Your Village starts with your partner, your family, and your friends. Then find the people who will help you during your childbearing year, and perhaps beyond! Here are some suggestions:     Midwives - are trained and have lots of experience with pregnancy, birth, and post partum. They specialize in normal, but know what to do in the event of an emergency. They work in hospitals, Birth Centers, and home. Midwives listen to you and help you make informed choices about your care. Midwives understand how important a village is. There are Nurse Midwives, CPM, and other kinds of midwives that have a variety of experiences and backgrounds. Make sure you feel comfortable with their experience and education. Ask lots of questions. Talk to other women and find out who they recommend. Birth Doulas - Skilled women (usually) who support both you and your partner during labor and post partum. She knows your birth plan and helps support you to have the birth you hoped for. They can also help you make decisions when the unexpected happens. Post Partum Doula can also provide support after your birth, they are knowledgable about breast feeding and what is norma in the weeks following the birth. If you experience post partum depression / anxiety a post partum doula can really make a diffence. Childbirth Educators - Dedicated folks who want to impart their knowledge and wisdom to help you make decisions right for you and know what to expect in labor. Birth Classes are worth the investment, andbecause there is a cost involved, you need to choose the right class for you. Classes are important because they help you understand the changes in your body, your mind, your emotions during pregnancy, birth, post partum. It's also a great way to meet people going through the same experience you are, these new friends can be part of your village. Good birth classes talk about all your options, not just the ones your hospital/doctor want you to accept. Ask lots of questions. OB/GYN Physicians - specialists in complicated pregnancies and usually work in hospitals. They are trained as surgeons. If you want to work with an OB/GYN, ask lots of questions and make sure you feel comfortable with the answers. If you are hoping for a VBAC, find out if your doctor is comfortable with this option. Do they support breastfeeding, will they allow you to choose whether you want to circumcise, will they allow you to have a birth plan and support your choices. Ask lots of questions Pediatricians - are specialists in infants and children. It is important that you and your baby's doctor work together and that you are comfortable with their recommendations. You have to be a team. Interview your the doctor you are considering for your baby ad make sure you are comfortable with their philosophy. Talk to other women about their experiences. Family Practitioners-can care for your whole family. They training is focused on promoting health and wellness. Some family practitioners can attend births and care for your infant after birth. Acupuncturists - practice a ancient art and science of diagnosing and balancing your body's energy. They can help with infertility, and help prepare your body for labor and birth, and can make labor easier Craniosacral Therapists - use tiny movements of the head and spine to release pain and stress. Treatments can help with chronic pain in pregnancy and labor. Sometimes treatments can be useful post partum and can help baby with breast feeding. Chiropractors - are trained to work with your body to reduce stress and misalignments in the pelvis, spin, neck, and head. Ask around for a recommendation. You midwife or doula often know which chiropractors will work with pregnant women. Counselors and Therapists-are trained in family and relationship issues and can help you prepare for birth if you have anxiety, depression, or trauma issues from a previous experience. They can be very important if you have post partum depression and can really help you feel better. Herbalists-use organic and wild grown plants to improve health. Herbs can help many ailments including infertility, strengthen the uterus, stop post partum bleeding. Can be safe for infants. Homeopaths- trained in a system of medicine that stimulates the body to treat itself, using tiny amounts of substances according to the "Laws of Similars." Homoepathics are safe to use during pregnacy and are safe for babies, they are inexpensive and have no side effects. Infant and Baby Care Specialists - Babies respond to touch and parents can learn to show their baby love through their hands. These specialists can also help you learn about your infants brain development and what is appropriate for your baby. Massage Therapists- are trained to use their hands to help you relax, destress, and feel better. There are a variety of kinds of massage techniques. Make sure you see someone trained to care for pregnant women. Naturopaths - are trained to treat illness by using herbs, homeopathics and other non-drug therapies. They help you improve your diet and offer body work. Lactation Consultants-are specialists in breastfeeding and can help with all aspects of breastfeeding. Some will help you find a source for breast milk from a milk bank if you have special circumstances. La Leche League - is a world wide organization of mothers who meet regularily in order to support other mothers to breast feed and mother. Women in your community - who look happy and comfortable with their baby's. Ask about their experience and see if it feels like what you are looking for. Did they hire a doula? A midwife? Who is their baby doctor? What hospital did they go to? Ask lots of questions.

 

 

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