It Comes in 3's…Trimesters that is. Part 1
by The Natural Healing Mama February 24, 2020
So, you just found out you’re expecting a baby. You peed on the stick, or maybe you’re the dad-to-be in this situation and you’re trying your best not to panic after your significant other has told you she’s pregnant. Either way, I’m sure you’re wondering; what’s next?! While a million thoughts are most likely racing through your mind, just take a deep breath and breathe. It will all be okay!!
The number of things that need to be done and researched before the baby arrives is truly astounding! I wish I had known about all of them during my pregnancy, but now that I do know, I can pass that wisdom onto you! My plan is to try to break this down by each trimester, providing access to a better understanding and helping you make the most informed decisions.
Step one: Decide whether you will choose a midwife, or OB/GYN, and whether or not you will have a doula present. You may be asking yourself, “what are the pros/cons to each of these?” Let’s break it down.
Midwife
The Pros and Cons:
More often now than not, deliveries by Midwives are safer with fewer complications than those performed by doctors.
More attention and personal care are often given.
Midwives tend to be more patient oriented and open to following a birth plan, no matter the preference.
Often can still give birth in a hospital, if you so choose, depending on your Midwife’s qualification.
They are more open to alternative birthing practices, like water birth for instance.
Most states mandate that insurance cover the cost of Midwives. (Check with your state laws and insurance provider).
If a C-Section is needed, Midwives cannot perform these.
OB/GYN
The Pros/Cons:
Often needed for high-risk pregnancies.
Can perform C-Sections.
Most require a hospital birth.
Increased risk of complications during pregnancy and delivery.
Can be quite costly depending on insurance coverage and how often you are seen.
May not be the one who actually delivers the baby.
Postpartum support is very little.
Doula
The Pros/Cons:
No medical training, although many have training and certification of such.
Is a great advocate during pregnancy, the birth process and postpartum.
Offers emotional, physical, and mental support.
No insurance coverage, but some are flexible in the cost depending on your requirements.
As you can see, there are quite a few pros and cons to each of these options, and preference will vary from person to person based on needs and wants. It would be in your best interest to start making a list of things that you are set on having, and not having during your pregnancy and labor. In addition, you should also notate which things you are willing to compromise on. Creating a birth plan can certainly help with this however, you want to make sure you do tons of research as well! For instance, how many ultrasounds do they typically suggest/require, and do you know the risk associated with those? What about if you will need a RhoGAM shot (Rh shot), is it really required, what are the risks and what are the ingredients? If you end up being induced, do you know about the risks of Pitocin? This is just a short list of items to consider when interviewing your potential candidates. We will dive into more areas like these that will require research, in a later post.
After making these lists, it’s time to start the interview process! After interviewing multiple doctors, midwives, and/or doulas’, you will be able to make an informed decision on which one is best for you.
And as if this isn’t overwhelming enough- there’s more!
Step two: Prenatal Vitamins
Seems simple enough, right?!
You will want to be sure you choose a prenatal vitamin that contains Folate, not Folic Acid. You will also want to avoid a prenatal packed full of vitamins and minerals from synthetic sources, and choose one made from natural resources. you can find an example of a good prenatal vitamin here:
https://www.vitaminshoppe.com/p/garden-of-life-vitamin-code-raw-prenatal-90-capsules/gu-1123
Prenatal vitamins are very important during pregnancy as they help to keep your vitamin and mineral levels at a healthy level, and most importantly they help the growth and development of your baby.
Synthetic vitamins are artificial and made in a lab. In and of itself, that alone should be enough for anyone to avoid them however, another reason to avoid synthetic vitamins is that our bodies have a very difficult time absorbing any nutrients from them. Simply, they are a waste of money, and at this point, you will need to save all you can. Babies are expensive!
Step 3: Informed Consent
You might be scratching your head right now wondering what the heck I am referring to, and I apologize if that is the case. Let me explain. The dictionary states that informed consent is: “permission granted in the knowledge of the possible consequences, typically that which is given by a patient to a doctor for treatment with full knowledge of the possible risks and benefits.” Failure to provide a patient with informed consent is not only unethical, but it could also make your provider liable for medical malpractice.
So here comes the controversial topic I am most referring to at this moment: “Biologic’s,” or another name for them would be immunizations. How safe are they during pregnancy?
Let me first start with which immunizations your doctor or midwife may recommend, or in some cases just assume you will be getting during your pregnancy. The first is the Flu shot. The second is the TDaP. Both of these come with serious risks. Both the TDaP and the Influenza immunizations clearly state in the inserts provided by the manufacturers, that they have not been tested on pregnant women. Some manufacturers have set up an exposure registry for those who are given the immunizations and would like to report adverse reactions. Typically, your doctor will not tell you that there is a registry, you must ask. Nor will your doctor typically tell you that these immunizations have not been tested on pregnant women…now I don’t know about you, but that is NOT informed consent in my opinion!
You should also note that in section 13.1 of each insert it states: “has not been evaluated for carcinogenic, or mutagenic potential.” Some even include that it has not been tested for “impairment of fertility.” So, I urge you to thoroughly do your research. Below I have provided some links as a place to start. You may have also noticed some words above that are hyperlinked.
Resources:
A list of Inserts for each FDA Approved Immunization: https://www.immunize.org/fda/
A list of ingredients for each immunization currently approved by the FDA (please note some ingredients have been removed from public view): https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/pinkbook/downloads/appendices/B/excipient-table-2.pdf
Risk of Miscarriage after Influenza Immunizations: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0264410X17308666
VAERS (Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System) You can search VAERS data here and learn more about VAERS: https://vaers.hhs.gov/
Rhogram: https://vaccinetruth.org/rhogam.html
1986 National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program: https://www.hrsa.gov/vaccine-compensation/about/index.html
Books:
Millers Review: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/188121740X/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o05_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
Dissolving Illusions: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1480216895/ref=ox_sc_saved_title_10?smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER&psc=1
Lastly, before you leave, if you need or want more information about anything regarding pregnancy, or any topic on my blog, please leave comments below, subscribe, and/or reach out to me on social media at Balanced Vitality! There is also a section on my website for trustworthy products. Earthley has some great pregnancy and baby items that are all natural, no added colors, fragrances, parabens, sulfates, or sugars.
Visit Balancedvitality.net to learn how you can reach optimal health!