Ok, so you are pregnant! Yay! Now what?
Your single most important task at this point of your pregnancy is to decide where you will deliver and who will attend your birth. Finding the right place and choosing who will care for you is imperative to having a positive birth experience. But first, it's helpful to ask yourself, "What kind of birth do I want"?
In this three-part blog-post series, I will lead you through the step-by-step process of how to find the best care provider for you. We'll explore the realms of the Australian maternity health care system, and I'll discuss important factors to consider when deciding who you will entrust to care for you and your baby.
In this first post, I pose questions to help you identify and articulate what is most important as you journey towards birth. I'll then briefly describe the next important step, which is the GP referral process.
In the second post of this series, we'll consider the different locations for where you plan to give birth. We get down to the nuts and bolts of the differences between the various public models of maternity care and how to narrow down exactly what model is best for you!
Finally, in part three, we discuss hiring a private care provider, whether that be a midwife or obstetrician. We'll go over the differences between them and specific considerations for each. Plus, I list out questions you may consider asking before you hire them (a.k.a. before you sign your agreement and pay your fee). So, make sure you read to the end!
Without further ado… let’s start with YOU!
Step 1: Determine what kind of birth experience you want to have.
You may only be a few weeks into your pregnancy, or you might be further along, but there is no time like the present to think about what you want your birth experience to look and feel like. This event is life changing, and you want to do everything in your power to manifest a positive birth experience. Before choosing whom you'd like to support you, you must do the internal work of self-reflection to identify and articulate what you want for your birth.
You might have not even thought about what you want yet, beyond having "a healthy baby and a healthy mama." Yes, of course, everyone wants that! But there is so much more to birth than just a healthy outcome. The journey along the way is equally and vitally important for you mentally, emotionally, physically, and spiritually. How you experience your path towards birth will effect your life experience in your postpartum period and on into parenthood.
Questions to consider when visualising your birth:
What do you know about birth already and what do you think about it?
What experiences (from others or your own) influence the way you think about the birth process? Where did those influences come from?
How do you feel about physiological birth? That is, spontaneous, naturally-occuring, vaginal birth without any medical intervention?
How do you feel about caesarean birth?
If you have had a baby before, how do you feel about that birth experience? Is there anything you would have done differently going forward this time around? Have you had the opportunity to debrief about that experience with someone?
If you have a partner, what do they think about childbirth, and how are they feeling about supporting you through this experience?
If planning a vaginal birth, what are your thoughts and feelings about how you will manage your labour? Do you plan to utilise natural pain relief methods, medicinal pain relief, or a combination of both?
If planning a caesarean birth, what do you want that experience to look and feel like? Have you heard of a maternal-assisted or gentle caesarean?
If you have had a previous caesarean, what are your thoughts or feelings on having a vaginal birth after caesarean (VBAC)?
Do you have any pre-existing or past medical conditions that may need to be considered for your care?
What is most important to you in your relationship with your care provider?
Who else would you like to be there at your birth - other support persons such a family member or a doula?
What are your life circumstances, such as finances, insurance plans (or lack there of) that you need to consider when making your decision?
Step 2: Check in with a trusted General Practitioner (GP), preferably one who is specialised in women’s health and pregnancy. Bonus if they are also experienced in paediatrics.
After you see those two lines on the home pregnancy test, the next step is to confirm your pregnancy with a trusted GP. You will be partnering with them throughout your pregnancy journey, as well as after your baby is born, so make sure it is someone with whom you feel comfortable. Ask your friends and other women in your community for recommendations. Consider booking a long appointment, as you will want to have time to discuss your birth goals, any current medical conditions or past medical history, medications you might be taking, your diet and general nutrition, and for your GP to complete a general health assessment.
Your GP might ask you what kind of birth you are visualising (see above) and about what model of care you are inclined to employ (see the part 2 post!). Take this time to talk with them about your self-reflections. Share with them what is most important to you about your upcoming birth experience, so that they can support you and help point you in the direction that will best manifest your birth goals.
Your GP will then give you a referral for blood work that will confirm your pregnancy, blood type, full blood count, iron levels, rubella and varicella immunity, and for presence of hepatitis B, C, and any sexually transmitted infections (STIs). They will also discuss if you would like to complete your first trimester screening, which is a blood test and ultrasound to identify any potential risks of chromosomal abnormalities. The results will be included into a referral letter, which you will then take to your chosen model of care.
Ok... now that you've reflected on the kind of birth you want, and met with your GP, it's time to explore WHERE you want to birth and WHAT model of care is best to support the birth you want.
For more on that, read the next post, Part 2 in this 3-part series!
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