Healthy Birth Practices

Healthy Birth Practice # 6

Healthy Birth Practice # 6

Keep Mother and Baby Together: It's Best for Mother, Baby and Breastfeeding.

Throughout most of human history, mothers and babies have stayed together from the moment of birth. When a newborn is placed skin- to – skin not only is this the first time a mother and her newborn can meet and bond, but it’s helps the natural progression of breastfeeding and hormonal release.

Healthy Birth Practice # 5

Healthy Birth Practice # 5

Avoid Giving Birth on Your Back and Follow You Body's urges to Push

What comes to mind when you think of a woman giving birth? For many parents-to-be who have yet to experience labor, their minds go straight to the TV/Movie version of birth. A mum lying on her back, in pain and screaming, it is easy to think that there is only one way to push during birth—with the woman on her back with her legs propped up, holding her breath and pushing while others count to 10 and coach/ tell her to push harder.

Healthy Birth Practice # 4

Healthy Birth Practice # 4

 Avoid interventions that aren't medically necessary.

Birth is a natural process. We want to limit interfering with the vital hormones that regulate pregnancy, labour, birth, breastfeeding and attachment. Our bodies are amazing, and we are gifted with several hormones that help the birthing process move along to eventually give us a baby.

Healthy Birth Practice #3

Healthy Birth Practice #3

Bring a loved one, Friend or Doula for Continuous Support.

Research confirms that the better the support women receive, the easier their labour is and the more satisfied they will be with their birth experience.

One of the best ways to get quality continuous support is by hiring a doula. A doula is a woman who provides support during labour. They provide informational, physical, and emotional support.

Healthy Birth Practices # 2

Healthy Birth Practices # 2

Walk, Move Around and Change Positions Throughout Labour.

When allowed to move freely during labour, women instinctively respond to their powerful contractions. Walking, swaying, squatting, rocking, rubbing and changing positions during labour. 

Research supports that movement may help shorten labour, can provide effective pain relief and can decrease the likelihood of having a cesarean (Storton.S (2007) "the coalition for improving maternity services")