Every pregnant woman needs to create a birth plan. They’re a great tool for effective communication and will allow you to convey your needs and wishes to the medical team that will be with you during the birth and labor process. They will be aware of your expectations prior to your arrival and can refer to it should the need arise.
It is also something that should be done between you and your partner, if you have one. It can be a great way of bringing you together and allows both to feel equally involved. Expectant dads often feel left out and this is a great pregnancy exercise that you can do in partnership.
Birth Plan
Before you start, you need to know how to write your birth plan, what to include within in it and who will need to have a copy. Ultimately, your needs or wishes will be observed as much as possible. For example you can and should expect that you don’t have to avail yourself of pain relief if you’d prefer to opt for a natural birth. However, you will also have to accept and understand that sometimes, extenuating circumstances may cause your ‘ideal birth’ to be set aside.
How To write Your Birth Plan
In plenty of time.
Of course you need to know how to write a birth plan. What to include, what to leave out, what may need highlighting, what may be flexible. You will need to keep it concise that goes without saying. And you’ll also need to be clear and direct. You’re not aiming for an essay simply a means of conveying your wishes to those that need to know.
One of the easiest ways to start is to find out all that you can about the establishment that you’ll be giving birth in. Check out the facilities, what’s available, what’s not. Discuss your thoughts and ideas with your midwife, partner or friends/family if you’re alone. Once you’ve got a clear understanding of how your needs can fit into the birthing facility, or vice versa, you can begin to create your ‘ideal’ birth on paper.
Things To Consider
Some of your considerations should include the following:
- Deciding who your birth partner will be
- Your personal comfort – music, clothing etc
- Your thoughts regarding pain relief – do you want a 100% natural birth or not
- How do you feel about having an episiotomy – should the need arise
- What birthing positions you may wish to adopt
- Your thoughts regarding breast or bottle feeding
- What you want regarding an emergency situation – they can and do happen and it’s best to consider the possibility – though don’t focus on it as this will only cause unnecessary anxiety
- Think about the possibility of your baby’s well being – if he needs to be monitored, what method would you prefer, if you had the choice
- What relaxation methods you may want – e.g. massages or bathing
- How you’d like to be kept hydrated – water, ice cubes
- What you’d like to have post-birth – time alone with baby and partner or whether your other children (if you have any) can be brought into the room
These are just some suggestions regarding your birth plan after talking with others, you may discover further aspects, alternative ideas that are personal to you. You can be as specific as you like after all, it is your labor and delivery and your needs are paramount, especially regarding your comfort levels, which will be an important part of the labor and deliver process.
Create Your Birth Plan
Now that you’ve considered your options, you need to create your birth plan. As previously mentioned, keep it simple. You can look around the web and find a myriad of plans but many are rather complicated and overstate the obvious. Your midwife may not have met you prior to your labor and what she will need is a document that covers the basics, at a glance.
She will be more than capable of reading between the lines, so it’s really not helpful to write an essay, detailing every last thing, needle to thread. She needs to concentrate on you and your baby, not find a quite corner whereby she can digest what amounts to a short story.
Below is a Birth Plan Template, which lists the basic preferences that will be useful for your midwife.
Birth Plan Template
Birth Plan
Name:___________________________ D.O.B.___________
Address:____________________________________________________
Partner/Birth Partner’s Name:_____________________________
Comfort During Labor
I Would Prefer:
___To bring my own music
___To be massaged
___To make use of aromatherapy
___To use self-hypnosis
___To wear my own (suitable) clothing
___To remain as mobile as possible
___To take a warm bath
Pain Relief Alternatives
I would prefer:
___Bathing or Shower
___Aromatherapy
___Massage
___Self-Hypnosis
___Acupressure
Labor Induction
I Would Prefer
___To try and avoid unless necessary
___Membrane rupture
In The Event Of A Cesarean Section
I Would Prefer:
___To remain awake if possible - epidural
___To have an anesthetic
___To give my partner the option of being present
Pain Control During Labor
I Would Prefer:
___None
___Mobile Epidural
___Normal Epidural
___Sedation
___Narcotic Pain relief
Monitoring
I Would Prefer:
___Continuous monitoring
___Intermittent Monitoring
___Only If Necessary
During The Delivery
I Would Prefer:
___To lay on my side
___Use a birthing stool
___To be able to squat
___Use a birthing pool
___To have leg support
___To adapt my position according to how I feel
Post Delivery
I Would Prefer:
___My baby delivered onto my stomach
___To allow my partner to cut the cord
___Breast feed
___Bottle feed
Additional Information:
I understand that the above are guidelines regarding my preferences during my labor and delivery. I am fully aware that variations can and do occur and in the event of such an occurrence, I am willing to be guided regarding the health and well-being of both myself and my baby.
Signed:_______________________________________
In Conclusion
Now that you have the tools, you can go on to tailor your birth plan to suit your preferences. Make sure that you print several copies and ensure that one is placed into your hospital bag. Present your birth plan on your arrival at the delivery suite, if you know that you don’t have a pre-assigned midwife.
Rest assured that your needs and wishes are always taken into consideration by the medical staff and that they will adhere to your choices where possible.
