Why Birth Preparation is Crucial for Pregnant Millennials

Where are my pregnant Millennials? As a birth educator, I strongly urge you to prepare for your baby’s birth. This preparation goes way beyond just YouTube, reading books and talking to friends. Get in a childbirth class! You don’t know what you’re missing until after you’ve taken it and then you can’t believe that you almost didn’t do it! Classes provide education and tools that can help you feel confident and empowered as you approach your due date.

Childbirth outcomes are unpredictable. Your baby calls the shots and you have to go with their flow, moment by moment. And since you can’t really have a conversation with them, that can be a little intimidating. However, leaving everything to chance may be an even bigger let down. Make the time to get into classes early. That will allow you more room to make changes or add more support for yourself for this process. What you don’t know can be learned in a class, in a simple to understand curriculum.

Choose Education The First Time

These last two years, I have been getting a lot of second time parents in my Hypnobirthing classes who want a better birth experience this time around. When I ask them why they didn’t take a class last time, most say because they were scared and felt like it was out of their control anyway. But what they found in hindsight, is that if they had been more informed, they could have made choices along the way and possibly had a better outcome.  

When you are educated, you can adapt with those changes in plan as they come up and make informed decisions along the way. You will feel more in control of an uncontrollable process. Having an in-depth understanding of the stages of labor and the natural hormone loops that provide amazing relief to pain and discomfort – will help reduce your fear and anxiety. Reducing that fear is what keeps your powerful, pain relieving hormones on board so you can better cope with labor. Knowledge is Power…and you’ll wonder why we weren’t taught this in school!

You have time right now to build a solid team for support

Choosing a provider that creates a supportive environment within appointments is a good start. When you feel seen and heard with your provider, that will help you feel out what they will be like in the birth room. After taking classes you will have a better idea of what kind of birth preferences you’ll want. These should be discussed with your provider EARLY so you know if they are supportive. If you are leaving more anxious from appointments, with a lot of unanswered questions, it is time to switch to someone else. You are hiring them and you are the one that needs to be your best advocate. And remember, this is your baby’s birth and you are also advocating for them.

Birth is a Transformative Experience

To say that birth is a once in a lifetime, transformative experience is almost an understatement. You don’t want to leave it to chance. It will affect every part of your life, from relationships, to mental and physical health, to your sense of well being and safety. In childbirth classes, preparation for a healthy mindset and skills around adaptability will carry over to parenthood. You will learn to visualize what you want and then add the practice and skills to move towards that. A good childbirth class will inspire you and get you looking forward to labor and meeting your baby.

Childbirth classes will help you trust in your body’s ability to birth

Education helps you create a good experience. You deserve that. Your baby deserves that. Birth is something we need to prepare for. And just like college and a career, it takes goals, skills and focus. We have given birth since the beginning of time. Whether we do it with or without medication, the preparation is the same. This transformative experience should not be left to chance.

For more information on Hypnobirthing Classes…