Many couples wonder.....   Is There Something I Can Do To Increase the Chances of Having a Natural Childbirth?   Yes, there are a lot of important steps you can take to improve your odds of having a natural birth.  Based on the philosophy of Dr. Robert Bradley, Emily Elliott and Heather Hannon created: The 5 P’s of A Health Pregnancy.     Below you will find a detailed description of 5 valuable steps you can take for a more rewarding and safe birth experience.   1).  Preparation.  Advocating for the well being of your child begins before birth.    Educate yourself about pregnancy and labor by attending childbirth classes.  Learn about your options.  Read and research those options so that you understand the risks and benefits and can make informed decisions.  To stay low risk, avoid complications during birth, and increase your chances of having a healthy baby: stay active, perform specific pregnancy exercises designed to strengthen and open the pelvic muscles, learn about good nutrition and eat well during pregnancy           2).  Provider.  Choose a supportive provider, one whose birth philosophy aligns with yours.   Who you choose as your provider will strongly influence your birth experience. How to choose wisely:  a.       Interview more than one provider.  b.      Ask questions early on in your pregnancy, 38 weeks is not the time to be finding out your provider has vastly different beliefs about birth c.       Look for someone who is open and encourages questions d.      Look for someone who believes that birth is a natural process, not a problem that needs to be “fixed.”  e.       Look for someone who has experience with the way you wish to deliver.  For instance, if you are trying for a VBAC (vaginal birth after cesarean) you want a provider who has a high success rate doing VBAC.  If you have to “convince” your doctor that having a natural birth or a VBAC is an option, then this is probably not the right provider for the type of birth you desire.  f.        Ask yourself is it more important to birth with this particular provider or to birth the way you desire. g.       Don’t be afraid to switch providers h.       Remember to inquire about on-call coverage, what are the chances that someone else in your provider’s practice will be the one there during your labor.   3).  Practice.  Labor is a fluid event and your birth story is written as it happens.    In order to relax during labor and effectively cope with whatever path your labor takes you must practice.    In Bradley classes we practice numerous labor scenarios so that couples feel more comfortable coping with whatever comes up during labor.  Relaxation is an extremely effective tool in labor.  The more you practice relaxation the easier it will be to slip into a relaxed state during labor.  Bradley has couples practice relaxation together and under various circumstances (at home where it is quiet, in a crowded noisy environment, in the car) because labor could take place at home or in the car on the way to the hospital.   4).  Place.  Creating a safe, secure, and comfortable birth environment (whether it be at home, at a hospital, or at a birth center) can help couples relax during labor.   Ask yourself, what type of environment will make me feel secure during labor?  Is it dim lights, a quiet room, music?  Consider bringing a special item of comfort with you to the hospital (favorite pair or socks, blanket, photo etc.)  Who do I want to be with me (will having my mother in law with me during labor make cause anxiety?   Do your homework about where you will deliver.  If you desire a natural childbirth and your hospital has a 90% epidural rate or requires you to stay in bed during labor, this is helpful information to know prior to the actual onset of labor.   5).  Partner. There is nothing more valuable than a loving partner supporting the mother during childbirth.    Dr. Robert Bradley is often credited with bringing fathers into the delivery room.  Indeed, having someone whose sole role is to support mom during childbirth is extremely beneficial to the labor process.  With all the labor and delivery entail these days, many couples elect to have a trained labor support person, or doula, that can provide additional emotional and physical support during labor.