What I’m learning as a new parent is that oftentimes “less is more”. In other words, doing less (or nothing) in certain situations can actually be more beneficial for our children than “doing something”.

Greg and I believe that delayed cord clamping brings so many benefits to the table. In today’s post, I’ll share why we think that and why a growing number of mama’s and science itself is starting to think so too. 

As you’re writing your birth plan with your partner, take the time to do the research and make a decision BEFORE the birth of your child. Don’t just take our word for it- do what you believe is best! 

What Is Delayed Cord Clamping

Delayed cord clamping is pretty straightforward to explain:

It’s when the umbilical cord isn’t clamped right away after birth. 

The simple act of not clamping the cord immediately after birth can have a profound effect on your little one. Allowing billions of red and white blood cells, as well as other important bodily fluids to make their way back to baby. 

Only in recent history has the concept of “immediate cord clamping” been in practice. This is when a clamp is placed on the umbilical cord immediately after birth. Thus blocking the returning blood and fluid from within the placenta that your baby needs.

How Long to Wait Until Cutting The Cord?

The exact time of when to clamp the cord isn’t completely agreed upon…

 The WHO recommends waiting until 1-3 minutes before clamping. 

Whereas the ACOG (American Academy of Obstetricians and Gynecologists) recommends doing so 30-60 seconds after birth. 

However, the exact timing of when to clamp the cord varies from baby to baby. The most important indicator of when to clamp the cord is to look at the umbilical cord itself! 

I know right- shocker

A good indicator of when to clamp the cord is when it…

• Stops pulsating
• Is limp
• Turns white

This could take 3 minutes, it could take 10! It will vary from baby to baby.

The important thing is that when the above three criteria are met, it’s a good indicator that baby has received all remaining fluid within the cord. It would then be time to clamp and cut! 

Benefits Of Delayed Cord Clamping

1. Increased Iron levels- lower chance of Anemia

One of the biggest benefits of delayed cord clamping is the return flow of blood from the placenta and umbilical cord back into baby. Within 5 minutes of letting the cord empty back into baby, an estimated 50% of the baby’s iron is returned. 

This increased store of iron is then used up within baby’s first 6 months of life. At which point most babies start eating solid food! Hopefully iron-rich foods!

See!! Nature has a plan for everything. It’s amazing when you step back and think about it

Iron’s role within the body

Iron plays an incredible role within the body. If you’ve ever cut your finger and sucked on it and tasted a slightly metal taste- that’s the iron within your blood!

Babies need proper iron levels to create hemoglobin. Hemoglobin’s role is to carry oxygen through the bloodstream, something that’s very important as baby’s respiratory system comes online for the first time! 

When iron levels are too low baby may become anemic and display the following symptoms

• Pale
• Slow weight gain
• No appetite
• Irritable
• Develop more slowly

Now if your child wasn’t able to have their cord clamping delayed- don’t freak out! Babies are born with iron reserves that come from mama. On top of that, babies will get some additional iron through breast milk! 

Your baby still has iron, just not as much compared to a baby that had their cord clamping delayed.

Supplementation 

If you have a concern about the iron levels of your little one, be sure to consult with your family doctor or pediatrician! 

Generally speaking, be very careful about assuming your child needs additional iron supplementation. Too much iron through the form of supplementation can be harmful to your child. Instead, focus on eating iron-rich foods for mama, and for baby once they’re ready for solids!

2. Improves early brain development

Another huge benefit of delayed cord clamping is the improvement of early brain development for newborns! As a result of waiting to clamp the cord, more red blood cells are returned to baby.

This means more iron for oligodendrocytes which produce myelin. Myelin form protective barriers around nerves and are crucial for transporting electrical impulses from the brain to the rest of the body. 

In simpler terms, by allowing the red blood cells to return to baby-  it improves things like fine motor skills, and sensory abilities. 

3. Increased Oxygen Levels

Studies have shown that full term babies who had their cord clamping delayed had increased oxygen levels compared to those who were clamped immediately.

This is again a result of higher hemoglobin levels which help to not only carry oxygen throughout the body, but also to regulate it. 

This is key because as baby’s respiratory system comes online and oxygen levels increase, the need for oxygen regulation is greater. 

As it happens to turn out, supplemental oxygen is the most widely used agent when it comes to neonatal care. Approximately 1 in 10 babies receive it. With many many babies having their cords clamped immediately- there may be a correlation here worth exploring! Are babies who have their cord clamped immediately more likely to have supplemental oxygen? I couldn’t find a definitive answer, but reasoning could led us to this conclusion. You be the judge! 

Supplemental oxygen can be dangerous to baby and can cause Retinopathy of Prematurity, Chronic Lung Disease, Hemorrhaging or even Lymphatic Leukemia if proper precautions aren’t followed.

This is something I did not realize, and with the high rate of babies needing it- it’s something that I’ll want to learn more about before my next child is born!

4. Huge Positive Impact For Preemies!

For those babies who are preemies there are numerous studies on the benefits of delayed cord clamping such as 

• Higher Blood Pressure
• Increased blood volume
• More optimal oxygen flow
• Fewer days on oxygen and ventilation
• Less likely to need blood transfusions
• Decreased chance of brain bleeds 

It would seem that delaying cord clamping is even more important for preemies than it is for full term babies!

What I’ve learned from this so far is this. The umbilical cord is what’s given your baby life for 9 months in the womb. So it only makes sense to continue to let it do its job for a few more minutes after birth. 

This is clearly evident in this preemie example. 

5. Stabilizes Heart Rate and Blood Pressure

Immediately after birth- there are a TON of changes happening for baby. For the first time, life support systems like the respiratory system are becoming independent.

Keeping the umbilical cord attached for as long as possible helps to bridge the gap between being in the uterus inside mama, and surviving on it’s own in the outside world.

Keeping the cord attached allows for any remaining blood, and thus oxygen to come into the body which helps to the heart rate and blood pressure to stabilize.  

6. It’s Life Saving!

Two studies done in 2017 from the University of Sydney involving 3,000 babies with delaying cord clamping at least 60 seconds after birth found some amazing results!

“We estimate that for every thousand very preterm babies born more than ten weeks early, delayed clamping will save up to 100 additional lives compared with immediate clamping,” said the University of Sydney’s Associate Professor David Osborn, the review’s lead author and a neonatal specialist at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital.

“This means that, worldwide, using delayed clamping instead of immediate clamping can be expected to save between 11,000 and 100,000 additional lives every year.”

This is truly a great discovery and is yet another very strong reason to consider delayed cord clamping for your child. 

Delayed Cord Clamping Is How Nature Intended Birth 

There’s something to be said about sitting back and observing nature and thinking about how we can apply some things within our own lives.

For instance, not a single animal in the wild once a baby is born attempts to bite off the umbilical cord. Instead, it falls off when it’s ready! Humans are the only ones on this planet who are in a mad rush to clamp the cord immediately after birth! 

Think about that for a moment….

As a natural minded mama, I believe that Nature’s intuition (which works through God’s design) should be followed and closely examined. Instead of being swept away and ignored as what’s so commonly done by many today.

Many studies have been done on the benefits of delayed cord clamping, if only we listened to nature a little more often, we could potentially save ourselves so much grief later on! 

How to Request Delayed Cord Clamping

Maybe you’ve decided that you would like to delay the clamping of your newborns umbilical cord. That’s great! But how do you request it?

Three things to keep in mind here…

1. 1. Talk with your doula, midwife or healthcare provider! Be sure to bring this up as soon as you can. The more time you have to discuss your preferences with them. The better!
   2. Add delayed cord clamping to your birth plan! Your birth plan is a great place to indicate your desire to wait to clamp the cord. You are writing a birth plan right? Hopefully you are! If not, check out our post on what a birth plan is and why you should consider one. Sitting down and taking the time to write a birth plan with my husband was one of the best things we did to prepare for our child’s birth. If you give it your full effort- I think you’ll agree!
   3. Be sure to remind your provider several times once in labor that you wish to have a delayed cord clamp. Healthcare providers are very busy individuals and most don’t mind the friendly reminder! This especially rings true in a hospital setting where one doctor is seeing many patients at once.

Risks of Delayed Cord clamping

There are some risks associated with delayed cord clamping- Jaundice being the most prevalent. However, they’re very small and the benefits appear to outweigh any risks. 

Increase Chance Of Jaundice 

According to the Cleveland Clinic, Jaundice is a condition in which the skin, sclera (whites of the eyes) and mucous membranes turn yellow. 

It’s caused by an elevated amount of bilirubin which is a natural waste product of red blood cells. This makes sense because delayed cord clamping increases the amount of blood within baby.  With baby’s liver not fully functioning yet, it struggles to keep up to process the bilirubin out of the body. The result is Jaundice. 

Jaundice is common in babies born before 38 weeks and preemies. In most cases, no treatment is necessary and the risk of further complications is rare. 

What’s your thought on delayed cord clamping? Is this something you’ll be doing for your little one? If you’ve already done it- would you do it again? 

The post Benefits Of Delayed Cord Clamping + Why It’s Becoming The New Norm appeared first on Raising Them Naturally.

Just thinking about it brings back a flood of memories and emotion…

My husband and I didn’t plan on having kids quite this soon. We wanted to get a little further along in life- but as we’ve learned, plans rarely go to plan!

Now that our son is here, we couldn’t imagine life without him. 

He’s made Greg and I such better people. 

I’m truly amazed every day when I wake up and look over at our son with his peaceful, calm look.

“Wow- he truly is ours!” I often think to myself.

I’m opening up and sharing our birth story not because I necessarily want to. But because I think it’ll bring value to you and give you an inside glimpse of my experience. 

Throughout this journey- Greg and I have learned the most from listening to others who had recently gone through a birth of their own. 

My hope is that we can help you too, and give you a better understanding of how a natural birth can play out. 

Remember- no matter how much preparation and planning you do- as with everything else in life- it rarely all goes to plan…

Our Natural Birth Plan

One thing that Greg and I learned early on was that we didn’t want a traditional hospital birth full of interventions. 

If you’re reading this blog, I’m assuming (maybe incorrectly) that you also are yearning for a birth that’s not filled with medical interventions.

We wanted a natural- unmedicated birth. 

Not because we think we’re better than those who use medication- but because it’s what we believe is best for us and our baby. 

For Greg and I, doing things the natural way is important!

It’s the Idea of working with and supporting the body- rather than getting in the way of it. Whether it’s treating a cold, working on a healthier lifestyle, or in this case- giving birth. 

So for us this meant no….

• Induction
• Medications
• Episiotomy
• Antibiotics
• Pitocin
• Epidural
• Few, if any vaginal exams
• Minimal fetal monitoring

Just to name a few…

We believe a woman’s body is created extra special for giving birth.

In most instances, there’s no need for any medical intervention. 

That’s not to say intervention shouldn’t ever be used- I’m thankful that we have those options to use when necessary. 

But for us, it’s a last resort- not our first choice…

To help us accomplish our birth goals we also signed up at the natural birth center at our local hospital. 

This would ensure we got the support we needed to make it through with our birth plan in-tact. 

Or so we thought…

Preparing for Natural Birth

The further along our journey Greg and I went we realized that if we truly wanted to pull off this natural birth successfully- then we needed to dive in headfirst and learn about the process. 

Giving birth naturally doesn’t require planning and thinking ahead. But if you choose to do the work upfront- the chances of you succeeding and actually enjoying your birth experience go way up!

There were 5 key things Greg and I did to help prepare us for our special day…

1. Took a Hypnobirthing class

As we quickly figured out, giving birth naturally usually isn’t something that you can just show up to the hospital for and expect to go flawlessly. 

We didn’t know anything about birth… 

So we needed to learn quality information from somewhere 

Taking a Hypnobirthing was one of the best things we did throughout this whole journey. 

It not only taught us about the process of birth and how the body functions, but gave us the tools to support the body through each phase of birth.

In case you’ve never heard of Hypnobirthing before, it’s sorta like a mindset one has while going through labor.

The goal is to keep the body relaxed so the body can open and release the baby out into the world. 

 Staying relaxed through labor is that tricky part- and that’s where the hypnobirthing technique comes into play. 

Using a combination of birthing positions, breathing techniques, gentle touch, affirmations, meditation, and a few others- to keep your mind focused on staying relaxed and not focused on the pain during labor. 

If done successfully it truly does work!

2. Hired a doula

Because this was our first birthing experience, and knowing we wanted a natural birth- hiring a doula was something we wanted to do nearly from the beginning of our birthing journey. 

Just like the hypnobirthing class we took, hiring a doula was a great decision. 

When asked, my husband will tell you that “It was the best money we spent during this whole journey”.

And I’d have to agree with him. 

Not only did our doulas support us through the third trimester and birth. But they stayed with us during postpartum recovery. 

Not sure what a doula is? Check out my post What is a Doula (And Why You Should Hire One) 

Our doula’s advice during all three stages proved to be extremely helpful.

From assisting us with our birth plan, to delivery day, to lactation support and baby care after we got home. 

They’re a great resource and are often overlooked by so many! 

I can with almost certainty that we’ll hire a doula again for our next child- they’re that helpful!

3. Created a birth plan -together!

Creating a birth plan without a doubt was the single most important thing we did throughout our birthing journey. 

I’ll briefly cover why here, but if you are really looking to learn more- read our earlier post What is a Birth Plan (And Why You Should Be Writing One). 

In that post, I go over all the nitty-gritty details and how to write your own!

Creating our birth plan brought Greg and I so much closer together and ensured that we were on the same page on what we both wanted. 

By creating a birth plan you force yourself to think through the entire process, do the  research if necessary and then make a decision on what you would like to have done when. 

This prepared Greg and I well ahead of time on the potential problems that could arise, the medical procedures to get past it, and the risks associated with those procedures.

Had we not done the research ahead of time, we would’ve been at the mercy of the doctor who was on site that night.  

Although we trust most medical professionals, we always prefer to do our own research and look at thing from a more natural perspective!

4. Went to the hospital before the due date

When I first mentioned to my husband Greg that we should go to the hospital a few weeks before I was due, he wasn’t exactly thrilled of the idea… 

I couldn’t blame him, it was 40 minutes away with heavy traffic across town!

But we can both say that doing this turned out to be such a great thing! 

And you’ll soon learn why… 

I highly recommend getting to the hospital, or wherever you’re planning on birthing before your big day. 

That way you know where to park, where to walk in, and where to go. 

It may seem petty and a waste of time- but for us it was worth it! Especially given the high-stress situation that our birth ended up being. 

5. Read a ton of online resources and blogs

And finally, the last important thing we did to prep for our natural birth was research, research and research. 

Guys, there can be a lot to know when it comes to giving birth naturally. 

Greg and I spent hours learning about the birthing process, what things could go wrong, what medical procedures we would be offered if things did start going wrong, etc.

This gave Greg and I more peace of mind about the whole process. 

Don’t get me wrong- I was still super nervous- like really nervous…

But we knew a lot so if something came up, chances are we already knew what our plan was for it. 

This is why having a birth plan is so important too. Your research should make its way into your birth plan. 

You can’t research and plan for everything, but you can put yourself in a better position for success!

Our Natural Birth- What Actually happened

While at Home 

Two days before my due date I started to feel contractions roughly 15 minutes apart at around 11pm. 

I didn’t think too much about it because I had some Braxton Hicks contractions earlier in the week.

Just to be sure I reached out to our doula.

She thought it was the beginning stages of labor!

Excited! But super nervous, I laid back down in bed, going over some positive affirmations- trying to rest the best I could.

Then 1am hit..

I hadn’t slept a wink! 

And the contractions were getting more frequent and intense… 

I rolled over and told Greg “I don’t think you’re going to work tomorrow, I think I’m having this baby soon”. 

“Wake me up at 5am” he said. Thinking he had plenty of time to get ready and go to the hospital.

3am rolled around and my contractions were getting super painful and much closer together. 

Frantically, I was logging them into my phone, trying to determine when we should leave for the hospital. 

I felt like I was having to go poop, which is a sign that baby is shifting further down on the pelvis, getting into position for birth. 

Covered in a cold sweat and starting to shake I was sitting on the toilet trying to keep my cool… 

By 3:30 I had our doula on the phone trying to talk to her in between contractions and holding back tears. 

My mucus plug had dropped and left the “bloody show” in the toilet- another indicator that things were starting to progress. 

But my contractions were still 6-7 minutes apart!

We were taught that as a general rule you start driving to the hospital when your contractions are  about 3-4 minutes apart… 

Being further away from the hospital… we were planning on leaving closer to 5-6 minutes apart. 

We didn’t want to leave too early because if I wasn’t dilated fully- they’d send us back home or make us wait in triage. 

Neither of which we wanted to do…

The pain kept getting worse…

At this point we couldn’t wait any longer. Greg called our OB GYN office and told them that we were coming to the hospital so they would be ready for us. 

We hastily grabbed our packed overnight bags birth plan binder- threw them in the car and drove off. 

Getting to the hospital

15 minutes into our drive I was nearly levitating off the seat of the car…

My body felt like it was trying to let go and release our baby, but I was doing all I could to keep it in.

That feeling to me was much more difficult than the actual delivery itself.

Trying to keep him in when every nerve in my body was trying to force this baby out… 

You know that feeling when you need to throw up or have diarrhea… try to keep that inside your body when it’s coming out at full force… all while having excruciating and intense pain.

I kept shooting glances at the GPS, counting down the minutes when we would be there..

40 minutes…

35 minutes…

22 minutes…

Clenching my cell phone in one hand, and the car’s “oh shit” with the other- I was trying to listen to my doula on the phone reminding me to breathe and stay as calm as possible. 

I’ve never clenched my cheeks so hard in my life. 

I was terrified- as I’ve told Greg from the beginning that my worst fear was having our baby in the car. 

And we were about to have exactly that!!

It was this moment where our doula really came through for the win! 

Talking with me, allowing Greg to focus on the road and get us to the hospital as quickly and safely as he could. 

Meanwhile I’m yelling in the passenger seat with each new contraction swearing at all the red lights that we came to at 4 o’clock in the morning!

Finally, we get to the hospital!!!

Arrival at the hospital

We finally arrived at the hospital after what seemed like an hour!

Greg pulls right up to the front door- because we checked it out a few weeks earlier we didn’t have to spend precious moments looking for where to go in a large metropolitan hospital 

Half bent over Greg gets me into the lobby..

A staff member brings a wheelchair over and whisks me away.

With COVID restrictions- our Doula had to stay in the lobby- this was a huge bummer- we were really looking forward to her support through this process.

Down the hall and up the elevator to the 3rd floor birthing center…

3 minutes and another contraction later we finally arrive at the birthing wing of the hospital. 

The nice lady behind the counter starts checking us in, asking for insurance cards and to fill out paperwork.

I felt another contraction hit me and I started levitating again in my wheelchair and yelled out in pain. 

Within seconds 4 nurses came running out-they rushed me through a set of double doors and into a triage room. 

According to our birth plan, we were supposed to head over to the Natural Birth Center across the hall- but nope!

That didn’t happen! 

There was just no time for it! 

After checking a few vitals and the staff getting a plan together they wheeled me into a hospital birthing room. 

In the labor room

At this point I was having contractions every minute or so. 

Everything in our birth plan about wanting a quiet, dimly lit room with few staff was thrown out the window.

There was no time- this baby was coming and he was coming now!

Before Greg  could say anything, the nurse was hooking up an IV on my hand so they could get fluids into me or any medications if it came to that. 

At this point I was laying on my back, on a hospital bed with my legs and feet lifted up. 

The exact opposite of what I wanted and not what we had planned for. 

The doctors instructed me to “push push push” with each new contraction. I was burning up- my cheeks on fire and my mouth felt like it was filled with dry cotton.

It didn’t help I had to wear a mask due to covid-19 protocols… 

They didn’t have time to administer a COVID test so I was forced to wear a mask doing one of the most difficult things my body has ever endured… not fun at all!!

Greg stood there feeling helpless, but doing his absolute best trying to remind me to stay calm and breath as best I could.

Getting me plenty of water and ice cubes in between contractions, and lifting my mask up off my face so I could get a few deep breaths in.  

The Baby’s stats were dropping so the doctor there gave me two more attempts to push him out before they would do an episiotomy. 

Well, I wasn’t able to push him out, so they did an episiotomy- something that we also didn’t want to have to do. 

Two excruciating pushes later- baby’s head had finally popped out.

With a third and final push the rest of him was out in the world for the very first time. 

Finally- he was out!

It was a beautiful, exhausting moment- one that I’ll never forget. And one that really only a mother can truly understand. 

All that pain, stress, and endurance ended with an awesome finish of holding a new little life in my arms. 

It was truly amazing…

As the doctors stitched up where they did the episiotomy and the two second degree tears, I held our new little boy and just stared at him in amazement. 

“We made this! He’s ours!” I kept saying to Greg. 

After a while they moved us to a recovery room where we stayed for the next 36 hours checking baby’s vitals among other things. 

We had done it! We successfully gave birth naturally, albeit not exactly to plan, but it was accomplished nonetheless. 

At 5:01am our son was born – 25 minutes after we arrived at the hospital!

We barely made it- yikes!

They say your second baby usually comes faster… so for the next one you shall find me camping out in the hospital parking lot 2-3 weeks before the due date or possibly considering a home birth  

Several weeks later, I requested my hospital charts to get a better understanding on what exactly happened during that crazy whirlwind of events. 

It turns out that my placenta had an abruption, Which is why my body was trying to flush out baby so quickly!

Preparing For Your Natural Birth

So I tell you all this for a couple of reasons. 

First, despite all of our preparation and planning- not everything went how we wanted it to…

Your attitude during this process is everything! 

We didn’t give birth in the natural birth center…

I wasn’t able to labor in a quiet, dimly lit- stress free environment…

An episiotomy was done…

I had an abundance of vaginal bleeding after delivery so they gave me Pitocin after birth… (also to help shrink my uterus)

But, there were a lot of things that happened that we did in fact have on our birth plan.

Like..

No medications during labor

Minimal fetal monitoring…

Few vaginal exams…

Delayed cord clamping…

A quiet golden hour after birth…

Just to name a few.

Guys- despite our best efforts, it didn’t go exactly as planned. 

And that’s totally ok! Few things always go to plan. 

Our preparation still paid off in the end.

And it was that preparation that helped Greg and I get through this. 

Another reason I’m sharing my story is that during labor things can change so fast. This is where it really helps to have a solid support team around you. 

Birth was never meant to be done alone. 

Get your partner involved, hire a good doula or midwife, get your family involved if you’d like.

Another thing we struggled with was the fact that due to COVID restrictions, our doula wasn’t able to be in the room with us during labor. 

Or in the recovery room…

It was just Greg, myself and the hospital staff. No doula, family or friends allowed at all during our hospital stay.

Hopefully these restrictions will go away soon so you won’t have the same problem.

The point is, having that additional support- even if it’s only your partner- really goes the extra mile when things feel like they’re spinning out of control. 

Now, for the vast majority of you, your birth experience will be much slower and more relaxed leading up to active labor. 

But for some of you- it’ll be similar to mine. 

This is your first lesson as a new mom- to take what you get, and roll with the punches. 

Things aren’t going to plan? 

That’s ok!

What are my options?

When do I have to make a decision?

What are the risks involved?

These are the questions you should be asking, and the attitude you need to have. 

Above all, lean on your support team. 

Whether that’s your husband, partner, doula, midwife, mom, dad or someone else whom you trust. 

You don’t have to make all of the decisions on your own- that’s exhausting! 

Birth is a wild adventure that can throw you a curveball at any moment. 

But that’s why it’s so rich and full of beauty!

What are some things that you have questions about concerning natural birth? 

What can we help you with?

Leave a comment below!

The post Our COVID-19 Natural Birth Story (And How It Didn’t Go To Plan) appeared first on Raising Them Naturally.

“What is a Doula?” 

Don’t feel dumb for asking or wondering yourself!

Before I was pregnant I  didn’t even know what a doula was or how they fit into the whole birthing scene. 

But after recently going through my first birth I can honestly say that hiring a doula- totally worth it!

Especially for us natural minded mama’s out there who are yearning for something more than a standard hospital labor full of medical interventions and drugs. 

During my pregnancy, birth and postpartum recovery- our doulas were there with us every single step of the way. 

They’re truly wonderful!

What is a Doula

So the question still stands- what exactly is a doula?

Well, a doula is a trained professional who has to go through a training and certification process. 

With that training, they then are able to provide…

Physical support…

Emotional Support…

As well as be a great source of information along every step of pregnancy, birth and postpartum.

A doulas goal is to help mama achieve her birth goals and have the most satisfying, positive birthing experience as possible. 

If we look back on history, much of the knowledge and support that a doula provides would’ve come from another family member living in the same house. 

But in today’s world, several generations of family members don’t live in the same house. So this knowledge isn’t able to be passed down as easily. 

This is where having a doula is great!

Doula’s bridge the gap between what once would’ve been filled by an older sister, mom, aunt or grandmother that had experience with birth. 

Women were never meant to go through the journey that is birth- alone! So in today’s world- hiring a doula is a great, and practical option for many.  

Why have a Doula?

While I was pregnant my husband and I looked heavily into educating ourselves on birth and how best to prepare for it. 

This became even more important because we wanted as much of a natural birth as possible. 

Trying to teach ourselves everything from reading online was tough!

So we decided to hire a pair of doulas to work with us. 

My husband would agree, hiring a doula was one of the best decisions we made during this whole birthing journey. 

Beyond just my own personal experience with doulas, there have been plenty of studies done that show just how effective having a doula on your team can be! 

A study published in 2011 goes on to say that..

“one of the most effective tools to improve labor and delivery outcomes is the continuous presence of support personnel, such as a doula.”

This study consisted of 12 different trials and over 15,000 women! What’s more is that those women who do use a doula are way more satisfied with their birth than those who didn’t use then. 

Additionally, benefits from having a doula include

• Increased success rate of vaginal births
• Less likely to use pain medication
• Less likely of a cesarean procedure
• Typically have a shorter labor
• Overall are much more satisfied with their birthing experience
• Less likely to have postpartum depression

Guys, it’s pretty clear- that those mama’s who have continuous support through pregnancy, birth and postpartum have a better outcome than those who don’t.

There are a ton of benefits to having someone like a doula on your team..

 And no drawbacks have been found so far!

From my own personal experience and other mama’s out there. I highly recommend that you find a doula that fits your needs! 

Especially if you’re looking to go the natural birth route. 

What does a Doula do?

So a good doula should be able to help you in all three phases of the birth journey

1. Pregnancy
2. Birth
3. Postpartum

1. Support During Pregnancy

Doulas can be so helpful even before birth!

I highly recommend that you start looking for a doula as early as your second trimester- because there are several key benefits to bringing them in early- before you’re near your due date.

Assist with creating your birth plan

A birth plan is something that you should definitely consider writing- and a doula is a great resource to help you navigate that process.

My husband and I wrote one and it really made us slow down…learn, and think about the birthing process. 

We’re both so glad we did it! 

If you don’t know what a birth plan is or need some help on how to make one- check out my post where I explain it all! 

I even have a birth plan template that I designed for you so you don’t have to start from scratch!

Having a birth plan will put you so far ahead of other couples who choose not to do one. It forces you to learn and understand what options are available to you.

Above all, it just sets you up for success! 

Doulas have been through a lot of births and have a ton of firsthand experience!

Be sure to use their experience and ask them questions when you go to write your own birth plan. 

Help Educate you on the birth process and what to expect

There is a ton of information out there  and it can become overwhelming super quickly!

From what to expect leading up to labor

To get to the hospital or natural birth center (if you’re birthing at home- great! One less thing to worry about)…

To what happens after birth… 

A good doula can sit down with you beforehand and walk you through each step of the process. 

This is really important- because the less surprises there are during that crazy hectic birthing day- the better. 

My husband and I actually drove to the hospital several weeks before I was due so we understood where to park and walk in. 

This was a tremendous help because by the time we got to the hospital I was already in active labor. 

And about ready to pop!

Teach and Reinforce birthing positions

For those mama’s out there wanting a natural birth- you need to know different birthing positions.

More importantly- you need to practice them before you enter labor! 

Why?

Because not every position works for everybody. By trying them out before you’re in labor you’ll know which ones work best for you. 

Doula’s are very skilled in this area and can teach you these positions so you can practice them on your own at home. 

There are a ton of different positions…

So try them out with your doula and see which ones work best for you!

Enabling your doula to become your advocate during the birth process

This is arguably one of the most important reasons to ensure that you bring a doula in sooner rather than later. 

At the end of the day, a doula is there to serve as your advocate during birth, according to what you have written down on your birth plan. 

Are you starting to see now why birth plans can be so beneficial?

It’s their job to help you reach your goals and help you have a positive birthing experience. 

The only way for them to be able to do this effectively is if you tell them!

Doing this ahead of time will enable you to have a discussion so questions can be answered- and a plan can be made. 

Before it gets chaotic! 

Mama, trust me- your focus is going to be on one thing during labor- you. 

So lean on your partner and doula to take care of the other things that are going on around you.

Your doula is your advocate so that you get what you want during that special day! 

2. Support During Labor

Obviously the main reason you hire a doula is for support during actual labor and delivery. 

There are several key things that a doula does to help support you during this time… 

Advocate for your birth plan

That birth plan that you and your partner made? Your doula will work with your midwife, doctors and others in the room to help make sure that your plan is carried out. 

Birth can be a chaotic thing sometimes, and oftentimes even the best birth plan never goes exactly “as planned”.

Doctors and nurses may be moving fast paced and may not take the time to tell you everything they’re doing- although they should be doing this!! 

(Telling you what’s happening is part of informed consent and is another big topic that I’ll likely cover in another post soon.)

If for some reason there has to be any deviations to your birth plan- then it’s part of your doulas responsibility to make sure you and your partner know about it. So you can decide how you’d like to proceed! 

Remember- they’re there to support you!

Relaxation techniques

Relaxation techniques are super important. During labor a million things will be running through your head. 

You’ll be very uncomfortable, likely in pain…

Your ability to relax will determine how successful your birthing experience will be.

If you are planning on a natural birth- drug free birth then being able to slip into a more relaxed state is crucial!

A doula is able to remind you of different relaxation techniques and can even help you do them.

Like a light touch on the back, or pouring warm water over your body if you’re in a tub or shower.

Again, it’s important to try these out beforehand and include them in your birth plan… 

This way your doula can step right into action and help you- rather than having a discussion first on what you like or don’t like in the heat of the moment!

Breathing techniques

Don’t underestimate the power of breathing! 

Breathing techniques are a wonderful tool for natural birthing mama’s out there to use. 

Doula’s are well trained in this area and are there to remind you to breath, and which techniques to use when. 

As with the positions, practice these techniques beforehand!

Labor positions

Channing labor positions is an important part of the natural birthing process. 

Sitting on your back, in a hospital bed, in stirrups is the most unnatural, and honestly the most uncomfortable position you can be in during labor. 

Insert photos of birthing positions and paths.

Let your doula help get you into different positions during labor. Remember- it’s all about staying comfortable and relaxed as much as possible. 

This allows for your body to open up and deliver the baby. There is no pushing here! You’re letting the body do the work. 

There are A TON of different birthing positions- and doulas are trained in all of them. So let them help you!

Making you as comfortable as possible

And finally, another great benefit of having a doula for support during labor is that they simply make your life easier and more comfortable. 

Bringing you healthy snacks, making sure you’re staying hydrated! Both of which are super important by the way. 

Especially since most mama’s will have a labor that is many hours. 

Brining over clothes to help you change into… 

Anything and everything you need, they’re there for you. 

3. Postpartum support

Alright, so you have successfully birthed your baby! Whoohoo! 

You and your partner made it home with your newborn. And then it hits you…

Now what?

Especially for first time parents- that feeling of now knowing what to do or how to do it can hit you hard. 

But don’t worry- because most doulas are trained in postpartum support and can be a huge help!

Breastfeeding

One of the biggest challenges a new mama will face is breastfeeding. 

Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise- it’s not as easy as it looks- especially when you’re first starting out!

If you’re on the fence on whether you want to breastfeed or not, then check out my post on 10 great benefits of breastfeeding for both you and your baby!

Many doulas also specialize in lactation support and can help with things like…

How to hold your boob so little one can latch….

How to hold your little one…

What to do if your supply isn’t coming in…

There are just a ton ways a doula can assist with breastfeeding. 

They were a huge help for me after my husband and I got home from the hospital and I had breastfeeding questions. 

Baby care

Once you get home from the hospital it can be overwhelming for most first time parents.

How do we give baby a bath?

How should we put baby to sleep safely?

What are some other ways we can hold baby at home?

These are just some of the questions that a postpartum doula can help you answer.

You can also hire a doula to help take care of your baby for those first few weeks. This can be a great tool- especially while mama recovers. 

It’s great because mama can spend more time one herself, while also learning side by side with a professional on how to take care of little one. 

Support during transition period (insert postpartum support post)

Remember- a doula is there to make your life more comfortable during this awesome and challenging time as a new parent. 

Because once you leave the hospital or birthing center- that’s it! You’re basically on your own to take care of your new addition. 

And that’s why having a postpartum doula really helps parents to ease into this important transitional time. 

One of the best things I did in preparation for postpartum was gather the essentials. 

What to Look For When Hiring A Doula

While doulas are a great thing- and I strongly believe that you should have one…

Like anything- they’re aren’t all equal and you need to do your homework before you hire one. 

Here are some things you should be looking for when “interviewing” a doula. Remember- you’re hiring them to fill an important job, so be thorough. 

Training

To be a doula there are certain training requirements that must be met. 

Typically this means approximately 7-12 hours of training, attending 3-5 live births, and a formal certification. 

Don’t be afraid to ask questions about training!

Certification

Some doula’s likely have additional certifications. For example, ours had certifications for postpartum support, as well as lactation. 

These doulas are awesome because you can use the same doula throughout the whole process- which makes everything just so much easier!

Experience

How much experience does the doula have? If you’re looking for someone who has more experience, then be sure to ask this question. They’ll be honest and up front. 

You’ll find that even those who are newer doulas typically have already seen dozens of births and plenty of experience. 

Availability

What availability does the doula have? Doula’s have other clients too- so you’ll want to make sure that they’ll be available to assist you when you need them!

Cost

Overall, doula’s are pretty affordable, but be sure to ask about cost. 

Oftentimes different plans are offered that have different services or the number of hours of support may vary. 

Usually, you can purchase a lower end plan and just add onto it if you find yourself needing more support than you originally thought.

Use your “gut instinct

You need to use your intuition or “gut instinct” when hiring. 

Will they support my birth plan?

Will I feel comfortable around them during labor?

Are they trustworthy?

Are they knowledgeable?

Do you get “feel good vibes” when talking to them?

Hiring a doula who isn’t a yes to every single one of those questions- probably isn’t going to work out that well.

Make sure you’re clear in what you’re looking for in a doula. 

They’ll tell you whether or not they can meet those expectations. 

How a Doula Interacts with Dad- A father’s perspective

For this section, I’m going to step aside and let my husband write this one. Because he had some great points from a dad’s perspective concerning a doula

Hey Raising Them Naturally Community! Thank you so much for finding this post. I hope it brings some value to you. 

My dad’s perspective on whether or not to hire a doula is nothing short of totally positive!

At first, I didn’t want to spend the extra money to hire a doula- but man am I glad we did. 

As dads we are coming from a different perspective when it comes to this whole birthing journey.

Not exactly knowing how to help our wives, or what they need- when they need it. 

Having a doula was so amazing for me because I literally felt a huge weight lifted off my shoulders. 

The pressure I felt bearing down on me was gone.

I wasn’t alone and had someone there with me to help support my wife Kelly. From getting into different birthing positions, to breathing techniques- a doula helps with it all. 

Dad’s I highly recommend it- truly. 

You know your wife well, but your doula knows birth even better!

Lean on them during this process, and I promise you- you’ll have a big sigh of relief.

Now that we are through this process- I can honestly say that hiring a doula was the best money we spent. It just made the whole process less stressful- especially for us dad’s out there!

This doesn’t mean you can hire a doula and then step back. Do your homework, learn and understand the birthing process. But lean on your doula to help bring it home come game time. 

10 out of 10- I would recommend finding a doula!

Key Points:

• Doulas are trained professionals and are there for physical and emotional support.

• There are many benefits to having a doula. Things like: shorter labors, improved labor & delivery outcome, less medical intervention

• Doulas do many different things. Teaching you about the birth process, creating a birth plan, teaching relaxation techniques

• Doulas can be a wonderful resource for expecting parents- especially new parents who haven’t gone through the birth journey

• Be sure to hire a doula that fits your needs- they’re your advocate and are there to help you carry out your birth plan

• Doulas are also great for supporting dad during labor and delivery. Dad knows mom well, but doulas know birth even better!

What other questions do you have about doulas? 

If you have questions- leave a comment and I’ll help answer them. 

The post What Is a Doula (And Why You Need One For Your Birth Journey!) appeared first on Raising Them Naturally.

That was until I came across a birth plan and a free template I found online….

We liked it so much we created our own version of it that you can download for free!

It was a total game changer! 

Almost instantly I felt a weight lifted off my shoulders. I didn’t feel as though I was going to have to fumble around in the dark looking for answers. 

By having a birth plan it put me in the driver’s seat for the beautiful journey of preparing for and giving birth. 

Don’t get me wrong, having a birth plan didn’t solve all my problems- but it put my mind at ease.

Knowing that we had a plan for many of the questions and scenarios that could come up during our special day. 

Don’t have a birth plan yet? Don’t wait til your third trimester! Try our Free professionally designed Birth Plan Template! It’ll help you get a jumpstart on your birth plan- I promise! 

What Is a Birth plan?

A birth plan is what it sounds like…

It’s a plan for your birth! 

A physical piece of paper that you and your partner fill out together on what your preferences are during your birth. 

But it’s really more than that.  By creating a birth plan, you’re taking initiative and thinking about these important decisions ahead of time. The last thing you want is to have to make decisions on the fly without knowing the consequences. 

Which brings us to my next point!

Why You Should Have a birth plan

My husband and I feel very strongly about having a birth plan. No matter what kind of birth you’re planning on having. Hospital setting, birthing center or home birth.

Creating a birth plan is something that you should strongly consider doing with your partner 

Here are three reasons why!

1. It forces you to sit down with your partner and talk about your ideal birth.

I get it- you and your partner are really busy right now!

You have so many things to do to prep for your amazing baby that you’ll soon welcome into the world.

My husband and I have been there.

It’s a lot! 

But please hear me out…..

Very few births ever go exactly as planned- and that’s totally normal. In some areas, ours went pretty far off our plan.

Which made it more important that we had taken the time to create and review a birth plan ahead of time.

Taking time out to create a birth plan forces you to think about every action that goes on during a birth. What’s more, you may discover that you and your partner have very different preferences on what your ideal birth should look like. 

And that’s ok! That’s why you should have these conversations up front now- before your special day! 

If there are some disagreements, talk through them and compromise- that’s what reasonable adults do. 

In our case, my husband and I had some disagreement in how we wanted to see the birth of our son play out. 

We talked through it, and ultimately came together and made a birth plan that we were both happy with and proud of.

But my point is-

Unless you stop…

And take the time to actually sit down and write a birth plan with your partner- it’s so much more difficult to get to this point.  

Parenting is a team effort- and creating a birth plan should be no different!

2. It teaches you about the process of birth, and the options that are available to you.

This is in my opinion, one of the more important reasons that you should absolutely consider writing a birth plan.

In today’s medical world, there are a lot of options that a mother has when giving birth. Things like:

• Using pitocin
• Membrane sweep
• Wiping the baby off immediately after birth
• Episiotomy
• Epidural
• Vitamin K shot

And the list goes on and on…..

Being first time parents my husband and I didn’t even know what half this stuff was!

Let alone why someone would choose one thing over another….

But by taking the time to write a birth plan TOGETHER- it gave us some direction and we learned what all of these different choices were. 

More importantly, we learned what our preferences are, and why we wanted to do some things, and not others. 

Guys, I’m here to tell you- it doesn’t matter what other people tell you- myself included. Your birth is exactly that. It’s YOUR BIRTH! 

Everyone’s ideal birth and preferences surrounding that are different- and that’s good! It would be boring if we all wanted the exact same thing….

Even though this is a blog more designed around being “Natural”- I want you to know that whatever you choose- choose it because you wanted it. 

Be educated about your choice and why you chose it. And most importantly- be proud of yourself and your birth plan that you and your partner created together! 

This entire process is learning about birth, and how you and your partner want it to go.

You will learn so much about yourself throughout this process- it may surprise you! 

If you don’t have a partner, then find a family member or close friend. Don’t go through this process alone if you don’t have to.

3. Informs medical professionals of your birth preferences

Besides getting you and your partner on the same page…

And educating you on the process and procedures…..

A birth plan is also super useful for the medical professionals who will be helping you during your birth. Like I mentioned in a previous post Surviving The First Trimester- 7 Tips Every New Mama Should Know about setting up your support team!

Regardless of where you plan on giving birth. Be it a hospital, natural birthing center or at home- the professionals who you’ll be working with will generally be glad to read through your birth plan.

I say generally because not everyone you come across will read it. Some may think of you as “high maintenance” or “getting in the way of doing their job”. These instances are not common, but they do happen. 

Just remember- you’re hiring these people. They work for you! 

However, with that in mind- you want to ensure you create a birth plan that medical professionals, midwives, and doulas can easily glance at and get an understanding of what your preferences are! 

We recommend giving them a physical and/or emailed copy of your birth plan as your due date approaches so they can glance at it ahead of time. Giving you time to discuss with them if needed, It’s important everyone understands your birth plan BEFORE your special day.

Crazy things can happen on your birthing day…

We almost delivered our baby in the car and left our birth plan behind as we ran into the hospital… 

But it didn’t matter because our team knew what was in it, and we understood what we wanted because we did all the work up front and knew it inside and out.

Creating Your Birth Plan

If you’re creating your own birth plan, it’s important to keep a couple things in mind.

• Keep it to 1 page
• Make it clear and concise
• Make it easy to read
• Use bright colors so it stands out

Remember- you want to create this plan so your team of professionals can read it quickly and understand it while also including everything you want on the plan.  OR You can download our FREE birth plan template! We’ve done the heavy lifting for you and designed this template with all of the above points in mind. 

How to use our free template

Our free template was designed to cover most of the items that you would want on your birth plan. (It is designed for a vaginal birth… it doesn’t include preferences for a cesarean birth. We recommend you create a second birth plan for a cesarean birth) Check each box for the items that you would like to have included as part of your plan. To get started simply download, print and start using the template!

What each item means 

Labor and Delivery

General

• • Labor in position of choice
    • There are SO many positions you can labor in that may feel more comfortable to you than laying down in a bed with your legs propped up in stirrups. (Other positions include; squatting, side-lying, kneeling, and standing) 
    • Laboring in the position of your choice is especially helpful if you are trying to have an unmedicated birth. When you are in the traditional birthing position- on your back and in stirrups, you are constricting your body and it makes it harder to breathe the baby down (as opposed to pushing).
    • If you are planning to have an epidural (see definition below) you may be limited or not have the option to labor in another position as you may not have movement from the waist down.
  • Limited Vaginal exams
    • A vaginal exam or cervical check is when your medical professional inserts their fingers into your vagina and checks how many centimeters your cervix is dilated and the effacement (shortening/thinning) of the cervix. 
    • Vaginal exams can be beneficial to know how close you are to either pushing or breathing the baby out. Some moms like to know the numbers on how things are progressing and want as many updates as they can. The medical professional can also tell what position the baby is in if they are low enough in the pelvis to be felt. With that information they can decide if the baby needs to be rotated.
    • During the cervical check, there is a risk of an infection. Bacteria can come into the uterus from outside the body and create issues. If your water has broken this can have a higher risk.  
  • Minimal/ intermittent fetal monitoring
    • Fetal monitoring is a way to monitor the baby’s heart rate during labor.
    • Having continuous fetal monitoring helps your medical professional detect if the baby’s stats drop at any time and can take action if needed immediately. (Most hospitals will default to this unless otherwise stated)
    • A benefit to having minimal fetal monitoring is the freedom of mobility. This is especially important if you choose to use other birthing positions. Instead of having a band and small monitor strapped to your belly your medical professional will most likely use a doppler intermittently through your labor.     
  • Music During Labor
    • Do you want a quiet space during labor or does music soothe you? If so, I recommend making a playlist. You could include fun up beat music or more relaxing music. A combination might be best!
  • Lights dimmed during labor 
    • Another personal preference. Some mama’s are bothered by the bright fluorescent lights while others don’t mind it. Especially during a natural birth, mama needs to feel calm and relaxed for the process to go more smoothly. 
  • No forceps
    • Forceps are a tool your medical professional uses to get the baby out. One reason they would be used is if labor has stalled. Also, if the baby or mother is in distress, forceps can assist your medical professional to get the baby out quicker. They aren’t used as often as they once were.
    • Some risks to using forceps is that the baby’s head can experience bruising or swelling and the mother could experience tears to the vagina/perineum or pain in the perineum.
  • No vacuum
    • A vacuum is another way to get the baby out when labor has stalled. The vacuum assists your medical professional to get the baby’s head out and then you would push the rest of the baby out (the head crowns in and out slightly in between contractions until the head is fully out).
    • This can be helpful if the mother or baby is in distress and needs assistance
    • Some risks to using the vacuum is that the baby’s head can experience swelling or jaundice and the mother could experience tears to the vagina/perineum or pain in the perineum.
  • Episiotomy
    • This is when your medical professional makes a surgical incision on your perineum (area between your vagina and anus) to prevent tearing and make more space for your baby to come out.
    • A benefit for this is a quicker way to get your baby out if they are in fetal distress.
    •  There is increased risk of infection and damage to muscle tissue

• • Prefer a natural tear over episiotomy
    • A natural tear is less painful and takes less time to recover from when compared to an episiotomy. However, there are times when an episiotomy may be medically necessary. Having an episiotomy may lead to complications later on- such as decreased sexual satisfaction.
  • I.V. 
    • General hospital procedure is to administer an I.V. This helps with hydration and makes it easier to administer pitocin.
    • Having an I.V. does make it more difficult to move around, so if you would like to try different birthing positions consider not using an I.V. 

Interventions

• • Artificial rupture of membranes/ membrane sweep
    • Membrane sweeps can be painful, and can actually lead to more medical interventions during labor! 
  • Medicated induction (Pitocin)
    • Pitocin is used to start or speed up contractions. However once used, the chances of needing further medical intervention increase pretty significantly. However, there is a time and place for using Pitocin.
  • None- unmedicated birth
    • Just how it sounds; a birth with no medication for pain during the labor and delivery process! A birth how mother nature intended it!
  • Epidural anesthesia 
    • A medication that’s administered in the spine to temporarily paralyze your body from the waist down. This means you’ll be birthing in a bed, on your back in stirrups. 

Group B Strep

• • I am GBS Negative
    • Are you GBS negative? If so, check this box. This means that you will not need to be given antibiotics 
  • I am GBS Positive
    • Are your GBS positive and would like antibiotics? If so, check this box. Antibiotics are given to you to lower the chances of passing it on to baby. This has become a standard practice in hospitals. However, giving antibiotics to you (which goes into baby as well) will harm the good gut bacteria that baby has. This will weaken their immune system and digestion.
  • I am GBS Positive (Declining antibiotics)
    • If you’re GBS positive but would like to decline antibiotics- check this box. There will be a higher chance that baby could contract GBS. But the chances are still very low. A 1 in 200 chance, or .5%. 

Pain Relief

• • Jacuzzi/tub/shower
    • Labor can be a long drawn out process, using a jacuzzi, tub or shower can help calm you down. These can also make labor a little easier. Giving birth in a tub is more common at a natural birth center or at home. 
  • Message/gentle touch
    • This is a common hypnobirthing technique. It’s important to be calm and comfortable during birth. This helps allow the birth canal to open up which makes delivery easier. Massage and gentle touch can help with this process. 
  • Breathing & visualization
    • This is another common hypnobirthing technique. Focused breathing and visualization helps to bring attention on other positive things during contractions. If practiced beforehand, can be very effective in removing oneself from the pain associated with contractions during labor 
  • Birth ball
    • A birth ball is great for getting baby into the correct position to move down the birth canal. By sitting on the ball it brings extra back support. This also helps to open up the pelvis as well. 
  • Rebozo technique
    • The rebozo technique involves wrapping your belly which helps to take the weight off your back. This can be very helpful for squatting and conserving energy while in labor. 
  • Medication
    • If you would like to take medication to help alleviate some pain- that’s ok! Do what you need to do to birth your baby. 

Pushing

• • Breath baby down (not pushing)
    • Believe it or not, you do not have to “push” to birth your baby. Your body can do it all on it’s own! There have been plenty of instances where unconscious mothers and animals have given birth without them pushing. Focus breathing, and breathing down and out will help move the baby along the birth canal. This is another hypnobirthing technique you should look into!
  • Coached pushing (breath holding)
    • This is the traditional “pushing” method that we see in movies all the time. The professionals in the room will count or que when you should be “pushing” to get baby to move down the birth canal. 
  • Use of mirror to see birth
    • Would you like to use a mirror while laboring? I used one during my labor and it was a huge motivator when I saw our baby’s head start to crown! 

After Birth

Immediately After Birth

• • Quiet room if possible
    • A quiet room is desirable by many especially for the “golden hour” right after birth. 
  • Place baby on mothers chest/skin
    • Skin to skin is very beneficial for bonding between mother and baby- especially during that “golden hour”
  • Don’t wipe baby down
    • The vernix caseosa is the “white stuff” that covers baby when they are first born. Vernix caseosa is beneficial for several reasons. Helps regulate baby’s body temperature. Has antimicrobial properties and acts as a moisturizer for your baby’s skin.
  • Delay non-urgent routines until after the golden hour
    • The golden hour is when baby and mom should be bonding, trying to latch and settling down after birth. 

Umbilical Cord

• • Delayed cord clamping
    • ⅓ of baby’s blood is in the umbilical cord. By delaying cord clamping and allowing it to turn white and stop pulsating- that blood is able to return to the baby which is beneficial for baby’s health.
  • ___________ to cut the cord
    • Who would you like to cut the cord? The father? Your birth partner? Family member? 
  • Preserve cord blood for banking
    • This is gaining popularity as a way for parents to store baby’s stem cells found in the umbilical cord for later medical use if needed. 

Placenta

• • Allow spontaneous delivery of placenta
    • The placenta typically detaches from the uterus after 30 minutes. Breastfeeding will help encourage detachment. If pulled out, chances increase that it can tear and pieces can be left inside of mama. 
  • Defer Pitocin
    • Pitocin causes contractions in the uterus even after birth. These contractions help to push out any remaining placenta that may still be inside the uterus. This also helps to stop any bleeding. However there are risks to using pitocin such as hemorrhaging.
  • I plan to encapsulate my placenta
    • Some mama’s encapsulate their placenta so they can eat it

Baby Care

Newborn Routines

• • Defer Hep B vaccine
    • A common vaccine given to newborns. However it’s very rare for an infection to occur- unless mama has the infection.
  • Defer Vitamin K shot
    • The vitamin K shot is given to prevent internal bleeding – though very rare. Some parents refuse the shot because it contains a very high dose that is unnatural for a newborn to have.
  • Defer erythromycin eye ointment
    • Erythromycin is an antibiotic given to infants to try and prevent blindness which can be caused from gonorrhea or chlamydia. The mother would have to have these infections in order to pass them on to baby. This has become a standard practice even if the mother doesn’t test positive for either of these diseases.
    • Antibiotics are not good for the baby’s gut health, which can lead to health problems later on down the road. 
  • No pacifier 
    • For breastfed babies introducing a pacifier can cause nipple confusion. Especially during those first few precious hours at the hospital.
  • Defer circumcision (if applicable)
    • Are you planning on circumcising your baby boy? This is a hotly debated topic! The American Academy of Pediatrics does not recommend this procedure, and there are risks with going through with it.  
  • Do not separate baby from mother/birth partner
    • Those first few hours, and even days after birth and very important for bonding. My husband and I didn’t want our child leaving our sight- especially in the hospital! 
  • Defer newborn bath
    • Newborns are covered in vernix which is a great antimicrobial and skin moisturizer. From a natural birth perspective, there’s little reason to give a bath while at the hospital.  

Feeding

• • Allow baby to breastfeed as soon as possible
    • Trying to get a successful latch in that first “golden hour” is important for both mom and baby. 
  • Bottle feeding (formula)
    • For the first 24 hours the baby will be living mostly off the nutrients that are already inside them coming from the womb. Then they will rely more heavily on breastfeeding or bottle feeding from there. Remember, breast milk is a better option and you should try that first if you’re able to.
  • Combination feed (breast milk & formula)
    • For the first several days, mama’s body will be producing colostrum. This is all your baby needs as it’s packed with important nutrients. However if you’re unable to produce you may need to introduce formula. 
  • If possible, meet with a lactation specialist
    • Lactation specialists can be great to help you improve your breastfeeding technique, especially in those first few hours in the hospital. 

Check with your hospital/birthing center to see if these options are available and allowed… some medical professionals may have specific policies in place or some of the options may not be available.

If you ever have any questions on your birth plan- be sure to let us know! We’ll be happy to help. 

The post What Is a Birth Plan? (And Why You Should Be Writing One) appeared first on Raising Them Naturally.