Childbirth Preparation: Prenatal Ponderings

Today pregnant women need to be consumers and self-advocates. Many childbirth classes are teaching strategies to better these skills. This is not by chance, but rather by the often one-size-fits all packaging and management from pregnancy onset to labor through immediate postpartum in the care provider offices and hospitals of today.

Many routine tests are done prenatally. Though prenatal care and these tests can help further healthy outcomes for moms and babies, too often women can be funnelled into a cycle of unnecessary fear, stress and choice limitation while in reality still healthy and maintaining normal pregnancy.

Below is a listing of common prenatal tests and practices for you to question (what is it for, what does it improve upon, what can it lead to in other tests or interventions, is it for low-risk moms and babies, what will I do with the information), research and decide on are:

• pregnancy test by urine dip or blood work
  
• ultrasound to date the pregnancy
  
• blood pressure reading each visit
  
• weight measure each visit
  
• urine test - check for protein in the urine
  
• fundal height measurement as pregnancy furthers
  
• gestational diabetes testing
  
• triple screen testing (AFP)
  
• just because ultrasounds
  
• ultrasound for fetal size
  
• routine ultrasound for fluid level as "due date" approaches
  
• biophysical profile(s) as "due date" approaches or passes
  
• membrane sweeping
  

It is vitally important that you are equipped and aware of your care provider's philosophy and usual practices.

What are you willing to do? What are you willing to bypass? How responsible for your pregnancy and birth are you willing to assume? At the end of the day you are ultimately the one who has to live with the choices you or your provider make.

Be a driver - you are more likely to arrive at the destination you desire.