If you haven’t read my blog, “Physiological Labour” and “How To Have a Peaceful birth,” it’s best you do that first before reading this blog. Without the background knowledge of how labour is supposed to work and how to make it peaceful, there is no understanding of how each intervention alters that natural hormonal processes.

When your ship is unsinkable, you don’t have to worry about icebergs and lifeboats

Birthing From Within

Your ship is you. Your heart. Your mind. Nothing will sink you. Not an epidural, not a cesarean, not the loss of a breastfeeding journey. Medical intervention IS sometimes needed and instead of looking at it like your body has failed you, because it hasn’t, think of it as a lifeline. Be mindful if you do get them. Know the risks and know how to make it safer for you and your baby. If you must consent to an intervention, remember, your body did not fail you. You did not fail your baby, birth, or motherhood. You made the best and safest choice utilizing the medical resources available. That sounds like a successful and well-informed mother to me!

If wild animals will naturally find a quiet, dark place of solitude where they can labour safely with no interruptions, so should a woman create the same environment for herself. Hospitals with multiple providers coming in and out, bright lights, and cervical checks often impede this ability to create such a space. Before consenting to any interventions ensure someone else is not making you feel uncomfortable or unsafe. These feelings can inhibit oxytocin release. Without oxytocin, there will be a decrease in contractions, cervical dilation and effacement. In the medical world, this looks like a stalled labour that needs intervention. In reality, it could simply be a woman who just needs more support, love, and less pressure to progress. Then she may be able to open up naturally on her own like a flower that blooms in Spring.

Induction: Mechanical first, then hormonal. Membrane sweep. Lots of loving physical touch & movement/squatting after induction to encourage oxytocin release to kickstart labour.

IV: Ask for a rolling IV pole so you can have more freedom to move. Lack of movement is an easy road to a stalled labour!

*Pitocin: Ask for one dose, then encourage contractions to continue with natural oxytocin. If your contractions are progressing well on their own, you don’t need to continue getting pitocin.

*Epidural: Low dose so you can still feel some level of pain. Pain is important for upright positioning to allow baby to move further into the pelvis and continued oxytocin release which keeps contractions steady.

Cervical Checks: Keep it to a minimum to prevent infection. (1-2 checks)

Continuous Fetal Monitoring: Ask for intermittent monitoring. If not, stand beside the bed or on your hands and knees and have a party there.

Lack of Movement: Side-lye and have your partner grab your leg and bring your knee to your chest and extend it back and forth. Do the same for the other side. This creates movement in the pelvis to help allow baby to shift downward.

Cesarean: Pray, ask God to give you peace. You baby is coming out in the safest way at this point, let the doctors do what they have trained to do. In your prenatals, ask doctors if they can provide a clear draping during the procedure. Even if you plan on having a vaginal birth, it’s best to prepare for an ideal environment if your first choice has to change). Most babies are taken to the warming lights for a few minutes immediately after birth, but the best place for a baby especially after a cesarean birth is on mom’s chest. So ask if the warming lights can be rolled over to you and the baby can be placed on your chest immediately after birth.

Separation: Have dad follow baby and talk and hold the baby’s hand as much as possible. Encourage baby vocally that they are safe and strong and mommy can’t wait to hold them. Mother’s should begin hand expressing within 30 minutes after birth if there is separation or latch issues. Do not be discouraged if it is only droplets. Your milk is perfectly suited for your baby’s needs and you have milk! Watch the hand express tutorial in my “Resources” section.

Pressure to Progress: If mom and baby are safe (vitals are good), ask your team to allow her body some more time to do what it needs to do. Increase natural oxytocin to stimulate strong contractions and encourage further dilation and effacement. Hugging, kissing, looking at wedding photos, or other children’s baby photos, can stimulate natural oxytocin. Pray – Father God, this is going to take as long as it needs to. I will meet my baby on your time, not mine. 

Advocacy: Here are some questions you can ask your provider if you feel your birth plan is changing. Is mom and baby safe? Can we have ten minutes to talk about it and decide? Please do not ask me again unless it is an emergency.

*Read How Epidurals + Pitocin Affect Labour

Birth is unpredictable. Interventions are there to help. Keeping interventions to a minimum and utilizing them only when it’s necessary can help maintain a peaceful and empowering space.