Birth
Options Consulting
by Jo Anne Lindberg
President and founder of BirthLink, Jo Anne Lindberg, offers private consults for couples. You may ask yourself why would someone need that? Many parents go to the BirthLink web site and realize that there is so much to learn. With only nine months, most start their journey during pregnancy. They soon realize that they may need to take some short cuts. With ten years of experience in the Chicago birth community Jo Anne knows many of the practitioners personally. She is also aware of their practice philosophies. While who you choose, as a primary care practitioner, dictates where you will have your baby many people do not understand the differences in practitioner or place of birth. How practitioners are influenced by hospital culture and political climate is invisible to parents. These factors can have a major impact on their birth experience.
There are many factors that influence what kind of birth someone will have.
While it is impossible to control them one can have a positive influence by
choosing the best possible match based on information that is not readily
known to the consumer. Since she is not a direct provider she will answer
any and all questions couples have from a broad perspective based on what is
best for a families health and well being. Assistance with the who, what,
where, when questions can save time and effort and in many cases help
parents have a safer more satisfying birth experience. With c-section rates
at 30% nationally, and some local hospitals higher, this is just one reason
why parents need to educate themselves.
One of her favorite stories is - after hearing a couple describe what kind
of birth they would like - she noticed that what they were describing
sounded like a home birth. When she asked if they had considered this they
said yes but ruled it out due to living in an apartment. After explaining
that many people in Chicago live in apartments and have home births they
began to explore this option and found it was the right one for them. They
were grateful that they decided to have a consultation. While having a home
birth is not for everyone there are many ways a couple can optimize their
hospital experience.
Reasons parents choose to have a consult:
General information regarding birth choices
Planning to get pregnant
One partner wants to go with less intervention oriented choices
Save time on researching options
Narrow down the options
Had previous negative birth experience
Reduction of fear and anxiety - increase confidence
Learn about all the many options available
Help avoiding a c-section
Answers to their specific questions
Recently moved to Illinois
From foreign country
Investigating home birth
Want a supportive birth team
Want to make informed decisions
Parenting begins the instant a couple realizes they are pregnant. Jo Anne welcomes referrals and will happily answer questions by phone or e-mail. BirthLink 847-733-8050 or bestbirth@birthlink.com.
