Getting The Most Out Of Your Birth Plan

Communication. Your birth plan is about communicating your ideas, preferences, and desires about your birth. Think about your doctor or midwife, and the people on staff in a labor and delivery facility. How many women do they work with everyday? They see dozens of women and hundreds of births. What makes you any different from the woman in the next room? You are unique! You have been preparing for this life changing experience for months. You have certain goals, desires, and plans for your birth. How can you best work with those busy people around you?

Having a written birth plan is the easiest way of communicating with those who will be assisting you during labor. Write down a list of the preferences and wishes you may have about birth. Be kind and courteous in your writting. Remember the people who will be reading this are just that: people. People respond well to requests and kindness and not so well to demands.

What Should You Include In Your Birth Plan?

First, you will want to discuss how you would like things to go under normal labor and delivery conditions. What kind of an environment would you like to be in? Who do you want to be there? Which of the facilities labor tools would you like to have available?(Some places have rocking chairs, birthing balls, squatting bars, and more for laboring women to use if you ask.) How do you plan on handling pain? There is nothing worse than planning a natural birth and having someone constantly asking you if you are ok or need medicine. You may want to discuss what positions you would like to be in for the birth. Just describe the way you would like labor to progress and what you may need and you will do just fine.

How do You Want Your Baby Handled?
Your birth plan should also include how you would like your baby to be handled after the birth. Do you want to hold the baby right after birth or have him cleaned up first. Who do you want to cut the umbilical cord? Do you want to breast feed as soon as possible after delivery or do you plan on bottle feeding? Will your baby stay in your room with you during your stay, also called rooming in, or will she stay in a nursery? A hospital may have certain policies and procedure for newborns and you may want to find out what those are beforehand.

In Case of Emergency
One area that no one really wants to think about, but should, is what will happen in the case of an emergency. If, for some reason, you end up needing a c-section? What are the hospitals policies? Do you want your partner there with you if possible? Do you want to be awake during the procedure? It is a good idea to review worse case scenarios and have decisions made ahead of time. After that, continue to enjoy getting ready for your birth!

Many hospitals and birthing facilities have a birth plan available for you to fill out so you don't have to think of one all by yourself. It would be a good idea to find out if they have one and use it. The medical staff is familiar with it and will know just where to look for certain information or questions they may have. You may also want to attach a separate paper with a little more personalized information, any extra information their birth plan may have not covered. This approach will help both you and the medical staff work together for a successful experience.

Talk With Your Care Provider
Be sure to review your plan with your care provider before the actual birth. Talk. Ask and answer questions. Come to an understanding so that you both feel comfortable. Doubts and questions are the breeding ground for fear and problems during your birth.

Make sure you have plenty of copies of your birth plan. Your care provider should have one. Turn one in when you register at the hospital or birthing facility. Your labor partner should have one. Have a few on hand to give to nurses or other caregivers who will be with you during the birth. And remember: Your birth plan is not a list of demands! It is not the dictation of how everyone will act and what everyone will do. It is a means of communicating your wishes and desires ahead of time and giving you, and your baby, the best chance for a good birth experience.

Back to the top of "Getting The Most Out Of Your Birth Plan"

Go to the Home Page for More!

New! Comments