B. Know the Physiology
There is just not the vagina. There is a cervix, there is a placenta. How do I know that? What are cramps? What is an amniotic sac? What are Brixton’s hicks? What is the station after engagement with the cervix? How often do the cramps occur? What are contractions? What does it feel like to your partner during the contractions? What is dilation? How dilated should it be before the final push? There are a lot of doula services that enable you to know the physiology and the kind of stakes involved during the pregnancy. To be honest, if it was not for the sake of Amani Birth, it would have been so confusing to check out all the content available on Youtube which makes the experience more complex.
C. Know your Doctor
The doctor plays the most vital role in making your first child’s delivery experience great or worst. If he is open to your questions like hospital policy on episiotomy (the cut they give even before the natural tear), epidurals (the drug they give to make the pains bearable), and preferences like delivery position, skin-to-skin during golden hour, etc; it definitely is a green flag. Does your doctor permit one attendant during the labor? This should be an important question. Us, we consulted three doctors to attempt a normal vaginal delivery. The doctors we did not opt for were inclined to create panic such that we could be manipulated for a Cesarian Section delivery. Interestingly, the C-Section deliveries were named after Julius Cesar.
