Having a baby is an exciting and terrifying experience. On the one hand, you are bringing a new life into your family; on the other, there is a long list of things that can go wrong during the birthing process.
Assembling your birth team can feel like a delicate balancing act. There are people you want in the room with you for moral support, but you also want people with the right expertise in case the worst happens.
Here’s what you should keep in mind when putting together the people on your birthing team.
Location, location, location
Depending on the type of birthing experience you want, you may be able to economize your birthing team by choosing a facility with more resources. A typical birth can take place with few or no interventions.
While your prenatal care may foresee an increased chance of complications, it is impossible to predict when or if your birthing experience will shift from typical to atypical. If you or your baby suddenly need advanced care, you will want a facility with options for any possible scenario.
In these situations, it is often better to have the resources of a larger medical center that can have advanced support available in moments without the need to transport you to another facility. Also, since these situations are unpredictable, you can have access to different types of care in one facility instead of trying to have multiple specialists available for your delivery.
Knowing whom you need
The people on your birthing team should serve to support you both emotionally and medically. Ideally, the people there for emotional support can help you feel comfortable and advocate for you with friends, family and medical staff.
Likewise, the medical team should include someone familiar with your history and who understands your goals during the birthing process.
Childbirth is a complex experienced that depends on everyone knowing their role and how to support your and your baby’s health. When you surround yourself with the right team, you can increase your chances of having the proper response if there is an emergency.
