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.

Upcoming Childbirth Classes, Trainings, and Childbirth Tips

Visit http://www.birthingtouch.com/ for upcoming childbirth classes serving the Colorado Springs area and for CAPPA childbirth educator trainings in Colorado, Missouri, and Utah.

• Proper support is important for childbirth - builds confidence in mom, builds safety in mom, lowers complications, interventions, medications and cesareans.
• Induction is only for medical reasons - big baby, past "due date", tired of being pregnant, care provider preference, upcoming holidays... all put mom and baby at risk for complications, interventions and cesarean.
• Cesarean only for medical reasons - cord prolapse, placenta previa, pre-eclampsia or HELLP syndrome where induction fails, true fetal distress, some breech positions, placental abruption, uterine rupture (there are other less common reasons as well - notice previous cesarean, non-medical reason, large baby, gestational diabetes, obesity, convenience are not on the list)
• Unrestricted movement in labor -
• Pushing in gravity prone positions - only use reclined or lithotomy of mom desires it.
• No separation of mom and baby unless there is a complication.
• Drinking and eating in labor - the uterus is a muscle it needs to be watered and fed.
• Intermittent monitoring of mom and baby - only high risk moms and babies need continuous monitoring.
• No routine medications or interventions - pain management should not be pushed on a mother, episiotomies should not be routine, augmentation of labor should only be done AFTER non-medical methods are tried and patience is used, naturally occurring rupture of membranes, etc.
• Unrestricted breastfeeding access.
• Informed consent and refusal need to be utilized.

Check out http://www.cappa.net/, http://www.independentchildbirth.com/, http://www.lamaze.org/ for resources outside of Colorado Springs, CO (classes, doulas, other related professionals).