Ep. 316: Navigating Birth Plans and Hospital Communication with Dawn Hancock from Pivotal Birth

Join HeHe in an enlightening conversation with Nurse Dawn from Pivotal Birth to discuss the critical aspects of creating a birth plan and the importance of effective communication with medical staff during labor and delivery. Dawn shares her rich experience working in multiple hospitals and introduces the innovative PIVOT plan approach to improve birth experiences. Learn how to set clear expectations, handle unexpected pivots like C-sections and epidurals, and ensure that your values and preferences are respected throughout your birth journey. This episode is a must-watch for expecting parents looking to optimize their hospital birth experience and for healthcare professionals aiming to enhance patient care.

06:37 The Importance of Birth Plans

07:38 Experiences with Birth Plans in Hospitals

10:55 Advice for Communicating Birth Plans

15:04 Introducing the PIVOT Plan

16:28 Breaking Down the PIVOT Plan

18:22 The Role of Communication in Birth

24:58 Navigating Hospital Policies and Biases

35:23 Engaging with Medical Assessments

36:48 Introducing Birth Preferences to Hospital Staff

38:48 Understanding Individual Needs During Birth

49:44 The Importance of Childbirth Classes

51:33 Navigating Unexpected Diagnoses

54:17 Coping with Birth Plan Changes

56:49 Handling Unexpected C-Sections

01:04:02 Final Thoughts and Resources

GUEST BIO:

Dawn Hancock is a seasoned Labor and Delivery Nurse certified in Obstetric Nursing, Lamaze Certified Childbirth Educator, Certified Lactation Counselor and Board Certified Nurse Coach.

She has worked exclusively in maternal child care in the hospital setting and in the home as well. She is passionate about empowering women and their partners to advocate for the care they desire for themselves and their newborns.

Her own experiences in childbirth with her three children prompted her to go into Nursing for Labor and Delivery.

Dawn is the founder of Pivotal Birth LLC where she hosts The Bridging Birth Membership. This membership provides on-demand Childbirth Education Classes, her Breastfeeding Starting Strong Course and live Q&A Sessions 2 times a month where members can come ask questions, share stories and build community.

Nurse Dawn can be found on all platforms @pivotalbirth

SOCIAL MEDIA:

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BIRTH EDUCATION:

Join The Birth Lounge here for judgment-free childbirth education that prepares you for an informed birth and how to confidently navigate hospital policy to have a trauma-free labor experience!

Download The Birth Lounge App for birth & postpartum prep delivered straight to your phone!

LINKS MENTIONED:

Sign up for Dawn’s Pivotal Birth Workshop here.

Use code HeHe10 at Www.pivotalbirth.com for a special discount for our listeners!