Professional Assistant Coaches

While we were on the topic of assistant coaches in Class 5, Tracy Hartley, doula and owner of the local B.E.S.T. Doula Service, shared with us about how to work with your hospital birth team to obtain your desires. This is an important topic since sometimes couples who take the Bradley Method classes sometimes feel that their desires differ from the normal hospital policy or the doctor's way of doing things. Hopefully the couple will have prepared ahead of time and openly discussed their desires with their doctor, decided which if any things will be compromised, and written up a clear birth plan (of course, knowing that flexibility is a necessity in childbirth).

One of her tips to use a compliment as a way of stating your preference for something that the doctor may or may not usually support. For example, she told how she had used this tactic with a doctor who alway wants his laboring moms to give birth on their back, legs in stirrups. This position is known to be the worst possible position for comfort of the laboring woman and the ease of exit for the baby, but is the easiest position for the doctor to see and catch. So Tracy kindly said to the OB as the mom was about to start pushing, "Thank you so much for supporting her choice to use an alternative position for giving birth!" He looked surprised and confused, but then didn't make her get on her back! It worked!

While Bradley coaches are trained to be the primary support for the laboring woman, there is something special that another woman can offer. If you have more questions about doulas, their services, costs, benefits, or how to go about hiring a doula, feel free to contact Tracy or visit her website, search for a good fit from the 300+ doulas in DASC (Doulas of Southern California), or let me know.

Finally, Tracy offers to all childbirthing women, the opportunity to participate in The Letters Project. It is basically a personal letter drafted to the hospital administrator where you plan to or have given birth, telling him/her your birth preferences. Simply select your preferences from scroll down menus, edit if desired, print, stick a stamp on it and mail it. The hospitals won't know your preferences if you don't let them know! Let's be part of the change in hospitals offering more choices to birthing women! I just did it and it only take a few minutes!