MumsCoach - Pregnancy

Is your head spinning with all the new things to consider because you are now pregnant and your life is going to change (to a degree) for ever? It's OK - it's perfectly natural. It was this feeling that sparked the idea of MumsCoach.

MumsCoach is here to facilitate the development of your parenting potential and clear the confusion of pregnancy by providing information, resources, tools and exercises that will keep you on track and motivated to create a happy, fulfilling experience of parenting.

I've provided below an example of the type of material that I have developed for clients of MumsCoach to help them through the process of developing their parenting potential. Have a read and consider the MumsCoach products that I have developed as you embark on this wonderful journey of parenting.

Subscribe (above MumsCoach section) and receive fortnightly hint and tips that I also share with clients as they need them.

Developing a Birth Plan

There really is so much information available to you - books, classes, the internet, friends and different experts all provide you with different perspectives. This information will service you well as you move towards the birth.

One of the key elements in life coaching is the continuous development of decision making skills and it is these skills that will give you confidence during the birthing process. As you are gathering information it is encouraging to know that the decision making process is there to support you in the future as situations arise. While reviewing different pieces of information I encourage you to review the decision making process also.

A step by step guide to calm and successful birth plan...

As you learn new things you can consider when you are going to be in a situation where the knowledge can be applied. Let's go through the situation of the birth of your baby and then you can expand upon this as you learn more about birth process from other sources.

Recognizing and defining the situation

You will be in the situation of giving birth in the future.

Identify alternatives

What type of birth suits you? Hospital classes cater to a broad range of needs so are quite general. You can expect to learn about different labour positions, pain relief, caesarean delivery procedure, changing and wrapping your baby and some breastfeeding information. A natural birth centre is particularly interested in helping clients learn how to labour without artificial pain relief, techniques which involve working your body throughout the birthing process. You may include hypnobirthing classes in your preparation, where you learn about controlled breathing, relaxation and the power of positive visualisation. Home births are also available through private midwives.

Evaluating alternatives

You may instinctively already feel that you want particular things to be part of your birth process as well as immediately feel "that's not for me". Only you can go through this evaluation and as you learn new things about the situation you can include or dismiss them as part of your birth plan.

Selecting the best alternative

As you narrow down all the different options you have available to you, your birth plan is being formed. As with any plan, it may not go exactly the way you expected, that is why this step is not "follow the plan" - at the actual moment there may be a best alternative that was not on your original plan.

Implement the chosen alternative

Taking action is the implementation step. During the birthing process this may involve following the instructions of your midwife/doctor to push or not push as needed and putting aside any other thoughts - focus in the present and what needs to be done during that moment. Trust in those around you to support your action.

Following up and evaluating the results

You should also feel confident in your own ability to adapt and adjust to alternatives because you have done your homework and explored the different alternatives. This step could also be the final step where you are feeling the euphoria of the experience as you gaze down on your baby and congratulate yourself for such as wonderful job.