This month I share how you can choose a care provider that aligns with you, getting the lowdown on place of birth, what’s coming up and what I’m listening to.

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Hello Lovelies

Coming to you from my bed in the depths of yet another round of sickness in our house, will it ever end?!! Surely it has to be on the up soon (…crosses everything and self isolates til summer!)

So last month brought the release of the latest mother and baby report, which provides all the stats around pregnancy, birth and babies born in 2020.

Although the stats are certainly not surprising, it’s always hard to see the cold hard figures, which reinforce we’re doing more in the way of intervention but not necessarily doing BETTER for the health outcomes of mothers and babies.

You can have a read of it yourself here:

Read Mother and Baby report

Now before you get disheartened, whether you’re getting ready to birth or are supporting women in birth – remember there is still lots you/we can do to have a great birth!

Some of these include:

Independent birth education – that goes beyond the hospital antenatal classes
Preparing and educating yourself, doing the work so that you can feel empowered to advocate for your choices & be supported in doing that – wherever you plan to birth or however you plan to birth;
CHOOSING your place of birth and care provider wisely!!

Your care provider and place of birth are two crucial factors that will impact the type of birth you have…

For example, women who have Midwifery continuity of care (care from a known midwife from pregnancy to after the birth) have lower rates of epidural, episiotomy, instrumental birth, preterm birth and HIGHER rates of spontaneous vaginal birth, less need for intervention and greater satisfaction overall (Sandall et al, 2016).

On that note – I wanted to use this month’s newsletter to share some tips for you in choosing the right care provider for you, someone who is aligned with what you want and will support you in having a positive birth experience – however you plan to birth.

It can be challenging, as it’s often a decision made early on. Perhaps you just went with who your GP recommended because you had private health insurance, or your sister-in law or friend’s recommendation.

Now that’s not necessarily wrong, but do they align with the kind of birth you’re hoping for? Did they have births that were filled with intervention? (This will give you some insight).

So BEFORE deciding on who to choose - talk to your partner/support person & ask yourself:

“What is important to me for the birth of my baby?’
“How do I want to feel?”
“What makes me feel safe and supported?”
“Where and who makes me feel safe?”

Do the work in finding the right care provider for you – meet them, interview them and ask them questions… Some ideas around what to ask:

What is their belief about birth and their role in supporting you?
Do they have experience in supporting women with the type of birth you want to have? How do they do this?
Listen to their language – are they placing themselves as the ‘authority’ or do you feel it would be more of a partnership where you are given space and time to ask questions and make informed decisions about what’s right for you? (Hint... the former might be a red flag).
What would they say if you disagreed with their recommendation? (It is our role as care providers to give you the information, allow space for you to ask and have your questions answered; it is not our role to tell you what to do or use fear-based or coercive language, even if it goes against what has been recommended).
Can they provide some stats on their birth outcomes (e.g. number and types of births, and outcomes for mums and babies)?
Where do they practice? Check out the stats of the hospital they practice in as this will impact the way they practice based on policies and procedures.
Lastly, how did they make you feel? Obviously you want to feel like you have a good rapport, but more than that, would you be respected and supported?

Did you know you can read up on all Health services in Victoria via the latest Victorian Perinatal Services Performance Indicators 2019-2020? Find it here:

View performance indicators (You can google similar for other states as well)

OR

An easier option if you don’t want to trawl through the reports yourself - follow @babybirthstatsvic if you’re in Vic or @birthstats_nsw for the NSW stats.

Now I know all of that can feel like a lot! Especially when you may be in your first trimester and its harrrrd… but doing the work now to ensure your care provider is right for you will make a HUGE difference in how you feel about and experience your birth – and THAT matters!

You’re the one who is going to live with this, you want it to be one that empowers you.

I hope you found that helpful, I really got on a roll there and couldn’t keep it short! Let me know your thoughts by replying to this email.

If you’re still here…

COMING UP

BIRTH SKILLS Workshops

Reframe your mindset, build confidence in your body, learn how to move in pregnancy and birth, get your partner feeling confident with hands on techniques & tips to troubleshoot if challenges arise.

3.5 hour workshop with morning tea and take home ‘quick guides’

$250 per couple

Saturday 24th September 10-1:30pm Via ZOOM (from your couch!)
Saturday 19th November 10-1:30pm – Buninyong Community House

Book your spot here

ACUNEEDLING Appointments

I am absolutely loving the opportunity to connect and nurture some lovely mamas-to-be and postpartum mamas with Acuneedling! I practice every Wednesday night from 4:30-8:30pm so come and see me for a treatment if you have any pregnancy symptoms that you’d like support with, are preparing for birth or postpartum, or just want some relaxation.

Appointments are filling up in advance so be sure to book in here:

Book Acuneedling

LISTENING

I found this podcast episode with Physio Laura and Carrie Rigoni SO fascinating, learning more about the Vagal nerve and regulating the nervous system – specifically around pregnancy and mothering.

I highly recommend, and while you’re there you might like to tune into one of the 3 eps I did with Laura (😉) in her empowered birth series. We covered birth plans, perineal preparation and optimal maternal positioning:

Ep 108 – Vagus nerve in pregnancy and birth

Ep 91 – Birth plans and preferences

Sending you love from wherever you are in your pregnancy or postpartum journey, and to those supporting women in wonderful ways, I love hearing from you so let’s chat if you have any ideas or things you’d like in this newsletter.

Take care and I’ll be in your inboxes next month with some more buzzy birthy goodness!

Warmly,

Lauretta x

Much love -

*Information shared is of a general nature only and is not medical advice — please see your own care provider for specific and individualised information and advice. All personal stories & photos shared with permission.

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