During Birth: Planning for Birth with TeamBirth

At Overlake Childbirth Center, our goal is to honor your preferences, goals, culture and values. We understand that those can be different for every family.

Our center is proud to use the TeamBirth model, an interactive, patient-centered approach that’s designed to facilitate and encourage communication and teamwork – between you, your labor support person and your medical team. 

TeamBirth uses different tools to help you have the pregnancy and birth you most want. These tools encourage you to trust yourself and your body’s signals and to openly discuss the pros and cons of your care options.  

Families appreciate the TeamBirth approach because if a decision needs to be made during labor, it doesn’t happen at the nurse’s station, it happens right in your room. And if you don’t understand something, you can clarify things with your care team during regular bedside “huddles” that include your doctor or midwife, nurses, doula and birth partner.

TeamBirth involves you in all decisions, as much as you want to be. And it can lead to better communication, which can lead to healthier, happier babies and families.  

TeamBirth Tool: Admission Discussion Guide

Many families struggle to know when it’s time to head to the hospital or birth center. We’ll help you make that important decision and know what to discuss with your support person, your nurse or your provider – including whether you’re in early labor or active labor. 

TeamBirth Tool: Shared Labor & Delivery Planning Board

Every labor and delivery suite has a large whiteboard that functions as your “living birth plan.” Whenever a nurse or doctor enters the room, your planning board serves as the definitive, updated guide to your care – keeping everyone on the same page.

This living birth plan includes your preferences around comfort measures. And, as your labor progresses, your nurses will add updates about what’s happening and why. You and your birth partner are also welcome to write any questions on the board to discuss at the next “huddle.” During every huddle, your care team will check in about what’s bothering you most and what’s comforting you most. 

TeamBirth Tool: Labor Support Guide

We’ll help you choose labor support options with your team. These options include:

• Changing your position.
• Taking deep breaths.
• Using wireless baby monitoring technology so you can move around. 
• Using heat or cold.
• Using light, smells or sounds.
• Trying massage, stroking or cuddling with your labor partner.
• Using pain medication.

Learn more about medications for pain during labor

TeamBirth Tool: Assisted Delivery Discussion Aid

As your labor progresses, you may need to discuss the best delivery method for your baby with your team. We’ll help you know how to share your preferences and ask questions along the way.

We’ll also help you understand what factors may lead to the discussion of a C-section delivery.

View Resource: Recovering After Your C-Section