10 Tips For an Empowered Birth

10 Tips For an Empowered Birth

As a Colorado Springs birth doula and birth photographer I have seen quite a few of beautiful and empowered births. Even births that do not go according to plan can be empowering! Here are some tips on how you can have an empowered experience too.

Photo of CNM Tiffany with Mountain Miracles Midwifery

Tip 1) Find the provider that is right for you.
It is okay to switch providers if you don’t feel comfortable or supported. Find a provider who supports you and your choices. If you need suggestions on great care providers, a local doula can help!

Tip 2) Make a birth plan.
I know… I know. It sounds corny. The most important part of creating a birth plan is learning about all of your options and feeling empowered enough to make choices about your birth. Even if your plan doesn’t go perfectly, you will know all of your options. Motherboard Birth is an amazing resource that I recommend to all of my clients.

Tip 3) Be prepared for your birth plan to change
Like a wedding day, the day you give birth will probably not go 100% according to plan. Having the plan is great for preparing and knowing all your options, but being prepared for the unexpected is also an important part. Make a backup birth plan with just the most important options for you.

Tip 4) Find those who will support you.
Whether it is a doula or a room full of family, only have those there who will support you. It is okay to say no to someone asking to be at your birth if they don’t support all of your decisions or if you feel they will be a distraction to your labor. They can visit you after baby is earthside.

Tip 5) Hire a doula
Okay, so I know I am pretty biased when it comes to this topic, but I have good reason! A doula knows the ins and the outs of labor and all the best ways to support you and your birthing partner(s). We know birth best while your partners know you best. No matter which way your labor is going, we are there to support you through it all.

Tip 6) You can say no
”My care provider said I couldn’t…” I hear this so often and it breaks my heart. YOU are in control. You can say no to anything. You can do what you want. The care provider works for you. Having the evidence of up-to- date practices helps as well. If you are uncomfortable with anything they are doing you do not have to bend to make them comfortable.

Tip 7) Have the birth you desire not the birth other people desire you to have.

There is no trophy for how you birth. Don’t worry about other peoples’ feelings when it comes to thinking of your perfect birth. You can do whatever you want, mama. If you want that epidural, get it. If you want a 100% unmedicated birth, do it.

Tip 8) Wear what you want
I know those hospital gowns are top notch high fashion items insert eye roll here, but you can wear something else if you would like! There are some nice and comfy birth/nursing gowns online or you can wear something that you already have. Or you could even go nude if that is what you prefer! Comfort is key to allowing your body to labor

Tip 9) Know how to cope
Whether you want an unmedicated or fully medicated birth, it’s important to know how to cope both physically and emotionally. Whether you take a Hypnobabies class (I recommend Peaceful Peaks Hypnobabies for that), or a childbirth class at the hospital, or no class at all. Just learning different ways to handle all the ups and downs of labor is a very important part of feeling empowered.

Tip 10) Hire a birth photographer
I know I am biased about this one too, but I seriously find it to be a crucial point. Having your birth team focused 100% focused on you and not worrying about taking the photos makes it a lot easier for you to have the right support. And then, of course, looking back on those photos and seeing your strength and the support others have given you can be such an empowering feeling.