Triangle Birth Network
Empowering families. Improving birth.

Two women, Mary and Joan, are both giving birth in May. They’ve both chosen Dr ABC as their care provider, and they’ll both be birthing at Hospital XYZ. They both think they would like a natural birth; vaginal and without pain meds. However, both feel open to the idea of an epidural at some point since they really don’t know what to expect of themselves. To help them decide, they both hire a doula. Both women start labor and arrive at the hospital in active labor. Both women eventually have Pitocin augmentation recommended, consent, and also decide to get an epidural not long after. Both women have otherwise uncomplicated vaginal births, healthy babies, and are successful with breastfeeding after a small amount of formula supplementation.

Mary is overjoyed at her experience. She feels satisfied with her vaginal birth and healthy baby. She feels accomplished for having established breastfeeding. She thought the hospital offered many amenities that she enjoyed, and appreciated the support and monitoring that the nurses provided. Joan is heartbroken. It turns out that she wanted an unmedicated birth more than she thought. She’s glad that she has a healthy baby and is breastfeeding, but did not want to supplement with formula even a little bit. Needing all the help she had with birth and breastfeeding has shaken her confidence, and she would have liked more privacy while in the hospital.

Was the concrete care received by each woman remarkably different? No, in fact it was probably remarkably similar. The birth story they each have to tell is a common one, as is each of their reactions to the experience. So how is it that they could feel so completely differently about virtually the same experience?

What it comes down to is that there are as many ways to give birth as there are people doing it. Each woman, and her family, has unique needs. The physical or medical needs between women differ, of course. This is understood. What is not always appreciated is that the emotional and support needs between women also differ widely. There is no single perfect way to give birth. Every woman, and her family, must decide for themselves what they need in order to feel safe and satisfied with their birth experience. That is why we are so fortunate, in the Triangle, to have choices.

This is where things can become overwhelming. The sheer number of choices that we have in this area leaves some families simply picking the closest doctor, at the closest hospital, in order to avoid trying to sort through the myriad of options. The reality is that having all these birth options is a privilege, and one that we may lose if we are not good consumers of our care. These choices include (but are not limited to)

• birth in one of six hospitals with a doctor (of Obstetrics or Family Medicine)
• birth in a hospital with a certified nurse midwife (CNM)
• birth at a freestanding birth center (the only one in the state) with a CNM
• birth at home with a CNM
• birth at home with a Certified Professional Midwife (CPM)

While studies show that each of these options is equally safe for the majority of women, most families are choosing the first option; birth in a hospital with a doctor (usually of Obstetrics). However, the choice of a hospital with an OB is just the beginning. Now a decision has to be made about which doctor in which hospital.  There are six main hospitals that have a Labor and Delivery unit in the Triangle. For each of these hospitals there are a number of Obstetricians that practice there. Each of these doctors will have his or her personal preferences, policies, and philosophy about birth. Yet more to sort through!

Of course there are other care options that have to be figured in, as well. Childbirth classes, doula care, complimentary care (like massage, chiropractic, acupuncture, energy healing, therapy options, etc), as well as support groups and which products to buy are all parts of the experience that must be decided about.  

This is where Triangle Birth Network comes in. TBN is a network of people from many backgrounds, all over the Triangle. We include professionals, lay experts, parents, and other people interested in birth in our area. We have gathered information and resources specific to the Triangle to help people make informed, personalized choices. We recognize that each family is the expert on what the perfect birth for them will be. TBN simply seeks to help people sort through their choices. We have examined the many sources of information out there, held that up against the highest standards of science and objectivity, and gathered solid, evidence based information about our area.

This may sound a little dry and academic, and sometimes it is, but the members of the Board of Triangle Birth Network are passionate about helping families find the best and safest birth for their situation. Our goal is to make this network of resources and surplus of information accessible to you. These articles are a great place to start. The events we have throughout the Triangle are another way to learn. We have held a number of events that have been both fun and informative. There have been film screenings, discussion groups, presentations, and meetups. These have included professionals from many aspects of the birth community as well as families who have completed the birth process and want to share their experiences.

So, we’re going to keep on doing our work in the Triangle. We’ll continue to stay up-to-date and evidence based. We’ll continue to publish good information that is relevant to our area. There will be more events that promise to be both fun and informative. Your job is to participate at the level that fits your needs. We’re always happy to have more members to aid in the process of improving birth in the Triangle. We’re here for families to utilize us as a resource that acts as a travel agency through the journey of birth. We’re here for people just starting to explore and examine the birth process, to provide bits and pieces as you’re ready for them.

The Board of Triangle Birth Network would like to welcome you to our organization. We want to know what you think, what you need, and how we can help with any part of it. Please communicate to us anything you wish to have made known about TBN or birth in the Triangle. We wish to be transparent and welcoming and we encourage the community to hold us to such standards!