This is important as it documents what your wishes are, ensures your birthing attendess know what you want and is important in the event  you need to transfer to the hospital.

In your birthing/back up plan:

• It is helpful to have your birthing plan and medical documents all together prior to giving birth.
• Include any prenatal care documentation 
• Outline your birthing desires so all people involved in your birth have a reference.
• Determine ahead of time what warrants a trip to the hospital, and make sure your birth attendant(s) know what to look for.  For instance, if you are turning white and passing out, you could be losing a lot of blood (internally or externally) and need immediate medical attention.
• Also, it is a good idea to include all of your medical information with your birth plan should you need to be transfered to the hospital as this expodites the process.
• It is a good idea to read about and learn how to handle complications (variations of normal) at home and possibly print out the "variations of normal" sheets (from the Unhindered Living website or from wherever you chose) to have with you when you are in labor and giving birth.  Hope for the best and plan for the worst.

Be ready for any possibilities, so that you don't find yourself panicking when your baby begins to emerge in a breech position or his shoulders get stuck, or if the cord is wrapped around the neck (which is common).  Most "complications" do not require medical assistance, especially for the possibility that you might feel you need to transfer to the hospital.

 Here is the story my unassisted birth with my twin girls.

Go back to Step #7: Learn Relaxation Techniques and Practice Birthing Positions

Go to the next step Step #9: Gathering Supplies

Go to Birthing Methods Menu

 Step 4: Throughout your pregnancy, read about unassisted births, and read/watch a lot of birth stories/videos. 

Educating yourself will help you prepare for all scenarios and build confidence in yourself. It is also a good plan to educate those who will be supporting you in your pregnancy and birth such as your partner, it will instill confidence in them as well. 

 It might also be a good idea to join a UC forum to get support, advice, and information.  It is important that you are comfortable with your decision and are surrounded by people that support you, or UC may not be for you.  

Here is my own birthing story of my twin girls, Sunny and Jova.

Here are a few videos and stories:

My Unassisted Home Birth After 5 Hospital Births

The Unassisted Birth of My Daughter - A Daddy's Perspective

 My two favorite unassisted birthing sites:

http://www.unhinderedliving.com/childbirth.html 

Go back to Step #3: Get The Proper Tests Done

Go to the next step Step #5: Decide Who You Want to Attend Your Birth

Go to Birthing Methods Menu

 Step 3: Get Any Prenatal Tests Deemed Necessary by You Throughout Your Pregnancy 

These tests can include: pap smear, blood work, glucose tolerance, ultrasound, etc.  You know your body and your baby better than anyone else.  If you feel you need to get something tested, do it.  If you're not comfortable with a test, don't do it.  Above all, research any tests you are considering and determine if the benefits outweigh the risks (if any).  

If you are UP'ing, some of these tests may not be available to you as it depends on your insurance and location. You may want to consult with a medical professional or insurance to see which are available to you.

Go back to Step #2: Establishing Prenatal Schedule

Go to the next step Step #4: Educate Yourself Then Educate Yourself Some More

Go to Birthing Methods Menu

Schedule regular prenatal visits with a medical professional if you chose a care provider or make plans for your own care if you are doing an unassisted pregnancy.

If you close to a medical professional to oversee your pregnancy:

• Ensure you feel comfortable with the care provider as this is someone you are trusting with your baby.
• Feel free to ask any question as this is your opportunity to educate yourself for your unassisted birth, beyond your external research. 
• Schedule your regular appointments and attempt to keep records of your own. Often a doctor can photocopy the results for you or ask the front reception. This will help build your medical binder for when you do give birth and should child services ever visit you as this can occur when they get wind of unassisted birth plans.

If you are choosing unassisted pregnancy:

• Most UP'ers take good care of themselves as they view everything with their body as overall care for the baby and themselves.
• Maintain a good diet. Here is a list of important vitamins to consider when pregnant,  list of foods to avoid or moderate during pregnancy and ways to keep your protein and iron up.
• Ensure to exercise as this benefits you and the baby's health. Here are a few suggestions: yoga, walking, light weight lifting, generally any activity that gets your heart rate up.
• Make sure you are mentally and emotionally healthy throughout the pregnancy.

When choosing an UP, you can do many of the same things they do at regular prenatal visits such as weight, blood pressure, fetal heart tones, etc. If you want a UP, information can be found and supplies can be purchased here: http://www.unhinderedliving.com/prenatal.html

No matter which option you chose, it is important to get a a formal record that you are pregnant as this makes it easier when it comes time to obtain a birth certificate. 

Here is the story my unassisted birth with my twin girls.

 Go back to Step #1: Establishing Prenatal Care

Go to the next step Step #3: Get The Proper Tests Done

Go to Birthing Methods Menu

Step 1: Choose whether you want an OB, midwife, general practitioner, or if you want an unassisted pregnancy (UP). 

This is a personal decision and any of the above options are great, even if you are planning an unassisted birth. Ensure you feel comfortable with your care provider, whomever it is.

If you choose OB, general practitioner or midwife:

It is up to you to decide if you want to tell people (particularly an OB) of your decision to give birth unassisted.  If you do decide to tell people, they may try to intervene or otherwise cause stress for you during pregnancy, labor, and/or birth. This stress is entirely unnecessary so use your judgement wisely on whom you tell, especially care providers.

Many moms who chose an OB, general practitioner or midwife, leave out the part of giving birth unassisted and continue the care throughout the pregnancy until the very end. This often gives the mother piece of mind in her prenatal care and relieves the stress the practitioner may place on the mother if they knew about the impending unassisted birth.

I find many moms who plan an unassisted birth, are very in touch with their bodies and have made the conscious, educated decision to birth in this manner. The presumptions of the care provider are not often true about a mother who decides to birth unassisted so often the advice to avoid unassisted birth does not apply. 

If you chose unassisted pregnancy:

Ensure you are comfortable with this decision and do your due diligence. Educate yourself! When doing an unassisted birth, you can do many of the same exam as the care provider. Look at Step 2 for more on unassisted pregnancy. 

A note here: I strongly urge you to get your partner on board with any decision you make at this stage for your care. They are concerned with your well being and the baby growing inside of you.

Here is the story my unassisted birth with my twin girls.

Go to the next step Step #2: Establishing Prenatal Schedule

Go to Birthing Methods Menu