If I Knew Then What I Know Now

I had my hospital births a good number of years ago.  Since then I have learned so much as I worked as a doula, and later as I began my midwifery practice.  When my babies were born, doulas and lactation consultants were not a thing, and midwives were rare.  Laboring in a hospital bed on your back while hooked up to an IV was expected for hospital birth.  If I knew then what I know now and what is available today was common then, I'd do things differently.
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• I would have a doula.
• I would  be up and moving instead of laying in bed.
• I would labor using water for comfort, preferably in a tub.
• I would eat more than ice chips.
• I would labor at home, and wait before heading to the hospital.
• I would go to LaLeche League meetings, read books and watch vidoes on breastfeeding to be better prepared to nurse my baby.
• I would be less of a "good" patient and more of an advocate for myself.
• I would ask questions to better understand the risks and benefits of my options during labor.
• I would take a childbirth class such as a Bradley class in addition to the hospital class.
• If was an option back then, I would use a midwife and plan on a home birth.
• I would come home and spend the first 4-5 days snuggling with my baby and not doing anything besides nursing my baby and sleeping.

The changes I would make are changes that empower women in labor, and support them in a way that does not restrict choices.  They are the changes that I incorporate into my midwifery care and that I have many conversations with my clients about.  I want my clients to ask questions, to eat and drink during labor, to move how their body tells them to move, to be prepared for breastfeeding, and to have good labor support.