Creating Your Birth Team: Building a Circle of Support for Your Journey
Giving birth is a transformative and deeply personal experience. As you prepare to welcome your little one into the world, building a strong and supportive birth team is essential. This team will provide you with physical, emotional, and informational support throughout your pregnancy, labor, and postpartum period. As a pelvic floor and obstetric physical therapist, I've witnessed firsthand the power of a supportive birth team in empowering women to have positive birth experiences.
What is a Birth Team?
A birth team consists of the individuals who will support you during your pregnancy, labor, and postpartum journey. This can include your partner, family members, friends, healthcare providers, and other birth professionals. The composition of your team will depend on your individual needs, preferences, and circumstances.
Key Members of a Birth Team:
Partner/Spouse: Your partner can provide emotional support, physical comfort, and advocacy during labor and delivery.
Doula: A trained birth professional who provides continuous emotional, physical, and informational support before, during, and after childbirth.
Midwife: A healthcare professional who provides prenatal care, labor and delivery support, and postpartum care, often in home or birthing center settings but can also be in a hospital setting.
Obstetrician (OB): A medical doctor specializing in pregnancy, childbirth, and postpartum care, typically in a hospital setting.
Pelvic Floor and Obstetric Physical Therapist: A specialized therapist who can address pregnancy-related pain, prepare you for labor, and support postpartum recovery.
Family/Friends: Loved ones who can offer emotional support, practical assistance, and encouragement.
Lactation Consultant: A specialist who provides guidance and support with breastfeeding.
Building Your Birth Team:
Identify Your Needs and Preferences: Consider what type of support you desire during pregnancy, labor, and postpartum.
Research and Interview Potential Team Members: Take the time to find professionals who align with your values and birth philosophy.
Communicate Your Expectations: Clearly express your needs and preferences to your team members.
Build Strong Relationships: Foster open communication and trust with your team.
Create a Supportive Environment: Surround yourself with people who make you feel safe, comfortable, and empowered.
During my first delivery, I had more of an ‘open door’ policy. I didn’t mind students, family members, my midwife, spouse, and anyone else who wandered in. I was so in the moment, I don’t even think I realized how many people were in the room at times.
For my subsequent delivery, I really craved more of a secluded intimate experience. I happened to be high risk for each of my deliveries so I knew I needed strategies to create this environment in the hospital. For me that meant making sure I had my perfect birth team with me. I asked my older sister to be with us as my husband was going to be acting as my birthing partner. She was exactly what I needed! So much so that I asked her to be with us during our third birth as well.
Choosing the people that make you feel safe, cared for, and understood can make all the difference in having an empowered birth.
Benefits of a Strong Birth Team:
Emotional Support: Reduces anxiety and stress, promoting a positive birth experience.
Physical Comfort: Provides hands-on support during labor, such as massage and positioning.
Informational Support: Empowers you with knowledge and resources to make informed decisions.
Advocacy: Helps you communicate your preferences and ensure your needs are met.
Postpartum Support: Provides practical and emotional assistance during the transition to motherhood.
The Role of a Pelvic Floor and Obstetric Physical Therapist in Your Birth Team:
As a pelvic floor and obstetric physical therapist, I can play a crucial role in your birth team by:
Addressing pregnancy-related pain and discomfort.
Preparing your body for labor and delivery through targeted exercises and techniques.
Supporting postpartum recovery and rehabilitation.
Providing education on pelvic floor health and function.
Offering guidance on optimal birthing positions and movement.
Creating a supportive birth team is an essential part of preparing for your birthing journey. Surround yourself with individuals who empower you, respect your choices, and provide unwavering support. By building a strong team, you can approach your birth experience with confidence and create lasting memories.
Who is on your dream birth team? If you're looking for support with pelvic floor health or pregnancy-related concerns, schedule a consultation today.
