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Get informed! Start by hitting the Internet, the bookstore, talking to friends and family about childbirth. Get an idea of what kind of experience feels right to you. Feel more comfortable with a doctor and a hospital? Does low intervention, high on natural methods seem more appropriate? What kind of environment feels right: Hospital, birth center, or home? Start making a list of "birth priorities."
Choose the health care practitioner who is right for you. This is the most important decision you will make! Find out who is available in your area: OB/GYNs, nurse midwives, home-birth midwives. Talk to your friends who have given birth recently: What do they have to say about their experiences? Interview you prospects first: Do they seem friendly, caring? Do they make eye contact and seem to be listening to you? Do they sit and get comfortable or do they stand and seem impatient? Do they respect your wishes and desires? Or do they seem to dismiss your opinions? Will you feel comfortable being yourself with this person? Don't hesitate to pass on someone who seems distracted, uncommunicative, disrespectful or condescending.
Take care of yourself. Eat a healthy diet as prescribed by your health care provider. If you were a regular exerciser before your pregnancy, you can probably continue a modified version of your previous routine throughout your pregnancy. If you're not active, ask your doctor or midwife how you can incorporate regular exercise into your life. Most communities have exercise facilities that offer classes for pregnant women. Consider a prenatal yoga class. The breathing and positions you will practice are remarkably helpful for childbirth. Birth is like running a marathon. You wouldn't run the race of a lifetime malnourished and out of shape, right?
Take a childbirth preparation class. Did you know that less than half of all pregnant couples take a childbirth class? Many couples are busy and don't want to commit the six or ten weeks some classes require. Others just don't see the value in learning about birth. Nothing could be further from the truth. A good childbirth class will provide couples with important information about birth and birth options, teach valuable comfort techniques, and allow parents an opportunity to discuss concerns and ask questions. Many communities offer shorter, even one-day, classes for busy people. There are even online options for the seriously time-strapped.
Stay powerful! I always tell my clients: "You are a human being. You have the right to informed refusal!" Anytime a medical intervention is proposed, particularly one that may be invasive or involve serious side effects, always ask questions and get answers. Ask: Is this intervention necessary? Can we wait? Is there anything else we can try first? What will happen if we don't do this?
Hopefully, you have developed a level of trust with your health care provider and are able to communicate well with him or her. In any case, don't be afraid to ask questions and exercise your right to informed consent.
