motherrisingbirth.com

When preparing for labor, so much of the focus is on coping through the pain of each contraction that parents forget about the gift of breaks between contractions. Contractions are not constant, they come and go

Many parents in my childbirth classes want to learn tips for dads in the delivery room (like how to not pass out and be totally useless). It’s pretty common for dads to worry about being in the way, not knowing what to do, and navigating the hospital scene

When planning for their hospital birth, many parents want to know how far apart should contractions be before going to the hospital. Most care providers recommend parents to come to the hospital at 511 – when contractions are five minutes apart, each lasts one minute, and this has been going on for one hour. Other care providers recommend parents to come to the hospital at 411 – when contractions are four minutes apart, each lasts one minute, and this has been going on for one hour. Some parents choose to come to the hospital at 311 – when contractions are three minutes apart, each lasts one minute, and this has been going on for one hour.

I think most women experience some sort of trauma during their birth experiences and that it can’t be prevented. After I put my stuff down, I sat on the end of her bed, put my hands on her legs and told her, “we’re going to try some things I don’t enthusiastically encourage creating a birth plan with the parents in my childbirth classes and even my doula clients. For example: I am patient, I am weak, I am doing my best, I am a failure, I did my best, I am a good mother, or I am loving my baby.