Making Decisions
There is no right or wrong way to respond to a challenge in labor. Most challenges have several ways they can be handled, and some of them allow the mother to continue to labor naturally. The job of the coach is to help the mother decide which way will be the most beneficial. Here are some suggestions to help make the decision making easier.
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Remind the mother to ask questions. She cannot make a decision if she does not know what options she has or what the benefits and risks of those options are.
Review her birth plan. She may have specified ways she wants to try to handle this challenge.
The mother's stress and tension may increase when she needs to make a decision. It is important for the coach at this time to increase the level of support and keep a calm attitude.
Ask for a few minutes to consider her options, and tell the staff you will call them in as soon as she has made a decision. Having the "pressure off" may make it easier for her to make a decision.
Remember, the idea is to have a healthy mother give birth to a healthy baby. Help the mother review the risks and benefits of each option, choosing the options that carry the least amount of risk.
What would you like next?Learn comfort techniques for labor. Find out how what you eat can impact how you give birth. Learn ways to stay comfortable during pregnancy. Read sample birth plans. Get emotionally prepared to give birth. |
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