Learning The Truth About Birth

The most important thing an expectant mother can do is educate herself. Every woman who has been pregnant knows that there is no end to the stream of helpful advice, nosy questions, and horrific tales she will hear. Movies and television shows are famous for their fantastical portrayals of women in labor, from comedy sitcoms showing a thrashing woman, blaming her husband for "doing this" to her and yelling for drugs, to the hospital dramas where every birthing woman is a ticking timebomb and their babies are always in peril.

While there are plenty of examples of fear and danger, few women approaching this process for the first time have the opportunity to get a realistic perspective. From rumors and outdated statistics, to ignorance and deliberate misinformation, it can be difficult for first-time parent to know what to believe. Here are some tips that can help:
  • Interview several possible caregivers. Whether you choose a doctor or a midwife, finding someone who supports your needs and whom you "click" with is one of the most important things you can do for yourself and your baby. Philosophy and routines can vary even within the same practice, so make sure you know about your caregiver's partners too.
  • Use legitimate sources to gather information. Many websites that seem to have good resources are also trying to sell something. Verify any information you find from more than one source. The library is a great place to find multiple books about the same topics, and you can look through them all before you choose one to buy.
  • Communicate clearly with your partner and family. If you feel strongly about a childbirth choice you want to make, be sure to let your partner and your loved ones know how you feel. Be ready to explain yourself so that the people in your life understand  your perspective. Accept positive comments and be open to hearfelt advice, but also be ready to agree to disagree.
  • Get active in your local parenting community. Especially if this is your first child, it is important to cultivate relationships that can help you make more informed choices and give you the help you might need. From the safest playground for a small toddler to choosing a pediatrician to the best place to order french fries, experienced parents in your town have done the legwork and probably have the answers you might need as you go along, plus other parents can provide much needed social support while you adjust to having a new baby.

Top 3 Misconceptions about Birth


Myth: Labor is always very painful and dangerous.
          Though many women do experience pain during some part of labor, each woman and each labor is different. Some women describe their unmedicated labors as pleasurable and experience "intensity" or "pressure" rather than actual pain.  Labor and birth is an inherintly safe, natural process designed to  occur without medical intervention. The majority of problems that do arise during labor and birth are preventable prenatally or easily treated medically on a non-emergent basis. Quality, thorough prenatal care is the most effective tool for keeping both mother and baby safe.

Myth: All medical interventions are safe and necessary.
          Modern medical advances have saved countless lives over the past several decades, but no event in life or procedure performed is without risk. Routine hospital practices are not always based upon patient safety or evidence based medical guidlines. Though the World Health Organization recommends that maternity care facilities strive for a maximum cesarean section rate of 10% or less, many hospitals in America report a 30% cesarean rate or higher. It is important to thoroughly understand the risks and benefits of both having or refusing any proposed medical intervention.

Myth: If I have had a previous cesarean, the best choice is to schedule an elective cesarean in the future.
          VBAC (Vaginal Birth After Cesarean) is the safest choice for most women who have had one or more previous cesarean sections. Though some care providers and hospitals have not been supportive of VBAC, the evidence of its safety and positive effects on both mother and baby is well documented. In most cases, an elective cesarean has much greater health risks than allowing women with a cesarean scar to labor normally and birth vaginally does. Women who are interested in VBAC should be encouraged to do so and given the right support from both their doctor and their birth partner.