“I’m just going to go with the flow.”
“We’ll see what happens when I get there.”
“You can’t control what happens so….”
“I don’t need a birth plan… what is that anyway?”
Have you heard this said or maybe have even said these things yourself when talking about your upcoming birth? No judgment! I have been there before, with my first baby. I can see why it is easier to go into birth planning to just see what happens and roll with the punches. The thing is, friend, a lot of times when I hear this from mamas it usually means “I’ll let my provider do whatever needs to happen and make the decisions.” Women who “go with the flow” in this way don’t experience the same empowerment that comes from knowing their options and being the one calling the shots! Going with the flow doesn’t have to mean “I’ll go with whatever my doctor says.” In today’s episode, we will discuss how to go with the flow of birth while still being empowered!
Can you have a laid back and relaxed birth without feeling like you have to control every moment? TOTALLY! In fact, this is exactly what I want you to experience. Birth doesn’t always go the way we want but that doesn’t mean we cannot be fully aware and participate in making every decision along the way.
Knowledge is power. Preparing for all situations may seem like a lot of work, but it will teach you that you are strong, capable and confident enough to trust yourself to choose what’s best for you and your baby. It will empower you to enjoy your birth no matter how it plays out.
Writing out a birth plan helps you understand the options you have before you choose. It will keep you informed and give you the knowledge you need to be reminded of when it comes time to make informed decisions that will ultimately match the outcome you’re looking for. For example, if you are wanting a natural birth and you choose a doctor who doesn’t routinely attend natural births and has a high intervention rate, then you have made a decision that doesn’t match the outcome you’re looking for.
Having a birth plan will lay out the scenarios allowing you to plan your birth experience! You will even cover the contingency plans for when your ‘ideal’ birth plan isn’t playing out. You will not have the sense of being “pushed along” in the process, but instead, be fully aware of your options and take part in leading it.
Use the BRAIN tool to help you think through options and give you confidence in your decision:
B- Benefits
R- Risks
A- Alternatives
I- Intuition
N- Nothing
When presented with an intervention such as cervical check, episiotomy, c-section, you can stop and ask yourself:
What is the Benefit of doing this?
What are the Risks associated with this procedure?
Are there any Alternatives that I can try first?
What is my Intuition telling me I should do?
What would happen if I did Nothing for 10 minutes? For an hour? Indefinitely?
By asking yourself and your provider these questions you will know what the best choices are to make for you and your baby.
If you take away nothing else, I want you to hold on to this:
You matter enough to find a provider who supports you and your desires for a rewarding birth experience.
You matter enough to learn about all of your options during pregnancy, labor, and delivery.
You matter enough to work on your mindset and body so that you can know you did everything in your power to manifest the birth you desire.
You matter enough…
SHOW NOTES:
FREEBIE: Top 5 Things Every Pregnant Mom Needs To Know: https://blissful-birth.teachable.com/p/5things
FREEBIE: 3 Hands-On Comfort Techniques to Get You Through Labor: http://bit.ly/3comfort
Purchase the Intuitive Mama’s Essentials, the basics every mom should know, including 15 questions to ask your provider, tips on avoiding an episiotomy, birth affirmations and a birth plan template: https://blissful-birth.teachable.com/p/the-intuitive-mamas-essentials
Join our Facebook tribe, a safe place for you to connect with and learn from other mamas who are also on the journey toward informed, empowered birth: www.facebook.com/groups/empoweredmamastribe
IG: @birthblissbeyond