There are several factors that could influence whether your baby is born vaginally or through an operative delivery. The primary influence on birth outcome is often who your practitioner is. Take time to find out what their cesarean rate is. When choosing a provider make sure that their philosophy of birth reflects what is important to you.
It is of utmost significance to ensure that your provider and yourself agree from the beginning on a due date. Make yourself familiar with how that date can be affected by both the date of the first day of your last period and the length of your menstrual cycle. Avoid agreeing to a due date that seems wrong to you with the idea of clarifying it later on, as providers may base their recommendation to induce labor on the due date that was assigned at the beginning of your care.
Research shows a direct correlation between hospital admission in early labor and cesarean sections. If you are planning a hospital birth, whether you will work with an obstetrician or a midwife, consider hiring a doula (professional labor support), who can help you feel safe at home so that you can wait to go to the hospital until your labor is in the active stage. Doulas can also be very influential in advocating for you in the hospital setting.
Labor and birth can be physically taxing and require a great deal of endurance. Make sure that you approach the end of your pregnancy well rested. Nine hours of sleep a night, as well as an afternoon nap, are often needed by mothers in
their last trimester.
Evaluate your nutrition carefully, making sure that your food choices include several servings of greens per day, good
sources of calcium and protein, whole grains, vegetables and fruit. Try to stay away from simple carbohydrates, especially wheat and sugar.
Pregnancy tea made of red raspberry leaf, oatstraw, nettles and alfalfa will help tone your uterus and make your contractions more efficient. It is recommended that you drink four cups per day in the last trimester. There are also several late pregnancy herbal tinctures indicated for the last six weeks that are available online.
In addition to these practical preparations, open your arms and heart and surrender to the joyous journey of labor and
birth, knowing that the opportunity for self-transformation comes in many guises.
–Blessings from the midwives of East Bay Homebirth Midwifery
The information in this column is not intended to be used for medical diagnosis or treatment. Talk with your healthcare provider about any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.
