A Guideline to Your Healthy, Safe Childbirth Experience
Go to Southeast Minnesota Childbirth Network to find a list of your local childbirth professionals
Before Baby
- Gather information about nutrition and supplements that are important for you and your baby’s health. Setting up an appointment with a family chiropractor that supports natural childbirth is a great place to start.
- Begin researching all your birthing options, including your optimal place of birth. Consider birth centers, home births, and hospital options.
- Interview care providers to find one who supports your birth choices. Consider midwives, family practitioners and obstetricians.
- Start taking your prenatal vitamins.
- Find an exercise program that you enjoy. Pilates, yoga, water aerobics, running, cardio, and strength training programs can all be adapted as your body changes during pregnancy. Find an instructor or personal trainer that is experienced in working with pregnant moms.
- Set up an appointment with a family chiropractor who specializes in prenatal care to align your spine and pelvis
- Visit birth centers and hospitals in your area and beyond. Consider traveling outside your area to find both a care provider and place of birth that respects your birthing choices
- Contact your health club about Prenatal Pilates or Yoga classes and sign up for one.
- Go online and research different childbirth class options, from The Bradley Method® to Lamaze to hypnobirth options.
- Before you begin to have pain from the changes your body is going through, revisit your chiropractor to avoid a malaligned pelvis or spine.
- If you are having pain, such as sciatic, piriformis pain, carpal tunnel syndrome, etc, contact a physical therapist that specializes in treating prenatal clients to keep you comfortable throughout your pregancy.
- Start interviewing doulas if you want a knowledgeable and compassionate support person for you and your partner during your birth.
- Sign up for a Bradley®, Lamaze or other Childbirth Education class.
- Re-evaluate your care provider and place of birth to ensure you are confident with your birthing plans. You may have changed your mind as you learn more throughout your pregnancy. Surround yourself with people that support your plan.
- Try out several baby carriers and practice using them with a stuffed animal so you feel comfortable when your baby arrives.
- Install your car seat and have it checked by a certified child passenger safety technician.
- Be mindful of your baby’s position (Breech, posterior, etc) so you have both time and opportunities to visit providers such as certified chiropractors and physical therapists who specialize in prenatal care who can help your baby reposition itself.
- Contact a lactation professional with any breastfeeding questions and/or concerns.
- At six weeks postpartum, your body is continuing to transform after pregnancy. If you are experiencing pain or bladder control issues, visit your physical therapist or chiropractor for a postpartum screening. They can help you regain bladder control and pelvic muscle tone sooner than later!
- Sign up for a postpartum pilates class or other parenting classes that interest you.
