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Show Notes:

Ever wonder why some people just seem safe and others don’t? Or why one person is traumatized by their birth but another is not?

In today’s podcast Chantal Traub, a prominent New York City birth facilitator, doula, childbirth educator and wellness coach discusses the 3 essentials of safety.  

Context is the who, what, when and how of the situation. As birth providers it is our responsibility to help mothers in labor in this area. Prior to the birth, the location of where the birth will take place, who will be present (ideally), what provider will be present (ideally), and how the process works is usually addressed. This takes some of the unknowns out of the process. The baby is expecting to be born into the world with resiliency that comes from a regulated adult. Offering the context helps lead to that regulation. 

Choice is the ability to decide between multiple options. When the power to choose is taken away from a person, he/she/they feel trapped. Choosing simple things like music, lighting or who is present can have a large impact on the perception of safety.

Connection is how the birthing person and provider are associated. Even a provider who has never provided care for a person in the past can make a connection. Knocking before entering the room, introducing themselves to the laboring person at an appropriate distance, looking the patient in the eye and offering both context and choice to the client, all establish that connection which leads to a sense of safety. The number one predictor of birth trauma is the birthing person’s relationship with the provider. So this connection piece and sense of safety are essential in avoiding birth trauma. 

When working with birthing persons, it is important to remember their energy fields are very large, this means that everyone in the room needs a regulated nervous system to help the client feel safe. The birthing person is looking for cues of danger as are the partner, nurse, midwife and physician. Being a calm presence will help everyone regulate. Remembering that each person has a role to play in the birth process and all are trying to ensure the baby and birthing person are kept alive will also support this regulation.

This skill of establishing safety through context, choice and connection will help everyone in the birthing space create the sense of safety required for a safe labor. 

#BirthHealingMovement #NoBrokenMoms #FreetheSacrum

If you have any comments or questions about today’s episode I would love to hear from you. Message me on Instagram or Facebook, or Email Me. 

If you enjoyed today’s podcast and are interested in more topics to support your clinical practice and treating your clients, find us on your favorite podcast app and subscribe so you don’t miss an episode. 

To learn more visit: InstituteforBirthHealing.com

About Today’s Guest:

Chantal Traub is a prominent New York City birth facilitator, doula, childbirth educator and wellness coach. In her 20-plus years in practice, she has become internationally acclaimed for her expertise on the pelvic floor and her Pushing Power technique. Early on, Traub identified a severe lack of preparation among birthing people for the pushing stage of labor. She observed that in birth classes, this essential topic was glossed over. Thus began a mission to properly educate and teach birthing moms—and professionals in the field—to better understand the pelvic floor; through her classes, her one-on-one work and her doula practice, Traub has helped thousands of women birth babies without tearing and without episiotomies. Traub speaks often on the subject of pelvic floor health and safe, effective pushing. She is a regular educator for Global Pelvic Health Alliance, American Physical Therapy, New Jersey and My Pelvic Floor Muscles, and has been featured on many podcasts, including Next Question, with Katie Couric and The Women’s Health Podcast. She presented at the Polyvagal Institute Conference in 2022. In recent years, Traub has expanded her training and practice to be able to serve the health needs of women of all ages and at all life stages. 

Published Co-Author: The Pelvic Floor: Everything you needed to know sooner
Website: https://chantaltraub.com