Pregnant? Here are a couple of things you should keep in mind before the birth of your bundle of joy.
Pregnancy: Before the birth
Choose your doctor and place of birth carefully. When interviewing a doctor to be your doctor, ask his or her cesarean rate. If s/he is vague or refuses to tell you, consider that a red flag and keep looking. If s/he has a high cesarean rate and says it’s because s/he sees high-risk patients, remember that according to the WHO, a doctor who sees high-risk patients should have a 15% or lower cesarean rate. You might also want to find out his/her philosophy on routine interventions, such as episiotomy, induction, restricting labour support and amniotomy. Although interviewing a doctor can be intimidating, it is a necessary practice and one that is common in many countries around the world.
- Arrange for support. No matter how much preparation you are able to achieve during your pregnancy, labour may surprise both you and your partner. Often, doctors and nurses have too many responsibilities to stay with one patient for more than a few minutes at a time. The presence of a woman who has experience with childbirth and is willing to be with you continuously will help you cope. She will reassure you and your partner that labour is progressing normally, provide comforting touch if you would like it and suggest positions that will aid the progress of your labour and help you feel more comfortable. Ask a friend or relative to play this role.
