Hello ladies, here is some information that can help you have a better birth experience.
Active Birth
I ask potential clients to think back to a life-changing event in their lives such as their wedding day or when they they purchased their first home. You will no doubt remember these events forever. All the research you did, the hours of planning and the excitement of fulfilling your dreams.
If your realtor said to you hey Im an expert and I know exactly what you want why dont you give me your money and Ill go buy you the home you want no need for you to waste your time on researching where you want to live or the kind of home you want trust me I know whats best.
Or you hire a wedding coordinator to help you plan the wedding of your dreams. The wedding coordinator says to you I prefer if you would just let me take care of the details I know whats best for you. You dont need to worry about a thing. Ill even take care of the invite list.well you would probably think these people were in serious need of helpand youd quickly find another realtor or wedding coordinator.
Likewise when you are deciding on a caregiver for your pregnancy its important to make sure you both have the same expectations. First you need to consider what kind of birth you want? Are you happy for the Doctor to make all of the decisions for you and are a passive observer or do you want to be an active participant in your babys birth and make informed decisions involving your care and the care of your baby? Neither way is the right way its what you feel most comfortable with thats important.
There are 2 styles of maternity care and usually your Doctor will support one philosophy or the other. A Doctor who has an active management style will tend to have higher cesarean rates, inductions, higher rates of episiotomies and will insist you labour on the bed. Whereas a Doctor with an expectant management style treats pregnancy as a natural bodily function which doesnt need to be interfered with. These Doctors will have a low rate of cesareans, inductions and episiotomies.
So how do you know which style your Doc practices?
Ask open-ended questions like: What percentage of your patients have episiotomies?
What percentage of your patients have cesareans?
What is your induction policy? How comfortable are you with me going overdue?
If you simply ask your Doctor if he performs episiotomies he will tell you only when its necessarythis Doctor has an active management style and you will most likely have an episiotomy.
More and more women are starting to realize that they have choices in how they birth their babies. Birth has become increasingly medicalized and many hospitals have a set protocol of routine procedures. Most of these routine procedures have no medical evidence to back them up.ie shaving.enemas..continuous fetal monitoring, breaking your waters.and episiotomies..so why are they still happening ? Mainly because women dont know they can refuse them, many of these routine procedures go along with an active management Doctor also.
Being informed of your choices doesnt mean you would refuse a cesarean section if your Doctor deemed it necessary but it would mean you would understand why it could be necessary and how you can plan in advance to avoid one.
Did you know that having a doula could reduce your chances of a cesarean by up to 50%?
*50% reduction of cesarean rate
* 25% shorter labor
* 60% reduction in epidural requests
* 30% reduction in analgesia use
* 40% reduction in forceps delivery
Did you know that having an epidural increases your chances of having an assisted delivery? (ie forceps)
Did you know that episiotomies are considered a routine procedure in Singapore but unless it is a medical emergency you dont have to have one. It is a choice.
Did you know that labouring on your back is the most painful position to be in?. It is a choice.
Advantages of remaining upright and mobile throughout your labour are
shorter labour
less need for epidural
Improved ability to push during the second stage
Reduced incidence of episiotomy
Why does your Doctor want you on the bed ? Because its easier for him.
Lying on your back is more likely to constrict your vena cava a major blood vessel increasing the risk of fetal distress in her baby as blood flow is impeded and the amount of oxygen reaching the baby decreases.
For more information on how to have an active birth contact
[email protected] or visit our website at
http://www.fourtrimesters.com
