Samuel’s Natural Birth at a Birth Center
February 26th, 2012
Samuel’s Natural Birth at a Birth Center
As Samuel’s one year birthday approaches, I have watched this beautiful montage of his birth once again and am reminded how important it is for a laboring mom to prepare for labor, as Tara and Angel did, by following the four keys to having a baby without unnecessary interventions:
- Know What You’re Getting Into: Learn about the birth process — what’s normal, what it feel like, how she can prepare for each stage — and about the birth facility, whether it’s a hospital or birth center. Take a tour, know what labor tools they have (tub, massagers, birth balls, etc).
- Have Strong Support: Get hands-on information about how partners can support a laboring mom, how a doula can help both mom and dad, and the benefits of a midwife vs. an obstetrician.
- Let Go: Through the practice of conscious breath and movement, moms can learn how to allow the contractions to move through the mom so the hormones can function at their optimal levels.
- Stay Low-Risk: While this isn’t a guarantee for anyone, studies show that making healthy food choices and exercising during pregnancy can increase the chances of remaining low-risk throughout the pregnancy and birth.
Tara and Angel prepared beautifully for their birth at Breath of Life in Largo. I thank them and Jessica the photographer for sharing their birth experience.







