Creating Your Birth Plan
Writing Your Birth Plan: A Guide for Expectant Parents
Congratulations! If you’re here, you are most likely an expectant parent! You're embarking on an incredible journey, and it probably feels a little bit scary. One of the ways to prepare for this life-changing event is by creating a birth plan. A birth plan is a personal document that outlines your preferences for labor, birth, and postpartum care. It helps ensure that your healthcare team understands and respects your desires during this intimate and life-altering time. In this post, I'll walk you through the process of writing a birth plan step by step.
Step 1: Research, Educate, and Reflect
Begin by gathering information about the different birthing options available to you at your chosen facility. Attend childbirth education classes that are not hosted by that birthing facility, read books, and speak with experienced parents or professionals such as doulas and midwives. Familiarize yourself with the various interventions, pain relief techniques, and postpartum care choices. This research will empower you to make informed decisions about your birth experience.
Step 2: Determine Your Preferences
As you gain knowledge, start reflecting on your personal preferences. Discuss with your partner what matters most to you both during labor and delivery. Consider elements such as pain management, movement during labor, fetal monitoring options, birthing positions, who you want present in the room, delayed cord clamping, and nursing choices.
Step 3: Write It Down
Now that you have a clearer vision of your ideal birth experience, it's time to write your birth plan. Keep it concise, yet comprehensive, focusing on the key points that are important to you. Here's a suggested breakdown to structure your plan:
Introduction and Personal Information
Begin by introducing yourselves and include important details such as your names, due date, preferred hospital or birthing center, and healthcare provider.
Labor Preferences
Outline your preferences for pain management, including natural methods such as breathing exercises, massage, or hydrotherapy; or medical interventions like epidurals or nitrous oxide. Discuss whether you would like to be free to move, use a birthing ball, or try alternative positions during labor.
Medical Interventions
Express your stance on interventions like induction, augmentation of labor, and the use of forceps or vacuum extraction. If you have specific preferences regarding episiotomies, make sure to address them.
birthing Preferences
Detail your preferred position for the birth and if you want your partner to catch the baby. Mention whether you'd like a mirror available for viewing, immediate skin-to-skin contact, or delayed cord clamping, etc.
tips from a doula:
Keep it concise and to the point. Be detailed but brief. Medical staff do not have the time to pour over your plan, but will look over it and pull out the most important points, so try to keep it to one page.
Create a dream plan as your plan A, and weigh the other options as a plan B, and plan C. Birth is unpredictable, and you need to know the benefits and risks of every option regardless of your dream birth.
Bring multiple copies for the multiple people that will be in and out of your room. Nurses, doctors, midwives, doulas, your partners - they all need to be on the same page about your wishes. They are all on your team and have the same end goal in mind.
