I talk to a lot of moms, both pregnant and not. That makes sense, right? I’m a doula. Pregnancy, birth, and babies are my business. I love it all and I love talking about it! However, one of my favorites is talking to first time pregnant moms. There is something about that first time. It’s all new and exciting. And scary! I’ve heard lots of moms say they don’t even know what questions to ask. They don’t even know where to begin. And often their husbands feel the same. They don’t know what they don’t know.
It’s never too early in your pregnancy to start thinking about what is best for you and your baby. There are lots of ways to approach your pregnancy and birth. And lots of information about all of them. It can be very overwhelming. There are some great resources out there. Here are some of my favorites:
- Birth Boot Camp (they have an excellent online childbirth class!)
- Spinning Babies
- Dr. Sears
- Evidence Based Birth
When you start to educate yourself, then you will start to know what you want. Not what your mom wants, or your care provider, but what you want. Everyone loves to tell moms what they should do and how they should do it, but this is your choice and your family. When you know your options and what is best for you, then your voice will start to come out.
Another thing that is important is to build your support system. These are the people that you turn to with your questions, concerns, and fears. It doesn’t need to be more than just a few people. Your partner, your doula, your provider, or other moms. They just need to be people you trust.
My job as a doula is not to tell you what you don’t know (although, I do have a lot of knowledge to share), but to help you find the answers you are looking for. I will come beside you and your partner and walk this journey with you. I trust the decisions you will make. I trust you to know what is best for your family. I believe in you! We will talk about your fears and concerns. I will listen when you are having a hard day or are sick of being pregnant. I will encourage you to listen to your body. I will support you in any way you need. Why? Because I love moms, dads, babies, families. And I know that every birth story matters.
Erin's Doula & Birth Services 