What You Should Include In Your Birth Plan
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Pregnancy can be one of the most beautiful and the most terrifying phases of your life. You will experience the joy of carrying your baby, but as your due date approaches, so does the fear and uncertainty attached to childbirth. You’ve probably read a million books and listened to people talk about their experiences, good and bad. But what you really need is a birth plan. Although it isn’t something that is required in order to have a baby, many women put together a birth plan in order to feel more prepared and have more autonomy over how they want the birth of their baby to pan out. If you’d like to know more, read on!
In This Article
What Is A Birth Plan?
Your birth plan is nothing but a written or verbal list of preferences for your labor and birthing experience. It can be as simple or detailed as you like. But what it essentially is, it is a way to convey your wishes to your partner and your pregnancy care providers the things that are most important to you during or after the birthing process. For example, if you’d like to have an epidural during birth or not or if skin to skin contact is essential right after your baby is born.
The great news about today’s medical practices is that many women are able to make their birth plans a part of their official medical records. This means that a copy of their birth plan is included in their chart when they go to the hospital to deliver the baby. This way the whole birthing team is privy to the mother’s preferences. However, it is important to keep in mind that not everything you have listed can happen during the actual birth. For example, if you have a rushed labor, the staff may not have the time to look through all of your wishes. If you or your baby are in danger and a c-section must be performed, your desire to have a natural birth will go flying out the window. You will have to adapt to the situation at hand but it’s good to jot down what your ideal scenario looks like.
What To Include In Your Birth Plan
1. A Pain Management Plan
You don’t have to stick to the outline of your birth plan but it does come in handy to state how exactly you want to manage labor pains so that your birthing team is aware and can support you through the process of childbirth. For instance, you can list out if you would like a birthing ball, or use the shower or a tub, if you’d like a doula or if you’d like your partner to massage you during labor. You can also emphasize on any pain interventions you don’t want such as being offered an epidural or any other specific pain medication. Choose the option that seems the most comfortable to you.
2. Special Requests
You can also specify if you’d like the lights dimmed during labor or want a certain type of music playing in the background in order to relax better. You have a right to communicate your preferences in order to make things easier for you.
3. Any Restrictions You Have For Your Baby
If you have any restrictions for your baby after delivery, this is where you note them down. For instance, if you don’t want your baby to have a pacifier or to be held by anyone but you and your partner, you can definitely mention that in your birth plan.
4. Plans For The Photographer
You will have to get any photography plans cleared by your delivery provider and the facility at which you will be delivering. So, make sure to mention any photography requests on your birthing plan so that the staff will be well prepared and will know what to expect. Your team has to be aware of and approve of the photographer during the delivery.
5. C-section Preferences
If you would like a scheduled and planned C-section or want to be prepared for a C-section delivery in case of emergencies you can note down any preferences you have for the procedure. Oftentimes, a C-section is sprung onto the woman due to birth complications but this doesn’t mean you have no say in how it’s performed. For example, you can communicate with your team if you’d like your drape to be lowered to witness the birth of your baby, if you’d like to initiate skin to skin contact with your baby in the operation room or if you’d like to try breastfeeding your baby before they are taken away to be assessed. These wishes will be respected depending on the safety policy of the hospital and the situation while you deliver.
All these options may seem overwhelming but it is better to make well informed decisions and have a general idea of what you’d want and don’t want for your birthing experience. But try not to worry too much if some things don’t go your way. Birthing never goes 100% according to plan. Happy pregnancy!
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