A natural birth plan is a plan aimed at helping a woman deliver her baby with minimal medical interventions when and where it is possible. A natural birth was a key part of Danielle Van Kekerix’s birth plan when she delivered her daughter Naomi in February. Since then, she and her husband have been getting used to being a family of three.
“There's ups and downs, but overall it's been good. We’ve had a lot of help between family and friends and the weather has been really nice so that's helped a lot.”
With this being her first pregnancy, Danielle was focused on all the new changes and doing her part to prepare herself for bringing baby home. It wasn’t until late in the third trimester that she began putting her birth plan together.
“I knew from the very first appointment that I wanted to see a midwife and that I wanted it to be as natural as possible; so I feel like that team really listened and respected what we wanted,” said Van Kekerix.
The certified nurse midwife care team provides support and education to women throughout pregnancy, birth and postpartum care. This care model is especially designed for moms seeking a natural birth and are at low risk of complications. Labor can be unpredictable and having a birth plan helps the team respect a mom’s wishes for delivery.
“I think that's so important for women to feel like they have some power and feel like they have a voice in their experience in their birth. You don't have to have interventions. We can have very holistic natural care and still do that in the hospital by offering some of these natural birth options and having tools available like hydrotherapy and birth in the tub for the right candidate,” said Brenna Tate, CNM with the Avera McKennan Nurse Midwifery team.
Water Birth Option for Low Risk Moms
The option of a water birth was actually a surprise for Danielle, it was her mother who happened to see a poster in the clinic during a checkup. After consulting with her midwife team and because her pregnancy was low risk, it was an option she chose to pursue.
“For the hydrotherapy, specifically for the water birth, we’re really looking for those super low-risk women. It's the midwifery team who is kind of spearheading this and we can't have big glaring risk factors. We want it to be the safe best thing for both mom and baby,” said Tate.
So when the time came for Naomi to be delivered, Danielle and her care team were ready.
“She is just absolutely amazing. She (Danielle) rocked it from the minute that she came in and I think that that bigger tub and the buoyancy of the water was such a helpful tool for her to just really manage her birth. She just did amazing,” said Tate.
“I was actually really surprised! I had no idea what to expect and usually I do better when I don't know what to expect. I did my best to prepare, which I think helped, and the midwives helped me along with that, but I think having the water as an option and having the midwife there. I really liked our nurse, that definitely all helped and then my husband as well was there; so I really enjoyed it. It didn't feel like I was in the hospital which I appreciated too,” said Van Kekerix.
The Future of Women’s Health
Danielle’s delivery is a great example of the importance of making a birth plan and that natural birth options are attainable. It’s also a promise of the commitment to providing the best care as Avera Health prepares for its next chapter.
“I think with the new Women's and Children's Hospital coming that will be just a wonderful setup and just such a gift for women in the community to realize that we have so many of these options to help support and nurture mothers. Yes, here in the hospital environment, but you can still have this medication-free, natural, beautiful birth that you're hoping for,” said Tate.
At Avera McKennan in Sioux Falls, hydrotherapy and water births are an option for moms who are low risk and whose labor is progressing normally. Offering this in the hospital setting not only gives moms another option to naturally manage their pain, but provides mom and baby the safest place for this type of delivery.
Learn more about midwifery care
