The other day a patient who is in her first trimester of pregnancy was chatting with me about different stuff and asking for some advice with pregnancy. Since I am pretty experienced with pregnancy and birth having had both extremes (a C-section and then a natural home birth), I said she could come to me anytime for questions. She thanked me and said it was so much easier to talk to someone who actually listens and understands! I asked her what she meant and she said that she felt her OB-Gyn didn't seem to care much how she felt and didn't take her concerns and questions seriously. She felt like she was "just another pregnancy". That upset me because pregnancy is supposed to be such an amazing, wonderful time, not some kind of disease! And of course a first-time mother is going to have a lot of questions and is freaking out! I suggested she think about using a midwife for the rest of her pregnancy and delivery. Midwives are trained in birth, while Obstetricians are too, they are better trained for emergency situations that require intervention like a cesarean section. And bottom line, if she is not comfortable with her doctor, she should definitely change!  I also recommended The Birth Book by Dr. Sears for her to read. It really explains well the whole pregnancy and birth process and what's happening in your body from the start of the first contraction right up until the the baby is born. A lot of women have a fear about labor and birth because they have never experienced it before, and let's face it, there will be pain! But if you really understand WHY the pain is there and the incredible things that are happening during labor, it is easier to handle the pain and prepare yourself ahead of time. Trust me, having a natural, drug-free delivery was amazing and definitely worth it! As women, I think we forget that WE are in control of our bodies, not a doctor, midwife or anyone else. YOU are your best doctor, so it's up to us as women to not only take care of our bodies but to understand them and do our own research so we are more empowered in any situation!

Dr. Carla