I am on a Mission :
To provide all women with the means to make confident decisions regarding their pregnancy care, labour, birth, and parenting.
This matters because there are many consent points in pregnancy and labour. (see also The trouble with consent). A consent point requires you to make a decision. This should be a process of discussing the benefits, risks and alternatives (including doing nothing), and weighing this up with your circumstances. See also The Informed Decision.
How we experience birth matters, because it stays with us for a lifetime.
Women and their partners are at their most vulnerable AND most powerful when pregnant, giving birth and parenting.
A Birth Map® helps a woman find Her Way and then make the decisions to ensure she receives the care she needs.
A Birth Map starts with the general considerations, such as:
- Who should be your care provider and where you want to give birth?
- What are your feelings around birth?
- Who will be with you?
- What do you understand already?
- Do you have fears and anxieties?
It can take many weeks to go through this, the earlier you start thinking about it, the better: trying to conceive? get the book!
Once you have set the scene, take time to explore each stage of labour:
What are the standard procedures?
What are your options?
Where do you need to provide consent?
Following the possible pathways, you develop a BIRTH MAP that reflects your needs in various scenarios.
What makes you feel safe and cared for?
Approaching your preparations in this way avoids on-the-spot decisions, with minimal time or opportunity to understand your possibilities. Having a map empowers you to make the best possible decision based on the circumstances as they unfold, because it helps you understand where you are and where you can go from there.
Knowledge is power. Considering various possibilities in advance helps improve communication and aids confident decisions.
Once you have your plans sorted, it is important to relax.
You are now Informed, Supported and Confident.
At this point, you may want to have a ‘gathering of support’.
Unlike a baby shower, this focuses on supporting the family, relaxing the mother to be, and paving the way for a positive transition. I recommend filling the freezer with meals!
I encourage parents to think beyond the birth, to set up their ‘village’ and know where to find support.
And then, after baby arrives, take a moment to write down the Birth Story.
A story that is an ending, and a beginning…
This process helps get your support team is onside, no matter what.
Many partners love the ‘if this, then that’ approach, it gives a map to follow and refer to.
This matters to all of us because the well being of Mothers is the well being of babies, of children and of Society.
Find out more exploring mapping your birth and join the member access to Play the Game of Birth, read The Book and discover more resources.
you are right! I hope the system changes.