Confident, Easier Births
Have A Good Birth Plan

You know that labor doesn't follow a "plan". What's the point of having a birth plan if you're going to "throw it out the window" the moment labor begins?

Ahhhh... having a plan is not about planning exactly how you want labor to happen. No. It is about you determining how you would like to give birth and setting up a plan to help you achieve it.

Your birth plan will serve two purposes. First, it will guide you as you prepare for your birth experience, and second, it will let others know of your wishes, desires, and needs during labor and delivery.
This means you get the best chance at having the birth you want.

Your initial plan will deal with the "Who", "What", "Where", "When", "Why", and "How" questions of giving birth. As you start answering these questions, your plan may change a little. Make any changes and adjustments as necessary.

This is about you and your baby! Explore all of your options and come up with a plan that is right for you both!

Though some of this may seem simple or point less at first, keep going, you will not regret it later. As you start answering these questions, I want you to paint a picture in your mind. Actually see the scene in your mind. This is what it might be like when you give birth.

Who: Who is going to be there to help you give birth? Unless you are super women, you will probably want someone there to help oversee the technical side of your birth. Usually women choose either a doctor or a midwife Who will you choose? What about emotional support? You will need a good support system to help get you through the tough moments. Who will you choose to be your labor coach? A family member or friend might do or will you hire a professional coach like a doula?

Who do you want to attend the birth? Will you want a crowd surrounding you to cheer you on? Or would you rather labor in quiet and solitude with minimal distractions?

Where: Where do you want to give birth? Do you find comfort from the idea that medical back-up is right around the corner if you need it? If so, then a hospital may be the place for you.

Would you rather be surrounded by the peace and comforts of home? Then consider having a home birth. Not quite sure about either one of these options? You might ask or call around to see if there are any birth centers near you.

When: When are you going to give birth? Are you going to wait and let nature take its course? Or are you going to schedule an induction or c-section?

How: How are you going to give birth? You have many choices. Learn about the many childbirth options you have today. Decide how you would like to give birth, but be prepared for the other possibilities.

What:
What are you going to do so that your birth experience ends up being what you want it to be? In what ways will you prepare yourself to experience birth? What do you need to do? What do you need to learn? You do not want to be caught off guard when labor finally begins. Being caught off guard is one of the reasons why many birth plans simply "go out the window".

Self preparation is the key to a successful birth experience. What you need to do now is read and explore the other pages on this site. You will find invaluable self-preparation information. Take the challenge of labor and delivery and reap the reward of experiencing the most incredible day of your life!

These are the beginning stages of your birth plan. To keep going, add more to your birth plan by developing your "labor birth plan" or the plan you will use specifically for labor. This plan will slowly develop and become apparent and you continue to read, so let's keep going.

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