Preparing for an unmedicated labor: My 5 top tips!

Deciding on an unmedicated labor can be a little daunting. Here are my top 5 tips!

1. Carefully Consider Your Provider and Birthing Location

Your choice in provider and birthing location can make or break your birth plan! When you’re planning an unmedicated labor we always recommend investigating if an out-of-hospital birth provider might be a good option for you. While hospitals are geared towards both medicated and unmedicated labor, homebirth midwives and birth centers are 100% geared toward unmedicated labor. They usually have practices and policies that are more unmedicated friendly. For instance, in most hospitals dont have tubs in the labor and delivery rooms and all hospitals have strict policies against waterbirth and laboring in the tub if your waters have ruptured. Since water is an important pain management tool, delivering at a birth center or with a homebirth midwife can be the only way you can have access to a tub or waterbirth.

That said, if you know that a hospital is the best place for you, make sure your provider is supportive of an unmedicated labor. If you hire a doula, they can give you their top unmedicated support recommendations. I always encourage clients to interview their provider to make sure they actually align with their personal birth goals. You can ask questions such as:

-What is your policy on inductions intermittent monitoring, and eating during labor?

-How often do you attend unmedicated deliveries?

-What do you do to support unmedicated labor?

2. Invest in Childbirth Education

In any birth experience, education is so very important. When you’re planning an unmedicated labor it is important to understand both the physiology of labor and birth as well as pain management techniques. The best way to do this is to educate yourself! REad books specifically about unmedicated labor and delivery or to take a thorough childbirth education class like hypnobirthing, lamaze, or bradley classes. When picking a childbirth education class you should look for ones that cover prenatal prep, the physiology of birth, unmedicated pain management techniques, breastfeeding, and preferably postpartum care.

3. Surround Yourself With Positive Birth Energy

Anyone who has ever been pregnant knows that social rules of engagement change once you’re pregnant. Everyone and their mother feels like they have the right to share everything from their birth horror stories to their most judgmental advice. People tend to be extra judgmental and opinionated when you tell them you’re planning on an unmedicated labor.

All of these horror stories, comments, and judgements can work at your confidence and create unnecessary fear around birth.

To avoid this I recommend two practical steps. The first is setting boundaries with friends, family, and strangers around the topic of birth. Secondly, counteract thisnegative birth culture by surrounding yourself with positive energy. This can be found in the form of supportive friends and family as well as collections of positive birth stories. Find the good!

4. Be Mindful of the Mind, Body, and Spirit Connection

It’s important to address your emotional and spiritual needs as well in order to prepare for the physicality of labor. As your pregnancy progresses, take time to connect your mind, body, and soul! This can be done by prioritizing your religious or spiritual practices.

Set aside 5 minutes each day to find a place in your home or outdoors where you feel safe and peaceful. Light a candle (if you like candles), turn on soft music or some white noise if youd like. Close your eyes and start taking deep breaths in through your nose and out through your mouth. Clear your mind and sit in silence for a few moments. You can try to visualize your birth at this time, or your baby, or imagine your body being surrounded by a blanket of peaceful energy. Whatever works for you!

5. Hire a Doula

Doulas are proven to help reduce the need for medical interventions, including epidurals. You can read more on the statistics here. By hiring a doula you will benefit from the following during labor:

-Early labor support at home, before moving to the birthing location of your choice

-Hands on pain management techniques like massage, accupressure, rebozo, etc.

-Assistance with positioning and rest

-Emotional support

-Support for your partner, and so much more.

If you choose to hire a doula, make sure that your doula has attended non-medicated births and is comfortable with the physiological process of birth.