ABSTRACT
This chapter covers the issues parents face as they prepare for labor and the birth of their new baby. Preparing for the labor and birth can be an opportunity for support and healing. The parents must be helped to identify the normal physiological changes of pregnancy not just the warning signs of an impending problem. Teaching relaxation is crucial but can be very challenging. After working so hard to stay pregnant, parents now must shift their thinking toward relaxing and releasing the baby from the mother's body. The minimum preparation needed is touring the labor and birthing area where the mother will be giving birth. Birth plans can be viewed as an unrealistic set of demands but are crucial for these parents. Rational emotive body imagery (REBI) is a technique that is helpful for bereaved people who are using avoidance to try to circumvent the pain of an emotional experience.
