Do you worry about any of these scenarios happening at your birth?

​Amidst the excitement of welcoming your baby, I know there are worries that creep up and unsettle you about the unknowns of birth. ​

Maybe you are worried about…

• Losing control during labor
• Not knowing how to care for the baby
• Loss of privacy and modesty
• Facing the unknown
• Not being able to give birth
• Tearing
• Being in pain
• Not making it to the hospital in time
• Having life threatening complications
• The baby not being healthy
• Having unwanted interventions forced on you
• Ending up with a C-section, if you are planning a vaginal birth

You are not alone. Actually, these are the most common fears that mothers have when approaching birth, whether they are first-time moms or veterans. And they don’t even include the worries that your partner may be having in the face of supporting you through birth and beyond.

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Talk to a certified Christian childbirth educator about your concerns for birth. We can help you clarify your birth preparation goals, pray with you, and acquaint  you with the Birth Ready program.

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Our fears and anxieties can affect our birthing experience.

The sad reality is research confirms that fears related to birth can actually complicate the birthing process. Look at these findings by researchers.
Women who have “distress-related” thoughts and experience higher pain in early labor (due to lack of coping skills) have longer labors, more instrument deliveries, and increased abnormal fetal heart patterns compared to women with “coping-related” thoughts.
Lowe, Nancy K. "The nature of labor pain." American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology 186.5 (2002): S16-S24.

 Women with anxiety sensitivity towards labor pain (i.e. views labor pain as threatening or harmful) will experience maximum pain perception and adopt poor coping actions (avoidance behavior).
Lang, Ariel J., John T. Sorrell, Carie S. Rodgers, and Meredith M. Lebeck. "Anxiety sensitivity as a predictor of labor pain." European Journal of Pain 10.3 (2006).

What is the C-section rate in this country?

Let's talk about one of the biggest concerns of low-risk women - ending up with unwanted medical interventions and ultimately, C-section. The average C-section rate in the United States has been steadily climbing over the last decades and currently stands at 33%. In my state of Virginia, the average C-section rate is 34.5%. Yes, that means you have over a 1 in 3 chance of ending up with a C-section when you birth at a hospital!
American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, Safe Prevention of the Primary Cesarean Delivery, March 2014, Reaffirmed 2019

Unfortunately, according to the World Health Organization (WHO), a C-section rate above 10% does not help save lives. Even the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecologists acknowledge, "for most pregnancies, which are low-risk, cesarean delivery appears to pose greater risk of maternal morbidity and mortality than vaginal delivery." I don't want to scare you with a detailed description of the small, but real risk of severe complications in the first C-section delivery, but the fact is, a C-section also increases your risk of having severe complications in future pregnancies. As is implied in the WHO statement, 10% of C-sections are necessary and DO save lives. So, according to WHO, the United States overall is performing 2 out of 3 unnecessary C-sections. Ultimately, there is an epidemic of C-sections in this country, and it does not seem to be getting any better!
World Health Organization Statement on Caesarean Section Rates, April 2015
American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, Safe Prevention of the Primary Cesarean Delivery, March 2014, Reaffirmed 2019

How do low-risk women end up with medical interventions and C-sections?

I am so glad you asked this important question! - because the answer will give us insight into prevention. I'd like you to watch this short video below to find out why C-sections happen and how women end up with medical interventions.

Is it possible to prevent C-sections?

Obviously, in 10% of cases (which includes women and babies in very high-risk situations), it is life-saving and necessary. But for those extra 2 out of 3 women getting them that didn't need them - Absolutely! Research affirms...

Increasing women’s access to nonmedical interventions during labor, such as continuous labor and delivery support, also has been shown to reduce cesarean birth rates.

- ​American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, Safe Prevention of the Primary Cesarean Delivery, March 2014, Reaffirmed 2019

What are these nonmedical interventions?

I'm glad you asked, cause there are actually lots of things you can do to address the most common reasons for medical interventions and C-sections. In the table below, you will find the reasons for medical interventions in bold black lettering and the non-medical solution underneath each reason.

Let's start with a review from the video. As you can see in my slide picture, the four most common reasons for medical interventions in labor are...

1. Mom cannot cope with labor pain, which leads to getting an epidural, which increases your chances of developing the next two reasons.
2. Failure to progress in cervical dilation, which leads to needing synthetic oxytocin, which can sometimes stress baby out.
3. Prolonged pushing, i.e. pushing for hours and hours without progress in bringing baby down, which can lead to instrument delivery or C-section. 
4. Abnormal or non-reassuring fetal heart tones, which means baby is getting stressed out, and absolutely warrants a C-section delivery.

Unfortunately, as we learned in the video, you will end up in a C-section for sure for reason number 4 (fetal distress).  Reasons 2 and 3 (failure to dilate and prolonged pushing), if not resolved, will also end up in a C-section or instrument delivery. We also learned that the epidural, which is supposed to solve Reason 1 (mom unable to cope with labor pain) can increase your risk of developing Reasons 2 and 3, thus increasing your chances for C-section delivery.

But the good news is that there are non-medical things you can do to address those reasons for needing medical interventions, thus reducing your risk of ending up with an unnecessary C-section delivery. Let's take them one by one.

1. To prevent mom from being unable to cope with natural labor pain, she can employ techniques of natural pain management. This includes mastering coping skills, like mindset and slow, rhythmic breathing, and having the on-going labor support of an informed partner and of a trained doula. 
2. To promote dilation progress, mom should be encouraged during labor to move freely, change positions, assume vertical positions, have a positive mental attitude towards contractions, and if contractions wane – she can do nipple stimulation to encourage the boost of her own oxytocin levels.
3. To shorten pushing time, mom should be encouraged to change positions throughout labor, which allows baby to make small adjustments in head movement so it can move further down the pelvis. It has also been proven that pushing is more effective if mom pushes when she has the urge to push, not on command.
4. Finally, when dealing with non-reassuring fetal heart tones, sometimes changing positions can help take pressure off the cord if that happened to be the cause of the dip in heart rate, but, otherwise if changing positions does not help, we thank God for that C-section to get baby out in time. ​

​I want to be very clear. C-sections can be life-saving interventions. And as the World Health Organization pointed out, 1 in 10 of them ARE necessary to save life. And we thank God for them when they are truly needed. But, with a US C-section rate of 1 in 3, there are way too many of them happening that did NOT need to happen and could have been prevented with NONmedical interventions that help mom cope with labor pain and promote progress in labor and pushing.

So, where can I learn about these effective NONmedical interventions?

Inga Goodwin, CCE, PMH-C

With Birth Ready, of course! Let me introduce myself. My name is Inga Goodwin. I am a certified Christian childbirth educator and founder of Birth Ready, a program designed to help couples approach birth with confidence in God's process and prepare for the routine and unexpected. I am equipped to help you and your partner master pain coping skills for labor, write your birth plan, and more with the Birth Ready program that can be delivered in a variety of formats that suit different needs (private, group, online, in-person, one-day, multi-day, etc.). 

Let me introduce you to Birth Ready, the childbirth preparation program that is evidenced-based, practical, and Christian.

• One big purpose of Birth Ready is to prevent unnecessary medical interventions and C-section through education, preparation, and inspiration.
• Birth Ready also is designed to help mom AND dad transition smoothly to postpartum recovery and life with a newborn.
• This is not some kind of "manifest the birth you want" program. Faith without works is dead! This program requires your active participation, at home practice, and commitment to consulting with your primary care provider when writing your birth plan.
• ​But, Birth Ready will not waste your time. Each lesson and accompanying tasks are laser-targeted to get you ready for birth so you can avoid unnecessary medical interventions and be at peace with God if you are the 1 in 10 women that may actually need a C-section (and we'll familiarize you with that experience, too).

Discover the Birth Ready difference!

Birth Ready has 6 core modules that are designed to build confidence in God's design of the birthing process, equip you with skills you and your partner need to work effectively together to cope with pain and encourage labor progress, and transition smoothly to life with a newborn. ​Birth Ready is evidenced-based, Biblically sound, and based in the reality that birth is a normal physiologic process – not a disease! 

What is the format of the Birth Ready program?
Depending on the childbirth educator, you can meet online via Zoom or in-person. Private as well as group classes may be available. One day or multi-day classes, full program or condensed - Our educators can customize Birth Ready in a variety of ways to meet different needs.

Is Birth Ready Customizable?
Yes, yes, and yes! If you decide to do a private coaching experience, then your educator can create a package that fits you. But, Birth Ready is personalized already with empowering tasks and information designed to help you work with your care provider to plan the birth that is right for you. Also, Birth Ready comes with super practical handouts to accompany each session. Your educator will help you formulate clear action steps you can take to internalize and apply the session content. ​Also, if you like, as a courtesy your educator can record your online sessions for your sole downloading later.

Is this a Christian program or is it science-based?
Both, actually! Birth Ready incorporates trust in God’s power, guidance, and sovereignty in birth with evidenced-based best birth practices that are free from New Age influences (i.e. avoiding things like hypnotism and channeling inner power). We can face the unknown outcome with confidence because we trust in God’s grace and redemption.

Is the “FREE” Birth Ready Consultation actually free?
Yes, it is! You will even receive a free Birth Ready Checklist that will help you navigate your readiness for birth, whether you choose to invest in a coaching program or not. Our educators are really passionate about helping couples in whatever capacity they are called to serve - free consult or client. No pressure!

Start with a FREE, no obligation Consultation!

​So, if you are ready to take some concrete steps to getting mentally and physically ready for birth, let’s connect for a FREE, no obligation 30-minute Birth Ready check-up call and talk about your hopes and concerns about birth. At no charge, one of our certified Christian childbirth educators can help you clarify your birth preparation goals and give you a preview of the Birth Ready program. Sign-up below for your free Birth Ready consultation.