How to Prepare for Childbirth: Midwife-Approved Guide to Labor and Birth Options
Preparation is about more than packing a hospital bag. It’s about understanding your options, building confidence, and finding support that aligns with your goals for labor and birth. As a certified nurse-midwife, I’ve guided hundreds of families through this journey, and I know firsthand how important it is to feel supported and empowered.
How to Prepare for Childbirth Your Way
1. Choose a supportive provider.
Find someone who respects your preferences, avoids unnecessary interventions, and is open to different labor positions and coping methods.
2. Pick a setting that fits your birth goals.
Hospitals, birth centers, and home births all have benefits and considerations. If you’re aiming for an unmedicated birth in a hospital, ask about natural childbirth accommodations and C-section rates. For home or birth center options, be aware of the plan in case risk factors arise or labor becomes complicated (For example, you experience symptoms of preterm birth).
Resources: AWHONN Intrapartum Care
3. Stay active during pregnancy.
Exercise boosts stamina, flexibility, and confidence—important for labor. You don’t need to run marathons. Walking, swimming, and prenatal yoga are excellent ways to stay strong.
4. Consider a doula.
Doulas are associated with lower rates of medical interventions and higher chances of unmedicated childbirth. They can guide natural pain relief methods, suggest optimal positions, and provide continuous support.
Resources: https://www.dona.org/what-is-a-doula-2/
5. Hydrate, move, and trust your body.
Support, hydration, and position changes reduce the risk of prolonged labor or complications, especially if you’re aiming for an unmedicated birth.
6. Understand the process in labor and delivery and be prepared to rock it.
Check out our detailed breakdown of what to expect in labor & delivery>>>
Pain Relief Options
Unmedicated childbirth remains a popular choice. In a poll of 34 readers between 2016–2019:
- 50% had an unmedicated birth
- 12% used opiate pain meds (Nubain, Stadol, Morphine)
- 24% had an epidural
- 15% had a C-section
What is epidural anesthesia?
An epidural provides regional anesthesia, numbing your lower abdomen. A CRNA or anesthesiologist inserts a catheter into your spine, often with a local numbing injection. While it reduces pain, it can limit movement and sensation in your legs. Nurses help with positioning and emptying your bladder (often with a catheter). Medications usually combine local anesthetics (bupivacaine or lidocaine) with opioids like fentanyl. Side effects can include low blood pressure or changes in the baby’s heart rate, but these are temporary and manageable.
What do I need to know before I get an epidural?
To have an epidural, you will get an intravenous (IV) catheter inserted and IV fluids. You will need to have your recent blood count checked to ensure your platelet count is at an adequate level (typically above 100,000 per microliter of blood). Checking that your platelet count is normal will help ensure there are no issues with clotting or bleeding.
The anesthesiologist or nurse anesthetist is the professional who inserts your epidural. You can sit or sometimes lie on your side during the placement. A nurse will monitor your vital signs during the process.
You will push your back out like an angry cat. Cleaning your back with a cold antiseptic solution reduces your chances of infection. After that, you may feel a pinch or a bee sting as they inject local anesthesia (a numbing solution).
The anesthesiologist or CRNA waits until your back is numb and then inserts a needle through the skin of your back into the epidural space. They place a small catheter, which remains in place while you receive the medication. The needle is taken out, but the catheter constantly provides medication.
All done! The anesthesia team will secure the catheter in place very well. While removing it may feel like back waxing, many patients would gladly endure a little tape ripping for pain relief.
I’m a midwife and talk to pregnant people every day. While the process sounds scary, contractions usually distract you during the placement. Sometimes, the medication can cause your blood pressure or the baby’s heart rate to drop. You will know this occurs if you feel dizzy or lightheaded. This is temporary because the medication called ephedrine can reverse the effects.
Get a free OB SOAP note template here.
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Other Pain Relief Options
Medications often come after deep breathing, massage, movement, or warm water fail to manage pain. Pain medication in childbirth includes opiate pain medication and nitrous oxide.
- Opiates: Given through IV or injection, opiates reduce pain but don’t block it completely. Side effects include nausea, dizziness, and itching. If given soon before birth, it can cause respiratory depression in your baby.
- Nitrous oxide: You breathe into the nitrous mask by yourself and inhale during contractions. Nitrous helps you relax by reducing anxiety and pain perception. The effects wear off within minutes, and side effects are minimal.
Cesarean Section: Operative Delivery
C-sections are surgical procedures to deliver the baby through an incision (opening) in the belly and uterus. There are several reasons to perform a C-section, including scheduled, urgent, or emergent procedures.
- Scheduled: Those with prior C-sections, placenta complications, or certain medical conditions may plan to schedule their surgical birth. If you have a C-section, a vaginal birth after cesarean (VBAC) may be an option with a qualified provider.
- Urgent: When labor or fetal conditions worsen, but immediate danger isn’t present. Typically, the surgery must start (incision) within 30 minutes after making the decision for C-section. You may hear the phrase, “30 mins from decision to incision.”
- Emergent: This procedure should be performed immediately and is indicated when maternal or fetal life is at risk.
Still a Nurse—Just in a New Role
Thinking about leaving the bedside but staying true to your calling? Grab the free guide: 15 Remote and Nontraditional Jobs for Nurses.
Reasons You May Need a C-Section
If you have certain pregnancy complications, you and your provider may decide to give birth by C-section. These scheduled complications include:
Placenta previa occurs when the placenta is near or over the cervix.
Vasa previa is when the blood vessels that the placenta and umbilical cord should protect are left open and vulnerable and cross the cervix.
Herpes simplex virus (HSV) outbreaks occur immediately before or during labor. (Outbreaks earlier during pregnancy do not require a cesarean section unless they appear close to labor and childbirth.)
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Malpresentation occurs when the baby is not in the head-down position. Types include breech (bottom-first), transverse (sideways), or shoulder presentation.
External Cephalic Version (ECV): Your healthcare provider attempts to manually turn the baby from the outside.
Breech birth with a skilled provider: Rare, but possible in certain settings.
Vaginal breech birth depends on your provider’s skill, baby size, and presentation type. Frank breech (legs up toward the head) is the most challenging.
It depends on your baby’s size, presentation, and your provider’s skill. Frank breech (legs up toward the head) is most challenging. Finding a qualified breach OB provider can be challenging, so start early.
First, the doctor will use an ultrasound to look at the baby’s position and see if the baby remains malpositioned. Next, you may get an epidural to be more comfortable. Finally, the doctor will use their hands on the outside of your abdomen to try to move your baby. If the ECV fails or you opt not to have one, your options are to schedule a C-section or seek a provider who will perform a breech birth.
Resource: ACOG ECV Guidelines & FAQs
VBAC candidates may need to meet specific criteria, such as body mass index (BMI), length of time between pregnancies, and the type of incision from your first surgery.
Having a VBAC typically requires having an anesthesia provider and obstetrician, in case of an emergency.
Key Takeaway
Preparation is about empowerment. Knowing your options, having supportive people and settings, and staying physically and mentally ready can make childbirth a more confident and fulfilling experience. Sometimes birth doesn’t go according to plan—and that’s okay. Feeling supported and informed is what matters most.
I’d love to hear from you: Did your birth go according to plan, or did your baby have their own strategy? Share your story in the comments!
Evidence-Based Resource Corner
- AWHONN Intrapartum Care Resources
- AWHONN Birth Equity & Respectful Maternity Care Toolkit
- ACOG Labor Induction Guidelines & FAQs
- ACOG ECV Guidelines & FAQs
It seems I got mixed up earlier! Your website, caitlingoodwin.com, is clearly about supporting burnout nurses and helping them with career transition, while the article you provided is clinical content for pregnant people.1
To ensure your content supports both the primary audience of the article (pregnant people) and your website’s main mission (converting nurses who are experiencing burnout), here is the revised strategy for the childbirth article.
The goal is to maintain the excellent clinical advice while strengthening the segue and the Call-to-Action (CTA) at the end.
🤰 Strategy 1: Prioritize the Primary Audience (Pregnant People)
The main body of the article must be clear, supportive, and informative for pregnant readers. This ensures they trust the clinical authority of Caitlin Goodwin, DNP, RN.
- Action: Keep the entire structure and clinical information (Choosing a Provider, Pain Relief Options, etc.) exactly as written.
👩⚕️ Strategy 2: Optimize the Secondary Audience Segue (Burnout Nurses)
This is where the conversion happens. We will make the transition from the clinical article to your core business more direct and empathetic.
1. Reframing the Final Section
Replace the original generic ending about leaving the bedside with a clear, targeted message that speaks directly to the emotional state of a burned-out nurse.
| Original Ending (Excerpt) | Revised, High-Impact Segue |
| “I’m a midwife and talk to pregnant people every day… Thinking about leaving the bedside but staying true to your calling? Grab the free guide…” | “My work as a midwife is my calling, but I know the reality for many nurses is deep burnout. If reading about birth preparation made you tired just thinking about your next 12-hour shift, this final message is for you.“ |
2. Strengthening the Call-to-Action (CTA) Ladder
Use a “ladder” approach to guide the nurse-reader from the freebie to your paid solutions.
| CTA Level | Your Offering | Purpose |
| Level 1 (Free Lead Magnet) | “15 Remote and Nontraditional Jobs for Nurses” | The immediate, risk-free step. Captures their email address. |
| Level 2 (Paid Community/Forum) | The Compassionate Nurse Collective | The low-cost, next step. Offer a space for emotional recovery and peer support. |
| Level 3 (Paid Course) | The Career Transition Lab | The high-value solution. Offers a structured plan for finding and landing a non-bedside role. |
📝 Example of the Revised Article Conclusion
Here is how the final part of your birth preparation article should be updated to support your website’s primary mission:
💡 A Final Word from Your Midwife: You Deserve Balance
Preparation is about empowerment. Knowing your options, having supportive people and settings, and staying physically and mentally ready can make childbirth a confident and fulfilling experience.
A Message to Our Nurse Readers
The reality for many nurses is chronic and severe burnout. A draining role doesn’t mean you’re not cut out for nursing; you may just need a change. Being a nurse isn’t tied to a setting.
If reading about building stamina for labor felt impossible because you’re depleted by your current role, please know: You are not alone.
Your extraordinary skills are needed, but not at the expense of your well-being.
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