It can be immensely valuable to form a realistic understanding of the actual birth process and then speak with someone you trust. One good way to sort out emotions is to write down your thoughts and expectations in a birth letter. Some choose to write in great detail, and others are more concise. And then there are those who feel that a birth letter is unnecessary. For the midwife, the birth letter provides an opportunity to gain an understanding of your personality as well as what emotions and thoughts you and your partner have about labor.
It can be particularly valuable if you arrive at the birth center/hospital in active labor and have difficulty expressing yourself. The letter can also serve to give you a chance to reflect on your thoughts, and check-in with each other’s expectations on childbirth and on becoming parents. It is important to know that the birth letter is not a contract. A lot can happen during childbirth that will require you and your partner to reassess what is written together with the midwife.
Sources:
- Abascal, G., & Huss, M. S. (2018). Att föda. Bonnier Fakta.