the more you know.

The more I learn about birth, the more I am convinced that the only way that women will be empowered by their birth is to be prepared. Women should be asking more questions. One would assume that doctors would proceed to tell you the full risks and potential consequences for the kinds of interventions that they perform. They may not. If you don't ask the right questions. The small interventions can (and I do mean can, not will) lead to other greater consequential interventions. Being equipped with the right questions at the right time can be a crucial tool to feeling empowered in your birth experience. Even when interventions are necessary, you will feel that you had all the information that you needed to help you make the right choice at the right time.

You could start pre-natal by asking the big questions. How many cesarean birth happen in the United States in a year?  How many happen in this care facility in a year? What are the short term and long term risks of this major abdominal surgery? How can I avoid this?

Of course, there can be complications. And when there are-- you should know that that may be a necessary and life saving procedure for you and your baby. But if you are healthy, and your pregnancy is healthy, did you know that you could have a home birth? Did you know that it can be safe? Did you know that people still do that? Did you know that there are professionals who train to become very knowlegable about how to deliver babies at home and they come prepared for all types of birth scenarios? They are called midwives. They have been delivering babies since the beginning of time. They get to know you. They get to know your family, your home. And, if you are not quite there yet with the idea of a home birth, many hospitals in Minnesota now offer midwifery care in hospitals. Why are they doing this? Because they are recognizing that women that have personable continuity of care and are given options during labor and birth to help cope with labor in natural ways are more empowered as women and mothers following the birth. If you fall somewhere in the middle, you can go to a birth center in Minnepolis and get midwifery care near a hospital but with a homey feel.

Women need to be asking more questions than, "Can I recieve an epidural when I am in labor?" How about asking, "What are the effects of an epidural going to be on me? What are the effects going to be on the baby if I get it just before the baby is born?" You see, if you don't dare to ask these questions, the doctors won't necessarily tell you the answers. Ignorance is bliss, right?

Women need to consider that the epidural is not the only pain medication option they have. Some women have been so warped by media that they don't know they they have other options. The other pain medications have other effects on you and the baby. You need to ask about that too. All medications have some type of side effect. But did you know that there are even more options? Did you know that there are other ways-- other non- medical ways to cope with birth? There are actually lots. You can mover around in all sorts of positions that help to alleviate pain, position the baby to be born, and help your general well-being. There is aromatherapy and relaxation techniques. There are accupressure and massage techniques. There are ways that you can press into a woman's hips and back to soothe back labor pains. You can apply hot and cold compresses or use hydrotherapy techniques.

Yes. It is possible. There are many things that you can do to prepare so that you are an active participant in your very own birth experience. Women do not just have to be the victim lying prey to their OB's agenda. And let me be clear-- not all doctors are bad-- there are many doctors that are working alongside women to empower them through their birth experience. Yet, it is your responsibility to ask the right kind of questions to find out if you have that kind of doctor. How many interventions does your doctor typically perform with each birth?

Lastly, did you know that you can bring someone with you to your birth to be your advocate? To help you have the kind of birth experience that you want? I am not just tooting my own horn here; I want all women to have someone to advocate for them whether that will be their husband, sister, best friend, mom-- WHOEVER. But bring someone with you-- someone who knows you well and who will stand with you and behind you if someone is pushing you to make a decision that you don't feel comfortable with. Bring someone who will ask just as many questions as you would to be the most informed about every decision you make.