Birth Plan

As you approach the special day when you’ll be able to meet your baby in person, it’s time to consider your labor and delivery options. Some expectant moms create birth plans to collect their thoughts and use them as a basis for conversations with their doctors.

While pregnancy, delivery, and transport are unpredictable, expressing your concerns with everyone in the process may help you feel more confident and in control. Continue reading to learn how to develop a birth plan if you don’t already know-how.

A birth plan is a method for you to communicate your goals to your health care providers throughout pregnancy and after the birth of your kid. Every birth, whether it’s planned or unplanned, is unique.

Creating a birth plan allows you to be informed of your choices throughout childbirth. At the same time, it’s a mechanism for the group

caring for you to learn about your preferences.

What is a Birth Plan?

A birth plan lists your preferences for the healthcare facility setting, medical treatment, and immediate care for your baby. The birth plan sets a standard for your medical group to follow so that you don’t have to worry about any of this while in active labor.

Labor is an ever-changing experience, and a birth plan is only a suggestion. You may modify your mind at any time in collaboration with your healthcare provider based on your desires, and it’s critical to remain adaptable and keep an open mind.

Some parents choose not to learn the gender of their child, and not writing a birth plan is another viable alternative. Suppose you and your healthcare practitioner feel you’ve worked collaboratively well for the past several months of your pregnancy.

In that case, you might be relieved that your healthcare provider will make the greatest judgments throughout labor, delivery, and the hours immediately following your kid’s birth. In this scenario, it may be worthwhile to move ahead without providing complete instructions.

Why is a Birth Plan Essential

Do I need to Have a Birth Plan?

You don’t need to write a birth plan. If you decide to create one, your midwife can assist you. They will be able to:

➤ Answer your concerns about how things operate at work
➤ Tell you more about where the closest centers are in your area
➤ can help you balance what your likes and top priorities are

When Should I Consider Making a Birth Plan?

There’s no recommended time while pregnant when a birth strategy needs to be written. Preferably, you will not be trying to make a plan after your labor has started. Talk with your maternal treatment supplier regarding what, in their experience, is helpful to include. As well as examine to see if you require any factors due to specific problems, like gestational diabetes mellitus or pre-eclampsia.

What Information Should a Birth Plan Include?

There is a lot to consider when creating your birth plan. After speaking to your healthcare providers, here are some of the additional information you should consider and include in your birth plan:

The Basics

Begin by noting the names and contact information of the most influential individuals involved in your delivery. This might include:

➣ You
➣ Your obstetrician or midwife
➣ Your selected doctor
➣ Your companion or anyone else you expect to be present at the delivery room

If you don’t want any individuals involved with the delivery, you may blacklist them here as well.

Relevant Medical Information

Consists of information about your case history, such as names and contact information for key people in your case. List any medications you’re taking, any ailments you’re being treated for, and anything relevant to past maternities and deliveries.

Atmosphere

Consider what will make you feel most at ease. Place where you want to give birth in your writing. If you’re seeing an obstetrician or licensed nurse-midwife (CNM), they’ll most likely transport you to the hospital or birthing center where they practice.

But you must also put down in writing the kind of environment or environment you intend to supply your baby into. Keep in mind if you desire certain music or directed reflections to be played. Or, if you prefer the space to be as peaceful as feasible, make sure that’s clear.

➣ Would you like the lights lowered?
➣ Do you want your area as quiet as feasible, or would you prefer soft songs?
➣ Do you desire a photographer or video taker to capture images or videos of your work or birth?

Labor Preferences

Include any type of preferences you have for your labor. Some examples:

➣ Do you want to be able to walk around freely?
➣ Do you intend to use a birthing stool, ball, or chair during delivery?
➣ Do you prefer to take a warm shower or bath?

Pain Medications

During childbirth, pain monitoring is critical. Things may take a turn for the worse, and you’ll want to be able to set expectations while dealing with your discomfort. Some things to consider:

➣ You may not wish for an epidural, but you may change your mind during labor.
➣ You may already know you want an epidural as soon as possible.
➣ As you’re defining your birth plan, ask your medical professional about your choices for pain relief and any questions you have regarding them. These could consist of breathing or massage therapy.

Delivery Preferences

There are lots of options to consider for your baby’s birth.

➣ Would you want to avoid having an episiotomy unless it’s essential if you’re planning a vaginal birth?
➣ Do you want a mirror to observe your baby’s birth?
➣ Would you like your partner to cut the umbilical cord?
➣ Do you want your newborn placed on your belly immediately after birth?
➣ When feasible, request that the cord be clamped later.
➣ Options for donating cord blood or receiving payment for it.

If You Need a C-Section

➣ Who do you want to be with you as you give birth?
➣ What type of medications do you intend to avoid.
➣ Your preferences for breastfeeding. If you and your child are doing well, you should be able to start caring for them right away.
➣ Whether you want to add, for example, the types of incisions made in your abdominal area and womb to your medical history at a health center. It is recommended that you do so as it will be necessary for future pregnancies.
➣ Your pain relief preferences following surgery

Feeding and Care in the Health Center

You will want to consider feeding and therapy as soon as your baby is born. Some things to consider:

➣ Do you want to nurse right after giving birth?
➣ Do you want to bottle-feed or breastfeed your baby?
➣ Would you want your baby to be in the hospital room with you at all times, or would you prefer them to stay in the nursery from time to time?
➣ Is it acceptable for medical staff to offer your baby a pacifier or sugar water?
➣ Would you want your baby boy to be circumcised at the hospital? (Circumcision may be done with sugar water on rare occasions.)
➣ Do you intend to hold the child skin-to-skin instantly after delivery?
➣ When the newborn is bathed for the first time
➣ Apply antibiotic ointment to the eyes
➣ Vitamin K is a valuable tool for correcting vitamin D deficiencies.

Birth Plan Template and Language

To simplify things, you might want to utilize a birth plan template. There are many examples online that use a checklist format. However, whether or not you use a template while writing your birth plan, keep in mind that the most important concern of your healthcare provider is the health and safety of you and your baby.

Remember to focus on what you desire while simultaneously recognizing that labor and delivery are unpredictable and that you can not always control what happens.

If you prefer to write your birth plan out rather than using a template, consider the following options for expressing your birth plan choices:

• • If possible, I’d like to …”
  • Unless there’s an emergency, I would certainly like …”
  • I would certainly prefer X, only if it’s needed.”
  • Please offer me X when it comes to being a choice, so I can choose at the time.”

What To Do with Your Completed Birth Plan

As soon as you’ve completed your birth plan, have it reviewed by your physician, knowing that your preferences may be influenced. Keep in mind some of the considerations below are you receive feedback from your healthcare providers:

⪼ Your healthcare provider’s recommendations are based on your clinical condition and aim to decrease your risks. (If you have concerns about one of your provider’s recommendations, ask for more information to be sure.)
⪼ The policies at the healthcare facility or birthing center may differ.
⪼ There may be any kind of restrictions on what’s feasible, as well as which centers are accessible at the medical facility or birthing center.
⪼ The birth of a baby is an unforeseen emergency that might happen at any time during labor or delivery, in which case your medical staff may have to modify the plan based on what’s best for you and your baby’s health.

Offer copies to your doctor, midwife, doula, and birth partner after your birth plan is finished. Keep a few spare copies on hand if you need them while traveling.

What Happens After I Make My Birth Plan

Being Versatile

Pregnancy and labor are when things do not always go according to plan. You must be flexible and willing to undertake tasks differently than you intended. For example, on the day of your birth, certain services may not be accessible, or there may be difficulties.

You can communicate with your midwife about what may happen at work and list your preferences in your birth plan, but don’t worry too much about including everything. On the day of delivery, make sure that your maternal team (or, if required, your birth partner) welcomes any options that need to be made.

Changing Your Thoughts is the Key

You may change your mind about your longed-for birth and labor anytime, even during childbirth, if you choose to. For example, on the day of delivery, you decided instead of water birth that you wanted air.

How Do I Prepare for the Unanticipated?

Any sort of labor and delivery aims to ensure that the mother and kid are healthy. However, when developing your birth plan, keep in mind to include some leeway for situations that don’t go as planned. It’s difficult to predict what will happen when a baby is born, and it’ll be better to manage and write the expectations down when you’re not under emotional stress.

Final Thoughts Birth Plan

Creating a birth plan can be an empowering experience, but it’s also essential to remember that things may not go according to plan. Be sure to include a section on what you’ll do if things don’t go as expected, and make sure that your healthcare providers are aware of your wishes. Having a birth plan doesn’t guarantee that everything will go according to plan, but it does give you a way to communicate your wishes to your healthcare team.