Bringing a new life into this world is one of the most magical experiences a woman can have. As your due date approaches, it’s completely normal to feel a whirlwind of emotions – joy, nervousness, excitement, and apprehension. An important way to help gain a sense of control and empowerment during this transformative time is to create a birth plan.
What is a Birth Plan?
A birth plan is a written document that outlines your preferences and goals for the labor and delivery process. It acts as a communication tool between you and your healthcare providers. The plan helps inform the doctors, nurses, midwives, doulas, and anyone else supporting you during the birth about the experience you hope to have.
Why Have a Birth Plan?
There are several key reasons to create a birth plan:
- Communicate your wishes: A written plan allows you to convey your preferences to your care team clearly and concisely. This helps avoid confusion or uncertainty.
- Prepare mentally: The process of researching and deciding what you want helps you mentally prepare for the intensity of labor.
- Promote empowerment: Choosing your ideal birth environment and procedures allows you to feel empowered.
- Serve as a guide: The birth plan acts as a guide or roadmap that caregivers can refer to throughout the process to ensure your preferences are respected.
- Provide flexibility: Birth plans are not set in stone. They allow you to remain flexible in case medical needs arise during labor that require altering the plan.
Creating Your Birth Plan
When writing your birth plan, here are some things to consider including:
- Labor environment: Do you want low lighting? Music playing? Freedom to move around? Access to a birthing ball or hydrotherapy tub? Make requests to create your optimal laboring atmosphere.
- Pain management preferences: Do you want to use a medication-free approach or be open to options like an epidural? Include your desires.
- Delivery positions: List preferred positions like squatting, kneeling, and side-lying. Varying positions can ease discomfort, shorten labor, and assist the descent of your baby.
- Interventions: Specify preferences on common interventions – being induced, having your water broken, episiotomy, etc.
- Monitoring baby: Do you want continuous electronic fetal monitoring versus intermittent monitoring? Detail preferences.
- Support people: List who you want present – partner, doula, family.
- Immediately after birth: The state desires procedures like delayed cord clamping, who cuts the cord, and immediate skin-to-skin contact.
- Newborn procedures: Voice preferences on first bath, eye ointment, vitamins, vaccines, and circumcision if applicable.
- Feeding: Include your plans to breastfeed, bottle feed, or combination feed. State preferences for assistance from lactation consultants.
Communicating Your Birth Plan
- Review your plan with your doctor/midwife early in the third trimester to ensure your wishes align with their recommendations.
- Bring physical copies to share with nurses and other caregivers when labor begins.
- Keep an open mind. Elements may need to change for health/safety reasons.
Benefits of Thoughtful Birth Planning
While births don’t always go as anticipated, taking time to thoughtfully plan for your ideal experience can yield many benefits:
- Reduced anxiety and increased confidence as delivery nears.
- Deeper feeling of satisfaction even if deviations from the plan occur.
- Improved ability to advocate for yourself during intense labor.
- Higher likelihood of having requests met by your labor support team.
- Healthier delivery with fewer unnecessary interventions.
- More empowered feeling of control over your childbirth journey.
The birth of a child is a once-in-a-lifetime occasion. Take time during your pregnancy to envision and plan for the birthday you want. Communicate your desires clearly with a thoughtful birth plan. While you can’t control every aspect of labor, with careful planning you can positively influence your birthing experience.
