I want to share a story about how I learned to listen to my own body and its wisdom. One year after I gave birth to my second child by c-section due to a miss diagnosis of herpes, I found myself pregnant again with my third child. The trauma I had experience with my second pregnancy was still raw. You see, I gave birth on February 13, 1979 to my second son…and the next day, Valentine’s Day February 14th still in the hospital recovering from major abdominal surgery, the nurse came into my room smiling and happy… she had a beautiful bouquet of roses from my mother and she was grinning from ear to ear… She said she had news…

Today my “philosophy of birth” has changed radically. I still believe that birth is a normal physiological function of a healthy female body. But in addition, I now understand that it is the mother’s responsibility to protect herself and her baby from a system that is clearly broken. She must be proactive in creating the outcome she wants for herself and her baby. She is the consumer of health care and must know what she needs to be healthy. Birth has change dramatically for humanity in the last 50 years. And the innocent approaches that worked for women in the past will no longer serve her, in the complex world of obstetrical intervention,

and a broken maternal child health care system that places profit above health. What is a Birth Philosophy and why do you need one? A “Philosophy” is the systematized study of general and fundamental questions, such as those about existence, reason, knowledge, values, mind, and language. Such questions are often posed as problems to be studied and resolved. Women need their own philosophy of birth” if they are to navigate the complexities of modern human reproduction, and the medical industrial maternity health care system.

Today, the c-section rate varies widely from hospital to hospital. But on average, according to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), in 2022 births by Caesarean section increased to about 32 percent of all U.S. births last year, continuing what has been a steady increase. And if a First-Time Mom, (FTM) has a c-section she is 85% more likely to have another. It is important to remember that a caesarian section is major abdominal surgery and that it carries lifetime impact on your body and reproductive health. And while the c-section statistic is deeply alarming it is nothing compared to the reality that in 2020, 1 in 10 babies (10.1% of live births) were born preterm in the United States. According to the March of Dimes, preterm birth, along with low-birth-weight babies, make up the second leading cause of infant deaths after birth defects. Health consequences of preterm birth include developmental delays, chronic respiratory problems and vision and hearing impairment. Having a preterm baby will impact your family emotionally and financially. How does the United States rank statistically in regards to maternal/child health?

The U.S. is the only industrialized nation in the world where maternal mortality is rising. It is concerning that the U.S. has nearly the highest maternal mortality rate among high-income

countries. Unfortunately, things are not much better for the babies in the USA. In 2019, nearly 21,000 infants died in the United States. According to the CDC, the leading causes were congenital abnormalities, low birthweight and preterm birth, maternal pregnancy complications. The infant mortality rate is consistently higher in the United States than in other developed countries. Maternal risk factors for infant mortality include maternal obesity and use of alcohol or tobacco during pregnancy. Your health matters to you, your baby, and your developing family, so what can you do to ensure that your “birth philosophy” helps you to get the birth you want, and stay healthy?

Here are my Pro Tips for creating your own “birth philosophy”. Listen to your body and make sure your pregnant-self is getting the care and support it needs. Recognizing the difference between your emotions and feelings and your physical needs will help you to identify the support you need. It is necessary to keep an open mind and ask a lot of questions when you’re working on developing your “birth philosophy”. Having a “birth philosophy” grounded in research and self-awareness will not only be helpful for your pregnancy, labor and birth, but it will be a tool you can use to guide you as a new mother. Every woman must ultimently develop her own philosophy of birth and motherhood. There are so many different ideas, thoughts and personal opinions about what is the right and wrong way to be a mother. It is critical for each mother to know her own way. Decide what’s important to you. What is your attitude toward birth? Are you prone to stress or anxious about what’s to come? What does your partner think and feel about birth? How do you view pain and what can be done about

it? Do you have a type of care provider that fits with your philosophy? Talk to other mother’s but fundamentally every woman must develop her own philosophy of birth and motherhood.

So now you may be asking yourself, how do I start? How do I know if it is working for me? What are the most important factors to consider in creating a birth philosophy? What steps can help me create my own birth philosophy? These are all important questions and show that your mind is starting to investigate the subject. I suggest that you start simply, get a journal and begin writing every day. Write about how you feel, things you’ve learned and things you want to research. Having one place to keep all your thoughts and questions will be very helpful as you explore your own philosophy of birth.

Ultimately, creating your own personal philosophy of birth is an important step in becoming a mother. Due to the importance of pregnancy and childbirth and the uncertainty of each woman’s experience in labor, some women have decided to give birth in a hospital. These women trust the care of their births and babies in the hands of an obstetrician and feel that they are more likely to be able to control the way that childbirth happens if they are in a hospital. Some women firmly believe that if a woman is healthy, has received proper prenatal care and is willing to put the responsibility of her birth back into her own hands, she can have a safe home birth. Many people think homebirths are dangerous or irresponsible; however, there are many studies that prove otherwise. The reason so many women choose middle ground options such as midwives who do home births with special equipment or birthing centers where they are close to hospitals if needed, is because many women have worries about both homebirth and hospital birth.

Being informed about your choices will help you make the best decision for you and your baby! The only thing that really matters when creating your own philosophy of birth is that it is truly yours, based on your research and deep thinking about what it means to become mom. I want to encourage you to start a birth journal today, use this as a safe place to start to develop your own philosophy of birth

Find Deb @ : deb@birthwiifm.com   FB https://www.facebook.com/birthkeeper4u  Instagram https://www.instagram.com/debputerbaugh/ 

PLEASE head over to my website and  download my FREE worksheet and video instructions to help you find your absolute “WHY” for BECOMING A MOM here https://birthwiifm.com/ 

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