for me, knowledge around birth was power. learning everything i could about labor and the birthing process helped me overcome my fears around it and to really feel confident in myself and in the process - fully understanding what to expect each step of the way. below, i’ll share some of my tips and resources i’ve found along the way.

some tips for building your dream birthing team:

i have always been drawn to the idea of an unmedicated birth, and ultimately landed on a birth center after weighing all of the options. it turned out to be the perfect choice for us (you can read my full birth story here) but even more so than the birthing location itself, it was the midwifery model of care that really sealed the deal for me. midwives tend to be more holistic leaning + have a very hands on approach throughout the entire pregnancy, as well as after. each of my appointments were with one of the two midwives at the center, and were one hour long (aside from a few towards the end that I actually opted to schedule for just 30 minutes, as i was genuinely out of questions) these longer appointments allowed for plenty of time to ask any and everything I could think of every step of the way, and for me to really get to know and trust my providers. this strong relationship made my birth experience so much more positive and stress free since I grew to trust the team and their recommendations. when it came time for birth, i really felt like we were on the same team and i knew that any decisions would be made with my wishes/fears/hopes and dreams all top of mind.

◠ how to find a provider - word of mouth is sooo helpful for finding your dream provider! ask around, read reviews, narrow it down to a few options and then be sure to schedule an interview and tour. ultimately, go with your gut! you want to have a good vibe with your provider, it’s critical for such an intimate vulnerable time.

◠ the cost - unfortunately, holistic leaning providers aren’t always covered by insurance. it does seem like some plans are catching up and starting to cover birth centers and home births, but not all. many providers will offer payment plans, but if the provider you love isn’t in network with your insurance plan, i would recommend calling your insurance company before beginning care to see if there is a way to get a preauthorization for the services, some people have had luck getting their care reimbursed or partially covered. be sure to keep detailed notes of any calls with insurance! this podcast had a lot of helpful info for pursuing home or birth center reimbursement.

◠ should you hire a doula - yes! I debated this for so long, part of the reason I went with midwifery care is the hands on nature of it, so i worried a doula wouldn’t really be a necessary expense… but I’m so grateful I went ahead and hired one! the midwife and birth assistant are really there to focus on the your stats and the baby. a doula is there to provide you and your partner with any extra support you may need. They’re like a third team member to help with everything from counter pressure to making sure the cup of water is always full. if the expense is a deterrent, see if your provider knows of any student doula’s who may be able to attend the birth at a reduced cost or even free to fulfill their certification requirements.

◠ lactation consultant - if you plan to breastfeed (or even pump) i highly recommend working with an IBCLC! this care is covered by all insurance plans - it’s required by law federally. i mention this as part of your pregnancy care team because they will meet with you once towards the end of pregnancy to help fit you for a pump and teach you about what to expect in the early days of breastfeeding your newborn. they will meet with you again shortly after the baby arrives and will continue to provide ongoing support for those early days. this care was so invaluable for our breastfeeding journey!

if you’re local, some of my favorite providers are linked at the bottom of this page

Take a natural birthing class with your partner: this is my number one recommendation regardless of whether you’re hoping to birth unmedicated, at home, at a birth center, or in a hospital. A class covering the end of pregnancy, labor, birth, and postpartum really helped us to feel so prepared and know what to expect, it was absolutely essential. Find a local class, many birth centers offer one even if you aren’t birthing there (I took the one offered at Breathe Birth & Wellness in Tulsa) or take Pregnancy, Birth, and Beyond course - a virtual option from Motherland Birth Co.
Preparing the mind: so much of labor and birth (and even pregnancy) is a mental climb. Meditation and mindfulness are proven to reduce stress and improve your experience throughout pregnancy and beyond. My favorite resource is the app Expectful - there are daily meditations that coordinate with where you are in pregnancy, helping you to connect with baby and yourself. There are also mindfulness “courses” to help prepare for and to use during labor, the hypnobirthing course was really helpful in providing the tools I needed mentally for labor. It’s a paid app, but it was so worth it.
Therapy: there are a lot of mental blocks that can come up during birth. I wish I had worked harder beforehand to work through some of the fears I had surrounding motherhood, I think this held me back at points during labor and something I will definitely dive deeper into for future births.
Physical prep: lots of walking and gentle yoga, cat cows alllll day every day to open up those hips and provide some much needed comfort for the back. Towards the end of pregnancy, my midwives told me to start doing the Miles Circuit daily to get baby into the most ideal position, it can even help to rotate baby into a more optimal position if they weren’t already. The “Spinning Babies Inversion” was another go to, it was such a good pelvic relief and can also help align baby optimally.
Red raspberry leaf tea infusion: with added nettle for extra nourishment, the recipe below explains how to brew an overnight infusion which extracts sooo many more nutrients than the typical tea brew. I also like Organic Olivia’s Natal Nurture tincture for a more concentrated option.