 30% with 10% of those women suffering from PTSD.
On the other hand, of course some healthy women and babies will need the care a hospital provides and should not hesitate in seeking that support.
You can learn more about the benefits that maternity care actually provides in an important, but often overlooked, text Safer Childbirth? A Critical History of Childbirth by Marjorie Tew. It's out of print, but still possible to find in second hand stores online.
Rachel Reed, PhD, has a brilliant book Reclaiming Childbirth as a Rite of Passage that covers the maternity care landscape and the commonly available birth choices (as well as the vital perspective of birth being the rite of passage that it is, and how to preserve that for yourself.)
You can read about the options for care that are generally available here.
On the other hand, of course some healthy women and babies will need the care a hospital provides and should not hesitate in seeking that support.
You can learn more about the benefits that maternity care actually provides in an important, but often overlooked, text Safer Childbirth? A Critical History of Childbirth by Marjorie Tew. It's out of print, but still possible to find in second hand stores online.
Rachel Reed, PhD, has a brilliant book Reclaiming Childbirth as a Rite of Passage that covers the maternity care landscape and the commonly available birth choices (as well as the vital perspective of birth being the rite of passage that it is, and how to preserve that for yourself.)
You can read about the options for care that are generally available here.
4. Know your rights, Birth Mapping and BRAIN
It's easy to feel like you must follow what your care provider recommends, but every pregnant woman has the same rights as any other human being to bodily autonomy. Their unborn baby has no separate rights to the mother until the baby is born alive. So all the rights to decision making rest with the woman. She has the right to choose where and with whom she gives birth - even if she chooses to birth alone. That is her right. Of course, many women want to be supported, so she has the right to choose who attends her, whether that be an obstetrician, midwife, or simply her family members.
Rights also bring responsibilities. Our rights - and responsibilities - are brilliantly expressed by Jan Pilgrim here.
Once a woman decides to proceed with a pregnancy, no one is more emotionally and physically invested in the safe arrival of the baby. No one else is literally putting their future and current health prospects on the line for the best possible outcome. Lots of research demonstrates that the best outcomes come when a woman's choices are respected and enabled for her. Read more.
A simple, evidence based tool for making decisions during your pregnancy journey is The Birth Map, available for free.
Another is the BRAIN acronym, which you can use to ask questions of your carer:
B for BENEFITS - what are the benefits of what you are recommending?
R for RISKS - what are the risks of what you are recommending?
A for ALTERNATIVES - what are the alternatives?
I for INTUITION - what does your intuition tell you to do?
N for NOTHING/NOW - what if you do nothing/must we make this decision now?
And of course, you can also always seek second and third opinions.
Rights also bring responsibilities. Our rights - and responsibilities - are brilliantly expressed by Jan Pilgrim here.
Once a woman decides to proceed with a pregnancy, no one is more emotionally and physically invested in the safe arrival of the baby. No one else is literally putting their future and current health prospects on the line for the best possible outcome. Lots of research demonstrates that the best outcomes come when a woman's choices are respected and enabled for her. Read more.
A simple, evidence based tool for making decisions during your pregnancy journey is The Birth Map, available for free.
Another is the BRAIN acronym, which you can use to ask questions of your carer:
B for BENEFITS - what are the benefits of what you are recommending?
R for RISKS - what are the risks of what you are recommending?
A for ALTERNATIVES - what are the alternatives?
I for INTUITION - what does your intuition tell you to do?
N for NOTHING/NOW - what if you do nothing/must we make this decision now?
And of course, you can also always seek second and third opinions.
5. Learn how to support a quick birth
You can have all the best laid plans in place, but some women do experience quick labours and births, leaving little choice but to birth wherever you find yourself. Events such as floods, bush fires, mobile phone disruptions, blocked highways can also prevent arrival at your planned place of birth (or the arrival of your midwife if you are planning a homebirth). This is why we recommend that you and your partner become familiar with the best way to support you in the event of having an unplanned unassisted birth. Even if this doesn't happen to you, it is still excellent information for preparing you and your birth support team.
You can read more about what to do in The Down to Earth Birth Book by Jenny Blyth and from this page of resources here.
You can read more about what to do in The Down to Earth Birth Book by Jenny Blyth and from this page of resources here.
6. Look up "Newborn Breast crawl" and "the Golden Hours after Birth"
Newborn babies are incredible little beings and from straight out of the womb know how to make their own way to the breast and latch perfectly - provided that the crucial hours after birth aren't disturbed. This is more likely to happen if the birth itself is undisturbed, which brings us back to the importance of:
This article also points out common interventions that can disrupt the crucial and incredibly delicate mother/baby bonding period immediately after birth and concludes with a description of how the immediate postpartum can unfold when it is undisturbed. (Note this article is from the U.S. Eye ointment is currently not in standard use in Australian hospitals, but the other interventions commonly apply.)
- understanding the physiology of birth, and
- how to support it, and
- how it gets disrupted (e.g., if birth isn't supported to start spontaneously. Induction is a common way this can happen.)
This article also points out common interventions that can disrupt the crucial and incredibly delicate mother/baby bonding period immediately after birth and concludes with a description of how the immediate postpartum can unfold when it is undisturbed. (Note this article is from the U.S. Eye ointment is currently not in standard use in Australian hospitals, but the other interventions commonly apply.)
7. Consider giving your baby nappy free time!
Like the newborn breast crawl, babies can also amaze by eliminating urine and faeces on cue! They don't want to soil themselves and if you get to know the signs you can work together to learn how to communicate and respond. For example, after feeding for a while a baby will often want to wee and will pull away from the breast or start to fidget. You can then hold them over a little potty between your knees or over the bathroom sink and make a little sound that they will get to know to prompt them. It won't always work at first, but that's why a pile of cloths on your lap is very handy.
It's a wonderful way to get to know your baby and wonderful for your partner and close family to learn. You can just do it part time when it works for you, although some people end up doing it most of the time. Even if you do it part time, it makes toilet training much easier. Look up "nappy free" or "diaper free" or "elimination communication" to learn more.
It's a wonderful way to get to know your baby and wonderful for your partner and close family to learn. You can just do it part time when it works for you, although some people end up doing it most of the time. Even if you do it part time, it makes toilet training much easier. Look up "nappy free" or "diaper free" or "elimination communication" to learn more.
8. Understanding induction and other recommendations
It is becoming increasingly common for women to be recommended induction and/or ultrasounds at the end of their pregnancy. This can lead to a very different birth to what you were hoping for. Make sure you refer to topic 4 above "Know your rights, Birth Mapping and BRAIN" if this happens to you.
9. Prepare for your recovery in postpartum
In the preparations for birthing, it's easy to overlook the importance of preparing for a long lie in period after birth. Ideally prepare for a minimum of 4 weeks where you are supported by friends and/or family so that you don't need to leave the house unless you want to. Many cultures recommend 6 weeks of recovery. So, organise support with shopping, meals, laundry and even just for company for as long as possible.
One saying is to spend "the first week in bed, the 2nd week on the bed, the 3rd week around the bed and the 4th week going no further than the letterbox" (unless you feel like a trip out, of course).
Give serious time for planning this vital period and override any reluctance you may have about asking for help. All new mothers need and deserve support so they can be the mother they want to be, and the mother their baby needs.
Have a list on hand of resources to support you such as the Australian Breastfeeding Association and a private midwife (eg Jess Simms from Humankind Midwifery in case you strike postpartum issues e.g. with breastfeeding.) There are lots of resources for planning a nourishing, restful postpartum, please avail yourself of them.
One saying is to spend "the first week in bed, the 2nd week on the bed, the 3rd week around the bed and the 4th week going no further than the letterbox" (unless you feel like a trip out, of course).
Give serious time for planning this vital period and override any reluctance you may have about asking for help. All new mothers need and deserve support so they can be the mother they want to be, and the mother their baby needs.
Have a list on hand of resources to support you such as the Australian Breastfeeding Association and a private midwife (eg Jess Simms from Humankind Midwifery in case you strike postpartum issues e.g. with breastfeeding.) There are lots of resources for planning a nourishing, restful postpartum, please avail yourself of them.
10. Understand why babies cry and how to respond
With their limited ways of expressing themselves, babies often rely on crying to get their needs for emotional or physical comfort, nourishment - and to release stress. (Did you know we release stress hormones in our tears? If we don't cry, we burden our livers with eliminating those hormones.)
Aletha Solter, PhD and her parenting method known as Aware Parenting is an important tool for understanding why babies and children cry and how we can respond. Her seminal work is The Aware Baby, which is widely available. Aware Parenting instructors are in Australia to consult with, the first (and best known) is Marion Rose from our region. She has published a series of wonderful books, including The Emotional Life of Babies and Raising Resilient and Compassionate Children.
Another important tool for the parenting journey is Listening Partnerships. Described by Hand in Hand Parenting, these partnerships provide free non-judgemental support for parents where they support each other by scheduling regular meetups or phone calls where they simply listen to each other.
Aletha Solter, PhD and her parenting method known as Aware Parenting is an important tool for understanding why babies and children cry and how we can respond. Her seminal work is The Aware Baby, which is widely available. Aware Parenting instructors are in Australia to consult with, the first (and best known) is Marion Rose from our region. She has published a series of wonderful books, including The Emotional Life of Babies and Raising Resilient and Compassionate Children.
Another important tool for the parenting journey is Listening Partnerships. Described by Hand in Hand Parenting, these partnerships provide free non-judgemental support for parents where they support each other by scheduling regular meetups or phone calls where they simply listen to each other.
If you need other support...
Navigating your decisions in pregnancy and birth can be complex and confusing. A free service for navigating the maternity care system is available to you by Maternity Choices Australia called Mothers Matter. Contact them to arrange a free call. You can also use this service if you want to discuss your outcomes after birth.
Of course you can also contact us at [email protected].
Other support can be found from private midwives, such as Humankind Midwifery.
Of course you can also contact us at [email protected].
Other support can be found from private midwives, such as Humankind Midwifery.