Creating a Birthing Plan
Outlining Your Labor and Delivery Desires
When some people hear the phrase “birthing plan”, they may think of a planned birth, as in a planned cesarean or planned induction where the doctor is in control. The name can be misleading, but a birthing plan is a written plan of actions or things you and your partner desire during and after the birth of your baby. Making a birthing plan gives you some control over your visions of delivering your baby. So, how are you going to know what you want? These ideas can be a starting point for you.
Before developing a comprehensive birthing plan, you should expand your knowledge about pregnancy, labor, delivery and newborn care. You might have the experience of being pregnant for several months now, talking with other parents, watching baby delivery TV shows and reading magazines like this one. However, the best way to acquire this knowledge is to take a childbirth class, tour the labor and delivery unit of where you plan to have your baby and talking to your obstetrician or midwife.
Childbirth Classes
Attending childbirth classes with your partner will allow you to gain knowledge regarding the labor process and how to handle it. This will definitely help you decide what you want during labor. Additionally, the class should cover newborn care and breastfeeding. Once you have the information from your childbirth classes, you will have plenty of questions ready for your hospital/birthing center tour.
Hospital Tour
Following the tour, you will gain knowledge specific to their hospital or medical procedures and policies. From this you will further be able to consider your options. For example, the walking epidurals you learned about in childbirth class may not be available at the hospital/birthing center you plan to deliver at. Overall, the tour will give you a sense of what will and will not happen.
Prenatal Care Provider
Finally, you should speak with your prenatal care provider. It is necessary to share your birth plan with your provider so they have a clear understanding of what you and your partner want. Besides you, your obstetrician knows the most about your prenatal care and will be able to give you and your partner all the “what if’s” you may not have considered yet. The “what if’s” allow your birthing plan to be flexible because labor can be unpredictable. Your prenatal care provider can then help you determine fiction verses facts and give their perspective based on your pregnancy. A woman who is having a high-risk pregnancy may not have the same options as a woman who is not. Mom and baby’s safety will supercede any part of a birthing plan. Your prenatal care provider can also sign your birthing plan to verify he or she reviewed it with you, just in case they are not able to deliver your baby. A copy can be placed in your medical record.
Pre-Birthing Plan
Speaking of high risk pregnancies, the birthing plan can actually begin before you find out you are pregnant. Although studies show that about half of all pregnancies are unplanned, most women desire having a baby at some point in their life before they ever become pregnant. This pre-birthing plan, as I call it, is all about you and your partners’ lifestyle before pregnancy. Eating healthy, exercising, not smoking, drinking in moderation, managing chronic medical conditions, coping with stress effectively, limiting risky behavior, and being in a healthy relationship will affect your pregnancy and thus may affect delivery.
Writing Your Birthing Plan
Labor plans might include your choice regarding using relaxation techniques, IV medication and an epidural. Decision plans for delivery might include pushing positions you want to try, whether or not to use the mirror to see your delivery first hand, and who you want to be with you for a cesarean delivery. Newborn care decisions might include dad cutting the umbilical cord, circumcision, skin-to-skin contact, and breastfeeding. These are just a few things to mention. If you get stuck, there are several templates and checklist available online. Your childbirth educator or doula can also help.
Putting the Plan into Action
Make sure your partner and anyone else who is going to be providing labor support are aware and have read your birthing plan. In the event that you are unable to speak for yourself or forget, they become your backup. You should also have a copy with you at delivery. In early labor you can share some of the details with your nurse. All things considered, think about what is most important to you and your partner while realizing the responsibility of the medical staff.