Tips for an Empowered and Positive Birth Experience Amid the COVID-19 Pandemic
As we continue to support and document out-of-hospital births here in Minneapolis and St. Paul, we’ve also been virtually supporting folks birthing at hospitals around the nation. Over the last year, we’ve learned a lot. Regardless of where you end up having your baby, we know the support and guidance we provide as doulas are needed now more than ever. As doulas and photographers, we have witnessed the undeniably transformative power that birth and parenthood has to offer. And as families navigate this new terrain of having a baby during a pandemic, we want you to know we are here for you. Here are several ways to prepare for an empowered and positive transition to parenthood, no matter the twists and turns it might take to get there.
Hire a doula:
I mean, of course we’d start here, right? We LOVE what we do, and we whole-heartedly believe in the benefits a doula can bring to a birth team (even virtually!). Don’t just take our word for it: research shows that outcomes for the whole family improve drastically in doula-supported births. Beyond what we typically offer in person with physical support, we are here for you in all the same ways leading up to your birth. Prenatally we meet with you several times over Zoom or FaceTime (or whatever your favorite video conferencing format is these days) to walk you through your options, teach you what to expect and what can help along the way, as well as discuss comfort tools you can use with your support person, partner, or spouse. As the big day arrives, we are there to support you emotionally during labor as you ride the waves of contractions and decisions. Rather than simply adding to the mass of “right” and “wrong” choices parents can make in these moments, we help you identify all the questions that lead you to your right way. We help you find the evidence-based information you need to make informed decisions about you and your baby’s care so that you can make your own informed choices.
Currently, in Minnesota, hospitals are beginning to change their policies from allowing just one support person to again allowing two support people for those in the labor and delivery unit. These limiting policies were initially put in place to support the health and safety of birthing families as well as the medical staff in hospital settings, and our team fully stands behind this preventative measure. We can help you work alongside these essential caretakers to not only have a safe and healthy birth but walk away feeling strong and supported as you set off to the early days of parenthood while social distancing. We are proud to offer our virtual support to families across the United States.
For those seeking in-person doula support, we are here for you in all the same ways we have been in the past, just with an extra set of thoughtful and intentional precautions leading up to your birth and a reassuring smile beneath our masks.
Know your options:
We often hear stories of families spending hours and hours deciding on nursery or registry items: the smoothest riding stroller, the safest car seat, and the highest-rated baby carrier on the market. Perhaps you’re taking a childbirth preparation class, trying to cram Cribsheet or The Birth Partner, or prepping frozen meals for postpartum. Why not put that same time and energy into deciding what you’d like your birth to look like, or who you want surrounding you as you welcome your baby into your arms? You deserve more than just a “healthy baby, healthy birth;” you deserve to walk away from your birth feeling confident and supported every step of the way.
Some questions to seek answers for as you navigate these options:
What hospitals, birth centers, and home birth midwives are in your area? The policies and care a provider offers in a home, hospital, and birth center setting can differ greatly, and ultimately create a major difference in birth outcomes. These differences are even seen amongst individual care providers within the same provider group or location.
Is eating and drinking during labor important to you? (Here's the evidence!) Depending on where and with whom you’ll be birthing, will you be required to get a heparin lock or an IV placed? Who do you want to catch your baby? How long exactly does your provider wait to delay cord clamping and cutting? How long will your provider wait to bring up induction after your estimated due date? When asking these questions, does your provider go through risks, benefits, and alternatives without bias or judgment? Do they give you time and space to think through all the options before asking you to make a decision one way or another? There are so many twists and turns that come up during pregnancy and birth, especially with first babies. Doing all the digging for answers and research beforehand can ensure there are no big surprises along the way.
Make a birth plan:
Now that you know your options regarding where, who, what, when, and how, you’re ready to make a birth plan! In all honesty, we don’t love the term birth plan, as it suggests there is one “right” way to go about all of this. Remember those twists and turns we mentioned earlier? A list of birth preferences can flex around those pivots in the plan, and still entail all of your hopes and priorities for you and your baby’s care. It can be really difficult to convey these wishes to your birth team in the midst of labor, and so creating a one-page document that medical professionals can easily reference will give you and your birth team the peace of mind that your voice is being heard along the way. Our virtual Birth Planning Sessions are included in our virtual and in-person support packages, and can be a great addition for families who aren’t able to bring a doula with them into their birth space.
Pro Tip: make a postpartum plan too! Before baby arrives, take some time to think about who will support you (in-person or virtually) in the days, weeks, and months after your birth. This is your time to be vulnerable and find a willingness to ask for the help you need. Are you planning to nurse your baby(ies)? If yes, what steps are you taking now to set yourself up for success? Who is taking care of your pets or older kiddo(s) in the first Golden Week home together? How will your family navigate the balance between your needs and baby’s needs? The fourth trimester is a profound transition for many. If you are interested in diving in and starting your postpartum plan, we highly recommend The First Forty Days, The Fourth Trimester, and one of our Postpartum Planning sessions!
Gather Birth Cooperative: Birth Photography Packages
Intentionality goes a long way:
We are here for you, no matter the policy changes or increase in COVID-19 cases, and we encourage you to be intentional about inviting any extra folks into your space during your birth and beyond. We suggest having an honest conversation about who you want in your birth space, as well as in your home during your postpartum time. Inviting a friend or relative to support you during birth might be just what you need, or it might completely derail a steady labor. Your mom or Aunties may bring with them a nervousness on their faces as you look around for a reassuring smile. Your best friend could bring in the baggage from their previous birth trauma. Your sister might offer a judgmental side-eye as you ask for a bottle to feed baby. You deserve to feel comfortable and confident with every decision you make and with every person in your space as you make these decisions. A doula can offer balance in the room, as we bring all of our experience and leave any biases at the door, whether we’re there at your side or through our virtual presence. Families are more often limited in who they feel safe inviting into these vulnerable spaces during the pandemic. Despite the social distancing and increased safety measures, you need not go through this alone.
Gather Birth Cooperative: Real Postpartum Photography
We’d love to hear from you! If you gave birth at some point during the pandemic, what did you do to ensure that you had a positive and empowered birth experience?