This might surprise you, but the majority of my birth doula clients have their babies in the hospital. Most of them are not dead set on a natural birth, but they still want to avoid unnecessary complications, have the support they deserve, and are looking for guidance in navigating labor in the hospital. I’ve heard so many new moms share their horror stories about birthing in the hospital. Those stories need to be told, but I also need you to know that it’s possible to have a positive hospital birth!
I’ve seen it firsthand and have been there to help keep a mom’s birthing space sacred, calm, and positive. Through my experiences as a doula, I know there are steps you can take to have a more positive hospital birth.
Hospital Births – What You Need to Know
Did you know that 99% of all births happen in the hospital? Despite home births making a resurgence during the pandemic and the renewed calls for better access to birthing centers, most new moms still birth in the hospital. This means that millions of parents experience the hospital system each year. The problem? The hospital system has policies and procedures that often are not fully explained. Likewise, your rights as a patient are frequently put on the back-burner in preference to these policies. So I am a HUGE advocate of informing parents of all their options for their hospital births.
Dissatisfaction with birth experiences arises for multiple reasons. Beyond preventing care provider neglect, I’ve noticed three crucial ways to combat other negativities that can result in a less than ideal experience. Let me share my insights with you –
#1 Know What to Expect at the Hospital
Many moms don’t know what to expect once they arrive at the hospital. In addition, their care providers have not properly prepared them and explained their hospital’s common practices and protocols.
We all hear the horror stories, but at the same time I’ve heard moms, new and seasoned, tell pregnant parents not to worry about labor and once they get to the hospital “the nurses will tell them what to do and take care of everything.”
Yes, nurses are amazing and can help guide you through labor. But I personally think this anything goes kind of attitude toward birth can be just as harmful as making women afraid of birth. I’ve heard many stories from new moms where their birth trauma truly lies in not having felt any control during their labor. No one wants to feel like they’re not in control of their body, right?
If you know what to expect, what the hospital policies are and what you’d like to accept or refuse, you will feel a greater sense of control PLUS you will be an active participant in your birth and the important medical decisions that may need to be made during labor.
Taking control by knowing your options is imperative to having a better hospital birth.
#2 Create Your Birth Plan
Birth plans are a powerful tool – when used effectively.
What do I mean by that? Well, moms-to-be are often handed a checklist and sent on their way with no instructions of how to use their birth plan. I think it can be easy for couples to check off their wants on the list and expect things to go according to plan. But, when things don’t go as laid out on that checklist, it can be very disappointing and even devastating.
And I CRINGE inside when I hear people say “you can’t control birth so why bother creating a birth plan?”
I’ll tell you why.
The birth plan is not what will happen during labor. It’s what you hope to happen. It’s an exercise in learning all your options and, more importantly, your birth values. What are the things you absolutely will not compromise on during labor? What interventions are you okay to compromise on should an unexpected twist arise? How do you plan to communicate this with your birth team? These questions are crucial in preparing for birth and ensuring a more positive hospital birth.
That’s why I created my own birth plan just for you! It goes beyond the checklist and helps you get deeper on how you want to be supported during birth, how to use your plan, & tips on communicating your plan with your birth team. Get my Free Birth Plan & Workbook below.
#3 Take a Birth Class
Taking a birth education course that aligns with your birth goals will only help. You’ll gain the tools and techniques to navigate labor pain, advocate for yourself, and feel empowered. PLUS your birth partner will gain important insights on how best to support you.
It always shocks me how we will spend hours researching all the items that go on our baby registry (so many of which we never even use), but when it comes to our births – a major physical and emotional event in our lives – we are not as willing to invest our time or money.
Let me tell you – years from now you will not be thinking about which baby wipe warmer you got. But, you will still be thinking of the first time you met your baby and how they came into this world.
So do yourself a HUGE favor and TAKE THE BIRTH CLASS.
And now we have a lot more options for classes. These are not your mom’s birth education courses, ladies. You can choose from Lamaze, the Bradley method, hypnobirthing, mindful and intuitive birthing, and more.
Hesitant to take the first step? Then I urge you to sign up for my free Have a Positive Hospital Birth masterclass. It’s a virtual one hour session where we discuss a lot more techniques to have the birth of your dreams in the hospital. I take you through everything step by step so you can create a failproof birthplan, build your ideal birth team, and advocate for yourself effectively.
Sign up here!
SUMMARY
I’ve had the amazing privilege of witnessing dozens of positive hospital births. By taking steps to know what to expect, creating your birth plan, and getting informed through birth education, you can have a positive birth, too.
The hospital system contains many protocols and procedures that aren’t often fully explained to you so it’s crucial to ask questions and learn what’s commonly done during hospital births. Remember, your care team is hired by you. They work for you, not the other way around.
You are in control and can play an active role in your labor.
Happy birthing, mama!