Ways to Add Safety to your Birth

Giving birth during a pandemic is a part of no one's plan. Zero. We're creeping into September, and for those people who have been home now for months, there was some faint hope that hospital policies would maybe be back to normal by this point, or maybe soonish. Some hospitals are welcoming doulas back in, but not all Kansas City hospitals are, and with numbers still rising there is no guarantee that things will look “normal” anytime soon. So here we are. Now it's time to look at how you can begin to feel safe and supported at a hospital birth during COVID-19.

Outside of your rational fears of contamination, one area families are grieving about their birth plan is how they would be laboring. While many people prefer to give birth in a hospital, that does not immediately mean they feel completely comfortable there. All the things pregnant people read to prepare for birth, talk about finding ways to let the body be soft while it is contracting so that it can do the most work with each contraction. Being tense, anxious, and full of fear can inhibit labor progress. In normal times, one of the easiest ways to help counter those feelings was to have supporters, like a doula, who helped you feel calm, who understood birth and what you want, and helped you feel like an essential part of your birth and not simply a vessel.

And now, that is not always available because of hospital restrictions.

That is the reality. That is a part of your birth you get to grieve. You can understand why policies are in place, and still feel upset that this is happening.

While you go through the grief, there is a new task to tackle - how to labor well with restrictions that can limit the ways that help you feel safe or calm.

For hospitals with a restricted visitor policy, families are making plans to have Google Duo, Zoom, or other apps available to use to be connected. If this sounds like a positive option for you, make sure your charging cables are packed, and you have a good idea of the wifi situation in the labor and delivery wing. Virtual doula support may be a good option for you to explore as well!

But here are some other things you can do to help change the environment in the room to support your feelings of security and safety.

1. Be clear on who will be in your room (OB, midwife, nurse, etc…) and what new protocols they are using to keep you from unnecessary exposure. Find out if there are any restrictions placed on you or your partner while you labor. If you test positive for covid-19 are there any additional restrictions? Knowing upfront what to expect can help ease anxiety and allow you to prepare for your birth with realistic expectations.

2. When you arrive at your labor room, talk with your nurse about your apprehension about what labor will look like and how hard it feels to be doing this during the pandemic. Sharing that fear does not make you weak; voicing your internal messaging allows your brain to let go, and allows your medical team to be included and welcomed into your personal space.

3. Let your nurse and care team know that one way they can help you feel calm is to use your name whenever possible. By seeing you as an individual, and not the person on screen 3, they take a minute to be present, and you are rewarded with a punch of dopamine, which helps you feel good.

4. Work with your partner to enable as much natural oxytocin as possible. Oxytocin is the bonding, trust, and love hormone. Feeling safe can come from having your needs taken care of. That can come from touch, encouragement, smell, or being given some bit of nutrition. You may feel odd expressing yourselves in front of hospital staff, but this is the perfect time to rely on each other and benefit from feeling connected through labor, and gain the benefit as that feeling helps labor progress.

5. Become comfortable with your space and learn how you can move around as freely as possible to increase your autonomy. As you labor, feeling free to adjust your body into positions that feel better as you work through contractions is empowering and helps to bolster courage as labor gets more difficult.

6. Take the time to create a birth plan and be sure your partner is not only well-informed of your preferences but is willing to help you communicate those preferences with your medical support team. Knowing that your partner will help advocate for your wishes will allow you to be less alert and more able to relax in your labor.

7. Knowledge is power, so consider taking a childbirth education class with someone who is familiar with your birth location. This will help you feel more prepared and capable of achieving a positive birth experience. With the instructors’ insight, you are able to visualize your birth space and alleviate some of the fear of the unknown.

Doula support may or may not look different in the KC hospital you have chosen to welcome your baby in. I hope you are able to find ways to feel both confident and connected as your birth nears. I will continue to offer you support however that may look during this time. Know I'm here rooting for you and your family through this.