Preparing For Childbirth with the CUB. The way we choose to give birth should be not only the safest choice, but give the most positive experience too. Many of the complications and interventions that lead to birth trauma are avoidable and preventable. The way chosen to give birth needs to be suited to your unique needs as well as one you and your care team agree on together. It is really important that everyone is on the same ‘team’ for the big day! This will happen once you have all of the information you need to make an informed choice based on your needs. Your midwife or OBGYN will provide information on your options and choices based on your own unique circumstances. This will you help in making the right decisions for you and your baby. However, you should also take time to research and get as much unbiased information as possible.
The most common options to consider when Preparing For Childbirth.
It is important when Preparing For Childbirth to know that the best birthing option depends on your unique circumstances. The expectations you have about your birth experience will influence the way you plan.
Natural Birth
The vast majority of women and birthing people choose a natural, vaginal birth. This can involve using pain medication during labor but with as little intervention as possible, letting nature take its course. Those that experience natural birth have less intervention during labor and delivery, generally experiencing a more positive experience overall. Research has shown that in the absence of medical complications and unnecessary interventions, natural labor and birth is the safest way for you and for your baby.
Learn about upright positions when Preparing For Childbirth
Maintaining a healthy lifestyle during pregnancy and reducing stress can also help when preparing for childbirth. When planning for a natural labor and birth you need to prepare in advance. By learning as all you can about the different positions that you can use in labor you will be better able to manage the sensations of childbirth. All of this will go a long way in helping you have a better, more positive birthing experience.
Preparing for Childbirth with the CUB
Increasingly providers are offering resources to promote natural childbirth and these can really help to get through childbirth. This includes the multi Award winning Comfortable Upright Birth, known as the CUB, support. The CUB is available in many hospitals but can purchase your own to take with you to be sure. The CUB is also a great tool for relieving lower back and pelvic pain in late pregnancy.
The Benefits of Upright Positions
Using a birthing stool or chair can be a great way to help you during labor by allowing the joints in your pelvis to move more freely. This can create up to 30% more space for your baby to be born. By using a birthing position that makes it easier for baby to born they are less likely to become ’stuck’. In turn this means that you are less likely to need medical assistance to help your baby to be born. Upright positions for labor and birth include kneeling, all fours, squatting, standing and sitting straight up. All upright positions have been shown to prevent several common complications during birth such as:
- Prolonged labor (very long labor)
- Emergency C. Sections
- Baby becoming distressed.
- The need for Pitocin to increase contractions.
- Ventous (suction cup) to help baby be born
- Less tears or trauma to the perineum requiring stitches.
- Less NICU admissions
Preparing for Childbirth with the CUB
The modern birthing chair is designed to support upright birth positions while being easy for anyone to use. They should provide a comfortable place for the woman/birthing person to lean over, sit or rest on, while supporting her in whatever birth position she chooses during labor. However not all of them provide any cushioning and some can feel extremely hard to use for an extended period of time, particularly those made from wood, metal or fibreglass. Inflatables, such as the Comfortable, Upright Birth (CUB) support are much more flexible and provide cushioning for added relief.
The CUB Inflatable Birth Support is a multi-award-winning modern birthing stool that can provide all the advantages of mobility, comfort, and upright positions for labor and birth. Visit us here to find out more about our innovative product!
C-Section Delivery: An Alternative To Natural Birth
Doctors can recommend a C-section if either the mother or baby has a medical need during pregnancy or during labor itself. This is a viable option if natural/vaginal delivery puts the mother and the baby at risk of serious complications. Despite a C-section being major abdominal surgery in most cases this is a safe option to consider if vaginal birth is more risky for you. This is something to discuss with your doctor or midwife during pregnancy so that you understand why and when this maybe recommended for you if you had chosen to have a natural birth. It is worth remembering that C. Sections also carry risks to mom and baby so this should also be explained to you beforehand too.
Is There A Painless Way To Give Birth?
Some people find the experience of childbirth incredibly challenging and it can be difficult for them to cope physically or mentally during the experience of birth, especially if they have not prepared for a natural labor. How you choose to manage the experience of childbirth is a personal choice that only you can make and you may feel more confident if you have made the decision to have pain medications during labor or even to have an epidural. However it should be clearly explained to you that pain medications and epidural also carry risks and may mean that you need additional intervention due to the effects of the pain relief you have chosen. Natural birth is not painless or necessarily quick, however C-section’s, pain medications and epidurals are not either, even if they are generally safe procedures. The choices you make for your birth are really about weighing up what is safest for you and your baby depending on how you feel you can cope both during childbirth and afterwards.
Hypnobirthing
Increasingly many women are learning to hypnobirth. This is a form of self hypnosis where you can train during pregnancy to be able to manage the sensations of childbirth better. Some people even report having no pain at all when they have used it during labor and many have reported that hypnobirthing was really helpful in keeping them relaxed and calm even if they chose an epidural or needed a C. Section, so it is definitely worth trying out. There are many free online apps, and courses, as well as guidance available from your Midwife or Doula hat can guide you in Preparing For Childbirth. What is very important is how confident you feel in the advice you are given by your Dr or Midwife and in the support you have to make a truly informed choice so that you feel empowered by your birth experience, regardless of how you end up giving birth.
Should you or your baby need medical intervention during childbirth your Dr or Midwife will be able to provide a professional recommendation on how to make any intervention as pain free as possible.
Takeaway
During pregnancy you need to consider and take steps to look after your physical, mental, social, and emotional wellbeing by preparing for childbirth. Being well informed and prepared has been shown to improve bonding relationships, successful breastfeeding and decreased postpartum depression. Having confidence and trust with your care providers and birth team will also make your experience of childbirth much more positive, even if an unexpected complication does arise. Make sure that you discuss at length your personal choices and expectations during your scheduled prenatal appointments where your health and that of your baby will be monitored, and make time to become more informed about your choices and the impact they may or may not have.
When you are Preparing For Childbirth, spending time researching the most beneficial birthing positions that will help you be more active and comfortable during labor. This is a great way to begin your preparation for a healthy birth and we would encourage you to learn more about hypnobirthing and practice relaxation techniques. If your budget, or insurance allows, consider hiring a Doula for additional support during labor as this has also been shown to improve the experience and outcome of birth.
If you have additional medical considerations at any time during pregnancy or birthing work closely and be advised by your medical provider at the time. Remember giving birth is not a competition and whatever way you bring your baby into the world, or how you choose to experience it make sure that you are informed, in control of your choices and as comfortable as you feel you need to be to cope.
Happy, Healthy Birthing!
We advocate adopting the Comfortable, Upright Birth (CUB) for all amazing mothers out there! Learn more about the advantages of upright labor positions and why they’re important during birth. Visit us here to discover what recent research says about upright birth!
