Giving Birth in Turkey: Getting Prepared

In our previous piece we discussed choosing your obstetrician – this was the most difficult part. Now it is time for you to relax and take care of yourself. Fortunately for you, there are many tips and resources to ease this difficult moment of your life. Pregnancy may not be especially comfortable, but don’t forget that it is a unique moment to be enjoyed because at the end you will be meeting your baby. Your goal should be to prepare yourself both mentally and physically for the delivery, as well as the post-natal process.

With your body getting heavier every day, waking up with morning sickness, and increasingly losing mobility, being physically active is not easy. However, believe me the more you take time to lightly exercise, the better you and your baby will feel. This includes activities like walking or attending yoga and Pilates classes. Swimming is actually the most recommended physical activity during pregnancy because you are using the lifting power of the water. Generally, depending on the physician’s point of view, exercise is only allowed until the 15-16^th week of your pregnancy. After that, ask for your obstetrician’s view on the length and type of the exercises you can do. If you prefer to walk, be sure and go at a slower pace. If you would like to do Pilates and yoga, then you need to choose courses dedicated to pregnant women. There are many courses available in Istanbul, with institutions specialized in preparing for birth such as DO-UM and Istanbul Doğum Akademisi. They have special courses for moms-to-be as well as classes on preparing to give birth. For those with a more limited budget, there are also free courses organized within nearly every major hospital through the contributions of sponsors. For instance, Zeynep Gözübüyük hosts yoga classes through the contributions of Philips Avent in Acıbadem hospitals. If for some reason you can’t make it to a course, then you also have the option of watching online videos. Zeynep’s videos may be helpful.

Pregnancy is also a period that allows you to learn and get ready for your birthing experience. Your obstetrician will be preparing you during visits. But this won’t be enough. You will need extra support to be ready for this special moment of your life. Breathing lessons will help you to breathe properly during your pregnancy and also during the delivery. This provides your baby with as much as oxygen as possible, as well as allows you to give birth easily. Liv Hospital has a breathing therapy clinic where they give special classes for pregnant women. Istanbul Doğum Akademisi even has classes in English. You can also pamper yourself with massages for pregnant women, such as the sessions at Istanbul Doğum Akademisi.

While the physical preparation is crucial for a healthy delivery, you also need to prepare yourself mentally as parents for this moment. Take time and learn everything you can about how you will deliver the baby, and use this to help you prepare your birth plan. You will decide whether you want a natural birth, a C-section, and a birth with or without anesthesia. Many hospitals also offer classes on this for free. Generally, their aim is to make you choose their hospital for the birth, so they also invite you to visit their rooms. I would recommend attending such classes at your nearest hospital. Depending on the hospital, they usually organize courses that last about six to seven weeks – one session every week, with repeat classes in case you miss one. I strongly recommend that you go with the person who will be supporting you during the birth such as your partner, relative, or friend, because it is important that this person also knows what to do. What I like the most about these courses is the fact that they invite not only obstetricians but also dietitians, dermatologists, and nurses so it is not only about the delivery but also about your health during pregnancy. These are especially useful, so don’t skip it.

If you think you may need extra support during the delivery, a growing trend in Turkey is to work with a doula. Doulas are birth companions who provide both physical and emotional support such as helping you breathe properly, making you exercise to help getting the birth started, comforting and motivating you with the right words, massaging you, and everything else that you need them to do to make your life easier at a very uneasy time. If you prefer an outside person to help you, then it is the best decision but if you feel more comfortable with people that you know, then go that route. I did not work with a doula during my birth but I had a session with a doula to prepare myself beforehand and it was very useful. I know a few doulas, so you can e-mail me if you need few names.

Now that you feel prepared for birth, you also need to prepare for taking care of your baby. You are lucky because all the institutions that I mentioned in this article have relevant classes. Hospitals include this subject in their courses on preparing to give birth. Generally, it is the topic of the last session of the course. They give you tips about breastfeeding, show you how to wash your baby, etc. Brands like Joker and Mariposa also have free classes in their shops. Another possibility is to work with nurses. During the day, they typically work at hospitals, but they come to your house before and after the birth to show you the basics. Generally mother who encounter breastfeeding problems or have difficulties establishing a routine for their babies call for their help. As these nurses are used to seeing every type of baby and situation, their experience is very valuable and comforting for new moms. I also happen to know few nurses that I can recommend to you if you reach out via email.

These nine months are a great opportunity to prepare yourself in every way for this beautiful moment of your life. I have given few tips that may be helpful, but you also need to do your homework and define your own personal needs, as well as your expectations during your pregnancy. Please feel free to contact me for further information.