What is your definition of a positive birth?
Candles and music?
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Your partner holding your hand?
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Smiling when you push your baby out?
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A quiet atmosphere? A cheerful atmosphere?
A good working epidural?
All-natural waterbirth?
A peace-filled Cesarean?
All of those births can be positive! A positive birth can occur in a home, a hospital, or a birth center. It can happen with twin births, breech births, medicated labors, Cesarean sections, inductions, waterbirths. A positive birth can be attended by an obstetrician, a midwife, or no one present at all.
What do you need for a positive birth? Although there can be many components for experiencing this type of birth, these are my:
Top Five Components To a Positive Birth
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The agenda of the mother’s care providers/support team is not only “a healthy mom and baby”. After that goal is the very close second goal of making her feel 100% supported and respected.
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The mother’s concerns are listened to and her questions are answered fully and respectfully. She understands her options and her rights.
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The mother’s thoughts and opinions are taken into consideration and are treated as important.
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The pregnancy, labor, birth, and postpartum time is communicated to the mother in a warm, positive light while still sharing realistic options and accurate information.
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The mother is treated like the one in charge… which she is.
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Did you have a Positive Birth?
What do you think contributed to that experience?
If you did not have a positive birth, do you feel that you could have had one if you experienced the top five aspects mentioned here?
What else would you add to this list?
