Welcome to Birth Coach Methods webinar Who Moved

Welcome to Birth Coach Method’s webinar Who Moved My Cheese – The Labor and Delivery Version © BIRTH COACH METHOD 1

Self-Reflection is Self-Care Our Core competencies Our relationships Our commitments and goals Our scope of practice Our philosophy © BIRTH COACH METHOD 2

The Maze is Where You Find Your Cheese Relationship Happiness Fulfillment Satisfaction Health Money Romance Family © BIRTH COACH METHOD 3

Our Professional Maze Joy $$ Fulfillment Relationship Empowerment satisfaction Trauma Anywhere birth takes place Pregnancy and birth Labor and Delivery room © BIRTH COACH METHOD 4

The Fear of Childbirth in Ancient World No blood transfusion Hemorrhage Maternal death Stillbirth Bleeding No Sanitation No Antibiotics Mal nutrition Infection No family planning © BIRTH COACH METHOD 5

Our Cultural Believes about Childbirth Genesis Chapter 3: “Unto the woman He said: 'I will greatly multiply thy pain and thy travail; in pain thou shalt bring forth Children; {S} © BIRTH COACH METHOD 6

Childbirth Metaphor in Ancient Greece And still the victor Roamed back and forth along the living ranks With spear and sword attacking or with stones, as long as hot blood gushed from his wound. But when his blood no longer flowed, and the gash dried, Then rays of pain lacerated Agamemnon. Comparable to the throes A writhing woman suffers in hard labor Sent by the goddesses of Travail, Hera’s daughters, Twisters, mistresses of pangs The anguish throbbed in Agamemnon now. HOMER, around 750 B. C © BIRTH COACH METHOD 7

The Foundations of OBGYN around 1860 © BIRTH COACH METHOD 8

What Did We Give-Up to have the New Cheese? Our freedom Family Support Female Support Our Nest Our Traditions © BIRTH COACH METHOD Our voice 9

Midwifery Care vs. Obstetric Management Obstetric gynecologists were all men, and they have never committed to support women in childbirth, they were, and still are, holding to different values, and have different focus. © BIRTH COACH METHOD 10

Modern Birth Activism - 1970 © BIRTH COACH METHOD 11

What Type of Cheese Doulas Are? Female support Tactile support Emotional support Physiological support Birth traditions © BIRTH COACH METHOD 12

The Advocacy Dilemma “Doula training workshops set up a contradiction faced by many trainees who have just learned about a model of birth that posits midwifery, out of hospital birth, and low interventions as optimal. Thus, communicating how to hold strong believes and yet notadvocate for them is not always a simple matter… “( Christine Morton, Birth Ambassadors, p. 132) © BIRTH COACH METHOD 13

Self Care and Integrity in the Doula Position 1. We might lose our privilege to support our client -”A doula in labor room is worth three doulas in the waiting room“. 2. Based on our little knowledge about childbirth and possible complications we can agree that we’re not experts in this domain, and therefore it is not safe for us. It should not be in our scope of practice. © BIRTH COACH METHOD 14

Coaching vs. Advocating How would it help a doula to inquire about the medical terminology, diagnosis or procedure rather that inquire about: 1. The belief system of her client around her birth in general and at this moment. 2. How does the client feel about what she heard from the doctor? 3. What does the client want to do about the new situation? 4. What does the client need from her doula in light of the new situation? 5. How can the doula empower her client at this point, or facilitate acceptance. © BIRTH COACH METHOD 15

The Role of the Coach © BIRTH COACH METHOD 16

The Coaching Relationships Robert Dilts, 2003: “Coaching is the process of helping another person perform at the peak of his or her abilities. It doesn't presuppose that people are broken - on the contrary, it helps them identify and develop their strengths. It starts from the assumption that people have the answers and that the coach's role is to help that person to overcome internal resistances and interferences, give feedback on behavior and give tips and guidance. ” © BIRTH COACH METHOD 17

The Role of the Doula who Practice like a Coach • The role of the birth coach is to lead the mother towards an optimal performance during childbirth. • Coaching always comes before the performance. • Conducting prenatal coaching sessions is an essential part of the doula role. © BIRTH COACH METHOD 18

Improving Performance VS. Solving Pathology Coaching (Doulas) Therapy (Medical Figures) Success oriented Symptoms oriented Empowerment Mood management Doing better = feeling better Feeling better = doing better Client accountability Client expect to be fixed Innovative strategies Insight/cognitive tools Action oriented Passive involvement Results driven Issues/deficit driven © BIRTH COACH METHOD 19

Doulas’ Scope of Practice To lead our birth clients towards an optimal performance in the field ofchildbirth, or in Penny Simkin’s words - to facilitate a high level of satisfaction from the way they were conducting themselves during childbirth. In situations which involve medical concerns, complications, or interventions, we can only empower our clients to advocate for themselves, and to takedecisions that is aligned with their belief system, and we cannot inform them or advocate for them. © BIRTH COACH METHOD 20

Doula Asking Leading Questions: 1. How do you feel about taking Pitocin now? 2. Did you ask the midwife what other options are possible for you at this point? 3. Did you ask your midwife what are the side effects or risks Pitocin might have at this time on your birth? 4. Can you ask your midwife to take another look at your birth plan and help you keep most of your preferences in place, regardless of using the Pitocin? 5. Do you know what is the risk of postponing the administration of Pit, while trying for a couple of hours to invite spontaneous contractions in an alternative ways? 6. Yes, it is a deviation from your ideal birth, however there was no way for you to know the unfolding of your birth in reality. What do you think now, after 24 hours of rupture with no contraction? Are you ready to make an adjustment, or do you need more time? © BIRTH COACH METHOD 21

Focus Your Coaching on the Birth Experience Remind your client (and yourself) that you are not a medical expert, and that your role is to focus on the quality of her birth experience, and on empowerment. • Ask questions and listen from curiosity. • Assess whether she needs support to adjust her goals and wishes. • Evaluate how comfortable, or aligned she is with the information and the treatment plan provided to her by her OB. Get an accurate understanding of the implications that this condition might have on her birth experience. • Refer her to studies and resources on the topic. • Facilitate flexibility and adjustment if needed. © BIRTH COACH METHOD 22

New Applications of the BRAIN Model 1. Empower our client to advocate for herself based on the BRAIN model. 2. To aske questions that refers to BRAIN from the POV of her Birth Experience. © BIRTH COACH METHOD 23

Coaching Questions around BRAIN • How is this intervention or procedure serving you’re your birth experience? Or from the point of your desired experience, what is the benefit of this? • How does it interrupt with or risk your goals? • What do you think can be done in order to change the situation? • Would you like me to help you explore your options? • Would you like us to practice role playing, so you can practice what it feels like to say this to your OB? • Assuming that there is nothing else that can be done, are you ready to look at what is still possible for you in terms of your desired birth experience? © BIRTH COACH METHOD 24

Lead with Questions! © BIRTH COACH METHOD 25

Facilitating Adjustment and Acceptance • Facilitate a conversation about the differences between accountability and responsibility. (She can only be accountable for the process, and never is responsible for the outcomes, as these are not in her control). • Shift the focus from the limitations to what is still possible for her. © BIRTH COACH METHOD 26

Become the Change Doulas coach birth clients towards an optimal performance during childbirth by clarifying their client’s goals, motivation, and belief system, and by fostering new skills. They lead clients to form a positive concept of childbirth by distinguishing truth from myth and fears from reality. Doulas support their clients physically and emotionally during birth, and facilitate higher levels of satisfaction from the birth experience. You are no longer in the position of the warrior or the opposition. You become a leader, a coach, a facilitator, a mentor, an awakener, and not the protector. © BIRTH COACH METHOD 27

Fostering Collaboration in L&D • Ask questions using the word we to create collaboration. • Make leading suggestions by asking the nurse questions. • Encourage your clients to talk to the nurse and to practice trust throughout the birth. • Offer your help to the nurse when there is an opportunity to work together. • Be a pleasant guest; always ask for permission, even when you think that the answer is very predictable. © BIRTH COACH METHOD 28

Did I Move Your Cheese Today? • Embracing the coaching approach in the field of childbirth support will free you from the warrior position. • The new approach defines doulas’ scope of practice as leading the mother towards an optimal performance during childbirth, and facilitating optimal birth experience. This scope excludes informational support around medical aspects of pregnancy and birth. • The coaching tools and strategies become the doula’s core competencies, in addition to the tactile ones. © BIRTH COACH METHOD 29

Birth Coach Method © BIRTH COACH METHOD 30

The Four Domains of Coaching for Childbirth Coaching around M. I. f ing ach Co sure clo or Coaching through labor and birth or through pain Prenatal Coaching always comes before the performance! © BIRTH COACH METHOD 31

Workshop Approved for DONA CEUs The Art of Coaching for Childbirth Integrating the Principles and Strategies of Coaching into the Field of Birth Support I am happy to bring this workshop to your area, Contct me at neri@birthcoachmethod. com A dynamic & eye-opening one day workshop that will leverage your birth support practice! © BIRTH COACH METHOD 32

The Art of Coaching for Childbirth (7. 5 DONA CEUs) To Healthy Birth On Earth! www. Birth. Coach. Method. com Class are only $10 now! © BIRTH COACH METHOD 33