How to Have an Empowering Induction Experience
Hire a Birth Doula for your induction. Jacksonville, FL
First things first, let’s make it clear that any kind of birth can be amazing, beautiful, and empowering. While the quality of your birth experience is partly dependent on your care providers, much of what makes it a positive experience has a lot to do with how we prepare for our birth.
My own labor was induced when I was pregnant with my first child. While my induction was beautiful in many ways, I also clearly see the things that could have gone differently - or at least could have felt different. After reflecting on my experience, speaking with a number of women, and witnessing quite a few inductions I decided this kind of birth deserves some focus so that more women feel prepared and empowered. For the next few minutes we’ll go over a few tips to help you have an empowering induction experience.
It was Diana Korte and Roberta Scaer who said, “If you don’t know your options, you don’t have any.” This really applies to all births, including induction. Whether the plan all along is to induce labor at a certain point or it becomes necessary at the last minute, you have options. Do your research and ask questions.
Remember to use your BRAIN throughout the entire pregnancy and birth.
B - What are the Benefits?
R - What are the Risks?
A - What are the Alternatives?
I - What is your Intuition telling you?
N - What if you say No or do Nothing?
This is so helpful any time a recommendation is offered by any of your care providers. You can take your time to consider all of these questions as long as it is not an emergency.
Have a list of birth wishes for your induction. Creating a list of your preferences makes it easier to keep everyone on the same page. It also helps you determine which birth preferences are most important to you and which ones you can be flexible on.
Remember that you have a say. Induction or not, this is your birth and your child. So often it is not the things that actually happen during a birth that make it positive or negative, but whether or not the parents felt like they were involved in the decisions made. So advocate for yourself and your partner should be prepared to advocate for you as well!
Make sure you understand the induction process. This is so important. Every hospital does things just a little differently so ask for a step by step explanation so that you know what to expect. Find out what is considered routine and ask about hospital policies when it comes to the induction process.
Be prepared to wait. There is a possibility that you will have speedy induction, but it may take a while. Especially if this is your first birth, you may have to exercise some extra patience. Try to rest, bring things to keep your mind off of it (in early labor or with an epidural), and don’t necessarily have friends and family rushing to the hospital.
Hire a doula! Support from a qualified doula is invaluable during an induction. She/he will be able to help you prepare, make you more comfortable during labor, walk you through what is happening, possibly help keep your labor moving, remind you of your birth wishes, keep you and your partner grounded, and hold space for you - among so many other things!
It is okay to ask for a different nurse. You don’t have any control over which nurses happen to be working when you go to the hospital, but you do have some control over whether or not the nurse assigned to you continues to work with you. You have the right to ask for a different nurse (for yourself or your baby) if the one assigned to you isn’t supportive of your wishes, if they aren’t practicing informed consent, or if you just don’t like their vibe (our intuition is more trustworthy than we give it credit for). At the end of the day, you have to process your birth experience on a level they never will. Be respectful but do not be overly concerned with hurt feelings over requesting a different nurse.
Bring essential oils. I love the simple blend of lavender and frankincense for inductions. Diffuse it or add it to a roller bottle with your favorite carrier oil. This blend of oils is grounding and promotes relaxation. You may also use any oil that you personally associate with peace, relaxation, confidence, happiness, or love (as long as it is a pregnancy safe oil). Aromatherapy is a powerful tool you can use to bring positivity to your birth.
When you go to the hospital for your birth, make the room feel the way you want it to feel. This may seem insignificant but I promise it makes an impact on your mental and emotional state during labor and after your birth. Set up your diffuser, hang twinkle lights, place you affirmations where you can see them. Do whatever you need to do (within reason) to make that room feel like your birthing space.
Have an empowering induction with these tips!
I want to hear from all of you! Did you have an induction? What made your induction a positive experience? What would you do differently? Tell me below in the comments!