Educate Yourself
Find out before you get to the hospital what is considered medically necessary and what is considered routine. Learn all you can about the procedures that your hospital usually does during labor and delivery. Be wary of unnecessary interventions. Just because it is routine, doesn�t mean its necessary. In some cases, one intervention can lead to another, which can lead to another, which can lead to an �emergency� C-section. If they hadn�t intervened in the beginning, you may not have needed an emergency anything. A C-Section is major abdominal surgery, and recovery is usually faster from a vaginal birth. Of course, your mileage may vary (YMMV).
During a normal labor and delivery, very few things are mandatory, and sometimes doctors and nurses recommend things that make their job easier, not your labor or birth any easier or better. For example, if you are not progressing �fast enough� they will put you on Pitocin to speed up and strengthen your contractions. Natural contractions are less painful and intense than induced contractions. This may cause you to want an epidural, to deal with the induced pain. Pain that you may otherwise have been able to get through with the help of your coach. You can say no to any procedures not medically necessary.
Episiotomy
Many doctors will cut you to prevent a tear. But, you may not have torn on your own. Either way, you would have stitches. Doctors will tell you that a cut will heal faster than a tear, but many women who have experienced both disagree. There are things that you can do to avoid an episiotomy. You can do perineal massage, use warm compresses, or various other techniques that will allow your perineum to stretch adequately to allow the baby through. Learn all your options and make your own decision. When push comes to shove (pardon the pun) you may need an episiotomy, but you can instruct the doctor not to cut you without permission.
Trust Your Body, It Knows What to Do
While you are laboring and delivering, get into whatever position feels best. You may want to change positions often. While delivering, some hospitals insist that the woman lie on her back with her knees to her chest. If that feels right, then good. If that doesn�t feel right, then tell them, and insist that they let you change positions.
Once fully dilated, some women experience a rest period. They feel no urge to push. It may last from 10 minutes to an hour. If your body wants to rest let it. Labor is hard work, and pushing is even harder. You may push better and more effectively if you listen to your body and rest now, and push when you feel the urge. If you push because they tell you to, but don�t feel the urge, you may be ineffective and waste energy.
Mothering the Mother: How a Doula Can Help You Have a Shorter, Easier, and Healthier Birth. By Marshall H Klaus, MD, John H Kennell, MD, and Phyllis H Klaus, M.ed, CSW
Birthing From Within by Pam England, CNM, MA and Rob Horowitz PhD.
Natural Childbirth the Bradely Way by Susan McCutcheon
The Birth Partner: Everything You Need to Know to Help a Woman Through Childbirth by Penny Simkin, P.T.
**Doulas range in price from $400-$800 dollars. They will visit you several times before birth to help you figure out what kind of birth you want to have. They will come to your home when labor begins, and accompany you to the hospital. After the baby is born, they will usually come visit you at home and review your birth with you and discuss what you liked or didn�t like. They can also answer any infant care questions and breastfeeding questions that you may have.
