True Support

True support can be a difficult thing to find when you are pregnant. Pregnancy, birth, and your first days and months as a parent are a vulnerable time in your life. This roughly two year period represents an incredible shift for you, and support—genuine support—is essential in helping you to have your most confident start as a family.

To be clear, support is not someone telling you “Sure, you can try that if you really want to,” with a tone of indifference, and it certainly isn’t an exasperated sigh in response to questions you may have about pregnancy and birth. Support is having someone in your corner the whole way, saying that you CAN do it and taking the time to talk through and explain answers to any concerns or questions you may have.

Whatever experience you want for yourself, whether it’s a natural, unmedicated labor and birth; an epidural and someone to help you change positions; or a vaginal birth after cesarean, you deserve to have constant support and all of the information you need to have your best start as parents. This does not mean that everything will always go according to plan, but it does mean that you and your decisions are honored and respected every step of the way. It means that each decision is yours to make with full information. It means that your excitement for the birth of your child is shared by everyone surrounding you whether this is the first baby they have seen born or the 400th.

This is your start to your family, and it is important that you begin it with confidence. Be selective about your team and who you choose to be a part of this transformation. Be discerning about the tone and body language of others when they give you information, and do your own research to make sure that information is evidence-based and up-to-date. Be true to yourself and follow what you know is right for you and your family. Surround yourself with genuine support so that you go into birth and parenthood confident that you can face whatever comes your way.