You Are The Designer of Your Birth Story | How Birth Professionals Can Hold Space

The Motherhood Kit

Childbirth is an incredibly powerful, unforgettable, life-changing experience. Unfortunately, sometimes, this experience can be unlike what you expect or hope for. In this episode, licensed Midwife, and childbirth educator, Zul Ruiz Gines, talks about becoming well-educated on your childbirth options and creating a birth plan, understanding the way that Midwives and doulas work together, and finding the right doula to partner with you, in an effort for your childbirth experience to be beautiful for you and your family.

Zul Ruiz Gines is a Midwife and owner of UMA Midwifery, serving clients in the Tampa Bay area. She believes that every family has the right to receive non-bias care and access to education, and to feel respected, supported, safe, and celebrated.

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• You can access the birth plan used by One Love Doula Services here.

For every mom, the childbirth experience is different. Unfortunately, Moms often hear a lot of dysfunctional birth stories – that are normalized. Zul herself had a very unfortunate experience with her first child when she felt unheard and had an unnecessary cesarean section because of a burnt-out healthcare professional. A few years later, she heard someone’s story about a beautiful home birth and felt inspired to become a homebirth Midwife herself.
How to Choose a Midwife
Your midwife will play a very important role in your delivery experience, so choosing the right person for the job is critical. Zul advises pregnant people to interview and consult with a Midwife to get to know what they offer, and dispel any fears or assumptions (that may stem from misinformation).
The Importance of Having a Birth Plan
Going into a life-changing experience without knowing what to expect is not the best course of action! It’s important to understand the importance of and have a birth plan. A birth plan is a way for you to communicate your wishes to your healthcare team for your upcoming labor and after the birth of your baby. Because the experience with a Midwife is different from mainstream healthcare, it’s personalized to a much greater degree and is designed to make the experience all about you.
Risk Assessment
Before deciding if home birth is a good option, midwives conduct a consult and risk factor assessment to ensure the health of the pregnant person and baby. Understanding your risk profile before your delivery is key. he midwife’s primary priority is to craft the perfect birthing plan that prioritizes the safety and well-being of both mom and baby.
Starting a Conversation About Childbirth
Educate your families as you educate yourself, so that they can play an active role in the birth process – especially if you are unable to exercise your will, and need an advocate at any point. Together, we can create a world where every woman has the support and resources she needs to lead a healthy and fulfilling life!