Building Your Perfect Birth Team

by Samantha Garcia Gagnon, Pitt Meadows Birth Doula + Photographer

Once upon a time, women’s birth teams looked like this:

Today, for many women their birth teams may look like this…

​But, it doesn’t have to. 

Your birth could look like this:

Photo by Straight Thru Films and Photography

Photo by Kristie Robin Photography

Photo by Kristie Robin Photography

How do you get that kind of birth? 

By choosing your birth team wisely!

When deciding who you would like to join you in your birth, there are a few factors you need to consider before giving the go ahead. It is important to only invite those that:

• make you feel calm
• you can be uninhibited around
• makes you feel strong and that you can do anything
• your biggest cheerleader
• reassuring
• understands birth and knows what to do during labour

For most people, their partner, if they have one, will provide many of those needs. The birthing woman's partners role is an essential ingredient in birth. They can make her feel calm. relaxed, and most importantly, loved. When she feels loved and care for, then the oxytocin hormone - the most powerful and important hormone that makes for stronger contractions, will be produced much better. 

However, if her partner is the sole support person then he will also need to:

• be familiar with hospital protocol and the procedures or what is needed for a home birthbe the primary support person
• understand the physiology of birth 
• know comfort measures
• be skilled in reading emotional and physical signs of labour
• advocate for moms wishes to staff

That is a lot to ask from someone who most likely has not experienced birth before.

That is where a professional Birth Doula can come in and provide the extra support needed.

---

A doula can help with…

• Birth education and preparation
• Birth planning (including creating a written birth plan/birth preferences document) 
• De-briefing previous births 
• Massage and other comfort measures 
• Suggest positions and changes to help ease pain and facilitate a smoother, more effective labour 
• Provide reassurance and encouragement 
• Talking through emotional blockages which may come up during pregnancy and in labour 
• Keep your ‘environment’ going – aromatherapy, music, candles etc 
• Assisting you with negotiation of your preferences 
• Photography 
• So much more!​

The evidence for doulas reflects what a difference we make to births which includes:

• Fewer caesarean sections 
• Reduction in the use of forceps and vacuum 
• Fewer requests for epidurals 
• Reduction in the use of synthetic oxytocin for inductions or augmentations 
• Reduction in use of pain medication 
• Reduction in labour length 
• Increased rates of breastfeeding 
• Higher self-esteem, less anxiety and less depression

While we do a lot of things during the birth, we do not:

• replace the role of your partner
• replace the role of your medical care provider
• give medical advice or diagnosis
• perform medical tasks 
• judge you for your choices
• make decisions for you

While having a strong birth team does involve inviting people other the your partner, like a doula, there is such a thing as too many people. Births are a wonderful occasion and many people may feel it is their right to be there, or just simply want to be there. Before saying yes to everyone who wants to be at your birth, ask yourself:

1. What will their role be in your birth?
2. Will they make you feel calm, strong and powerful? Or scared, self doubting and uncomfortable?
3. Are you okay with them seeing very intimate moments?
4. Do you really want them to be there? Or are you just scared to say “No” and offend them?

Having people present who you don’t want there can have a negative effect on your birth experience and the outcome. They can make you nervous, self-conscious and pressured to “perform” which will then produce Adrenaline. Adrenaline is also known as the Fight or Flight Hormone. While it does play a role in birth, it is important that it doesn't happen to early as this will hinder the production of the hormones that help labour along and help the birth sensations not feel as intense - oxytocin and endorphins. If you experience adrenaline too early, it can stall or stop labour, which often leads to interventions being suggested, which can then lead to a cascade of interventions.

The MOST important choice you will make for your birth team though is in who you pick to be your card provider as they are the medical professionals. You need to feel trust and confidence that the information they are giving you is correct so that you can make choices in your birth that are the best ones for you.

“If there is one thing you can do RIGHT NOW to ensure your best birth experience, it’s this: Choose a care provider who is an EXPERT in the type of birth you are planning. If you are planning a safe, skilled cesarean birth, you should hire someone who is an expert at cesarean sections. You wouldn’t hire a doctor for a c-section who said, “Well actually I’m not really comfortable with that type of birth, but I’ll let you do it if you want, I suppose…”  If you’re planning a safe, natural, unmedicated birth, you should hire someone who is an EXPERT at supporting natural birth. A doctor with a 30% c-section rate is not a natural birth expert. Neither is a doctor who does routine episiotomies, or doesn’t understand how to catch a baby unless mom is laying on her back. A doctor who says “Well, most of my clients do end up choosing an epidural, but if you want to go natural you can do that, I suppose…” is NOT an expert in unmedicated birth. When you find the right care provider, they will understand your birth plan before you even show it to them,
​because it’s what they already do EVERY DAY.” 
​~Lauralyn Curtis (HypnoBirthing Educator)

So why is it so important? Who you choose to be your care provider is important because it affects the care that you receive and the effects of that care, the amount of information you receive, the choices and options you will have presented to you - particularly during your labor and birth, and how involved you will be in making decisions during your birth.

When you are deciding who your care provider will be, some of the things you want to confide are if your care provider:

• practices with evidence based information
• practices informed consent 
• makes it possible to build a strong respectful relationship during your pregnancy
• style matches your values and preferences

In BC there are a few options for care provider choices are they are:
​
Family Practitioner

• May be your family doctor or as part of a larger practice of a number of family practitioners.

Midwife

• Specially trained and registered medical professional who typically handles low-risk pregnancies.
• Able to attend Home Births.

Ob-Gyn

• Doctor who specializes in obstetrics. Typically for high-risk pregnancies.

Traditional Birth Attendant

• An experienced woman who provides you with support for physiologic birth.
• Only for Home Births.

Sometimes, the red flags don't start showing until later in pregnancy but don’t forget - if you feel you are not receiving the care that you need from your health care provider -
IT is never too late to switch.

For so many, birth is something that is done to them. But by getting informed, building a strong birth team that supports you and your choices and trusting in the process, birth can be a wonderful experience that you get to do. 

---

If you are interested in learning more about doula support and how we can be the perfect addition to your birth team, schedule your complimentary consultation with a Maya's Nest Doula today.

Schedule my free consulation