What does it take to be confident in giving birth? Knowing what to expect is a great way to feel confident. Taking a childbirth education class can be extremely helpful. Childbirth classes explain stages of labor and delivery, show tools that might be used, and cover what to expect after birth. These classes also usually include a tour of the hospital so you know what the rooms and options of your hospital are. Childbirth classes will accurately explain what labor is like and not just what they show on television and movies.
Being able to make informed decisions about your labor and delivery can build confidence. Having evidence-based research for the choices you make. Knowing why the decision needs to be made can be powerful. It is your body and baby and you have a say in how labor and delivery happens. Most decisions during labor and delivery have at least two minutes for discussion before an answer is needed. Don’t feel you are forced to make a snap decision.
Confidence can come with being prepared for the unexpected. That might seem hard to do, but it is really not. Curveballs or changes to the plan can happen at anytime. Being prepared for the unknown and having to change plans helps to build confidence in your birth. Each labor and delivery are different and planning for a need in flexibility is key.
Lastly, having a solid birth team can be key in having confidence. Not just the medical team, but a partner or other support person and a doula to help the one laboring through all the different stages and decisions that need to be made. Having someone that is knowledgeable in birth but is truly unbiased in your decisions is the ultimate confidence builder! The key to being confident in giving birth is being prepared!
Gender Disappointment? Is that a real thing? Do people really care?
Imagine wanting the best present ever for a holiday. You have dreamed about it. You have told everyone you know that is what to get you. You make plans for the item and what you want to do with it. Then the holiday comes and goes, and you do not get it. You are crushed! You know it doesn’t matter that you didn’t get it, but it hurts deep inside because of all the plans you had made in your head.
That is the best example I have for people that have never felt gender disappointment. Its not really the same as babies are not things or objects to possess, but the disappointment feeling is similar. It hurts! It sucks!
A Lost Dream
I know for whatever earthly reason I wanted to have two girls. Baby one was a girl! Yay! Baby two I had genetic testing (I am old and that is a topic for another day) and found out the gender at 11 weeks. A boy. I cried when they told me on the phone. It was not what I wanted. It was not what I had envisioned.
It was not that I did not love my baby I did more than I could describe I was just super disappointed. I did not expect to feel such strong wave of emotions over something I had absolutely no control over, but I did.
Is it okay? Was I wrong?
I knew that it was okay to be disappointed, but some people around me just did not understand. Thankfully, no one said anything to my face but, I did here stories of people not getting it and laughing at me because I was upset. People thought I should be grateful that I was pregnant, and that baby was healthy. Well I was those things and more. I was just super disappointed that the future I had laid out in my head was going to be different.
Unintentional Hurt!
Then came the perfect family comments. I had no clue that was a thing. People would find out my second was a boy after already have a girl and say “oh a girl and a boy, the perfect family. You must be so happy!” I to this day have no idea how to respond to that.
Any family that has kids of the same gender is less than perfect? I did not know that people felt that way. All I knew was that comments like that were a constant jab that I was not getting what I had hoped for.
Normal to have feelings
Thankfully, I knew that gender disappointment was a “thing” and that it was perfectly natural to have. I knew that it did not mean I did not love my baby, because I did more than anything. I knew the second he was born and placed in my arms any preconceived ideas about gender would vanish and it would be love at first sight (and it was!). I just had to be allowed the time to grieve my loss.
Time to grieve
This may sound silly to some, but gender disappointment is a loss. It is a loss of expectations. A loss of a dream. It hurts. It sucks. You need time to grieve so that you can move on to acceptance. It took a while for me. I was not as excited to go shopping for things for the baby. I did not feel a connection.
I finally challenged myself to start looking for clothes for him. I wanted the cutest most fabulous clothes ever! That helped me connect with my baby. Picking out the first outfit was hard, but once I had the first one it became so much easier.
Happy ever after!
So yes, Gender Disappointment is a thing. It is natural. Go ahead and grieve. Share those feelings with others to help cope with the strong feelings that you have. It is okay to be disappointed and then go on to love your baby with all your heart!
Seven years ago, I was pregnant with my first baby. I had no idea what a doula was. They only support I had was my husband.
I was at the hospital super early, minimal contractions and barely dilated. I did not want to stay home as I was afraid to have a baby without help.
So many ups and downs during delivery and so many decisions that I did not understand the impact. Looking back, I would say my birth was traumatic as do 1 in 4 birthing people.
I doubt the birth staff thought it was traumatic , but to me it was. I knew I wanted a different journey the next time.
Fast Forward
When my baby was four months old, I went to a local baby event and sat quietly with my husband as I participated in the event. I spoke to no one else there.
A photographer took pictures of me and baby during the event and when they were posted online the creator of a local parenting group reached out to me and a friend was made!
She invited me to the monthly meeting of the group and my new home was found. I found people that understood what I was going through.
I no longer felt alone. There were people out there that understood me. I became passionate about sharing my story and what I had learned about pregnancy and delivery with others.
A Doula whoby whaty?
This group also introduced me to the idea of a Doula. Someone to help during pregnancy, delivery and give me support, knowledge and love. Help me understand the impact of decisions that I needed to make.
This is exactly what I needed and did not know it. Someone to help navigate the craziness of pregnancy and delivery.
Birth round two
My second labor and delivery were so much different. I stayed home and relaxed while things progressed, almost too long as I swear the baby was almost born in the hospital parking lot!
My doula was amazing help for me and made it such a happy experience for both my husband and me. I would not change any of it. I would sign up to have more births the way my second one went.
Times a changing
I never thought I would change careers at my age, but funny things happen. I was asked about becoming a doula. It had never occurred to me.
The idea was amazing, but I knew there was no way I could leave my current job to peruse this wonderful idea.
Then, well 2020 and COVID-19 happened. I lost my job after almost ten years and needed to decide what to do go forward.
Thoughts of becoming a Doula returned. Should I? Could I? I talked with my husband and friends about this crazy idea. Everyone was so supportive and encouraged me to do it. They all said it made perfect sense for me.
I was so passionate about birth and making informed decisions. I always was giving info and support to pregnant friends I encountered.
Doula I am!!
I have never been happier at a job. Helping parents through such and exciting time. Giving love and support and watching them fall in love with their baby at the first sight.
My goal is making sure other parents never felt as alone as I did all those years ago and that the parents that I help get to experience the happiness and joy that should accompany a pregnancy journey and becoming a parent.
If you enjoy researching and planning, the topic of a birth plan may seem exciting and fun. But for some pregnant parents, it can seem daunting and even stressful. Planning to welcome a new baby is mostly exciting and fun; from celebrating with family and friends to decorating a nursery and picking out the cutest home coming outfit. However, talking about birth and the potential pain labor and the possibilities of what could happen can seem overwhelming.
Birth preferences or wish list are terms that many birth workers use in place of birth plan. These terms are more closely reflect the true nature of labor and birth. Every birth unfolds differently and there is never really a way to plan for all the possibilities. So for some, simply by calling it birth preferences can ease your mind enough to get you thinking about those preferences and to start writing them down.
Many examples of birth plans are detailed and long but ideally a birth plan would be 1 page and easy to read. In doing so, you make it easy for your providers, nurses, and other staff to read through it in a time crunch or shift change. This should also give you confidence that your support staff has read through your wishes.
What NOT to include
In order to simplify your list, let’s talk about what you can eliminate from your list. There may be some things that are important to you for your labor that don’t have to be listed as a birth preference. First, talk to your provider, talk to your friends that just gave birth at the same facility, your doula, or take a hospital tour and talk to the staff. Gather information about the standard procedures and protocols for the location that you are planning on laboring.
Then, take that information and remove anything that is already the normal practice of the birthing facility and/or your provider. For example, if it’s important to you to have dim lighting but the hospital allows you to fully control the room’s lights, there is no need to include this in your preferences. Another example could be, if you want to avoid an episiotomy but your provider has only ever done 2 in their 15 year of practice, that’s one more thing to eliminate from your list.
What should be included
Once you have eliminated what doesn’t need to be in your birth plan, you can look at things that are not in line with how you imagine your birth. Focus on the preferences that you and your partner consider the most important for your birth and baby. For example, if you are passionate about giving your baby’s their first bath at home as a family but the hospital gives baths around the 12 hour mark, this is something that you should add to your list.
A top 10 list is a great way to set the framework for your lists by prioritizing and simplifying. If you end up with fewer than that, great! If you have more than 10, that’s great too! Keeping the list shorter, is just a guideline. Knowing what is important to for your birth and baby is the most important part of creating your birth preferences.
Managing Expectations
Once you have completed your list, it’s important to have realistic expectations around labor and birth in relation to your preferences. Due to the unpredictably of birth, the course that labor takes can change in a way that is not ideal to your wishes. Sometimes this can happen very quickly and unexpectedly. If you can, take a moment to breathe, re-calibrate and then move forward.
No birth plan?
Ultimately, you may decide to forego a birth preferences list all together. There is no rule stating that you need one. You may be completely comfortable and confident in letting your labor unfold in the moment. And furthermore, you should be supported and empowered to do so.
Confidence for birth
Throughout your pregnancy, you receive advice (solicited or not) about your pregnancy, birth and baby. In putting together your list, you may consider what others have said but remember that ultimately this birth is belongs to you, not anyone else. What is important to friends and family for birth, may not be what matters to you and your partner. That’s okay! Every person deserves to welcome their baby in the way that is matters to them.
In determining your birth preferences, if you a have a partner try to include them in the process. Some partners may not have interest where others may be excited to have input. This process can be a great bonding experience that helps to be on the same page with one another.
Next, be sure to discuss the preferences with the rest your support team (provider, doula, or anyone planning to attend the birth). Whether you write them down or not, by talking about what your birth goals and wishes are you can gain confidence as the arrival of your baby approaches. Knowing that your support team knows your wishes could also relieve some of the stress surrounding the impending birth.
Building your confidence and strength regarding birth preferences and goals is one of the best ways to prepare for labor. It gives you the power to welcome your precious baby in the way that you and your family deserves.
Most of us love the holidays and the connection of family and friends that comes along with it. Decorations on display, lights twinkling, the joy on the faces of children and an overall sense of magic in the air makes this time of year so special and my personal favorite. Sharing your traditions and celebrating with your baby makes this year especially precious and full of wonder.
Along with the excitement, comes the additional planning, organizing and juggling our hectic everyday life along with the extra activities of the season. If you are anything like me, you try to juggle it all, fit in as much as possible, and find yourself overwhelmed more than one time in the process.
Plan and Set Boundaries
Holiday celebrations bring together friends and family that you may not see frequently; some of them may not have even met your newest addition yet. While it’s an exciting time to introduce your amazing little bundle, sharing your newborn with loved ones can be difficult and anxiety ridden. Talk with your partner and establish a plan and boundaries that you both are comfortable with.
Possible things to discuss: -How many parties/dinners/activities you should attend -How long you will stay at each activities -Who is allowed to handle the baby -How long to allow baby to be held by others -How to incorporate baby’s schedule (naps, feedings, etc.) -If breastfeeding, where and when to nurse the baby -A code word to indicate that either of you want to leave an activity early
Connect with Your Partner
A new baby in the house definitely changes the dynamics of a relationship; then you add the holidays and things seem to speed up and it’s easy for anyone to find themselves stressed out. Remember the holidays are the time to appreciate your loved ones, so set aside some time dedicated to your other half.
Flexibility
One thing becoming a parent has taught me is the need to be flexible. Although having a plan is important, the unexpected is a guarantee when you have a baby. Having to change or cancel plans is a regular occurrence in parenthood. By being prepared to shuffle things around is a true asset to juggling life with a baby.
Take a Moment (or 2) for You
Taking care of yourself is important during postpartum. The holidays are great but often come with added stress. Make sure you take some time for you and put your feet up. Self-care is one of the best ways to ensure that you are being the best partner, parent, daughter/son, and sister/brother that you can be.
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Life can be overwhelming and when things get super busy, such as holiday time, and everyone deserves a little R&R. So snuggle up with a book and a glass of wine while your partner puts the baby to sleep; you have earned it.
Take Note of the Little Moments
The little things that happen are often what stick with us the most. Take a moment to soak in the feeding that pulled you away from your baking marathon. Snap a quick picture of your husband or wife napping on the couch with the glow of the Christmas tree lights behind them.
These are the moments that make all the chaos worth it and they happen so fast. We want to make this holiday perfect for our family, especially when we have a new baby. They only get 1 first holiday and we want to make as many memories as we can. Finding the happiness and joy in the little moments and allowing them to fill your heart, will make the best memories for you to reflect on.
Gentle and Kind
Everyone is under pressure to get a laundry-list of things done for the holidays and we all struggle at some point. I believe that as parents, we tend to put a lot more pressure on ourselves than anyone else. Remember that as we share holiday cheer and forgiveness with our family and friends, and spread kindness to strangers (hello, Dunkin Donuts pay-it-forward), we also need to be gentle with ourselves.
Most people tend to be their own biggest critics. From forgetting to dry the shirt you wanted to wear to dropping the plate of cookies you spent the afternoon baking to packing the wrong lovey for your little one, you might spend the rest of the day beating yourself up about it. It happens to the best of us and the best way to make the most out of the rest of your holiday is to not dwell on those little mistakes and make the most out of all the good to celebrate this year.
Forgive yourself, be kind to yourself, be gentle with yourself.
