What is a Birth Plan?
What are different birthing considerations?
Making a birth plan is based on personal choices and preferences. Here are some questions that may help you create your birth plan:
- Location – where would you like your baby to be born? At what point in your labour would you like to go there? Who do you want to be with you?
- Labouring environment – would you like access to a tub/shower, specific birthing equipment (ie. birthing stool, squatting bar, etc), adjustable lighting, your music, ability to wear your own clothes or to be naked, etc.
- How do you want the baby to be monitored during labour? (Doppler, electronic fetal monitoring)
- What labouring positions would you like to use?
- Pain management – what medical (narcotics, epidural, laughing gas) and non-medical (breathing techniques, hydrotherapy, massage, heat/cold therapy, TENS machine, sterile water injection, etc) do you want to use and in which order?
- Induction/augmentation of labour – if necessary, what techniques and in which order (walking, sexual intercourse, nipple stimulation, Prostaglandins gel, synthetic oxytocin, rupturing the membranes, etc.)
- If suggested by a doctor, would you be willing to have an episiotomy?
- Delivery – is there a particular position in which you want to deliver your baby?
What to consider after the birth
- Do you want your baby on your chest immediately after the birth? Do you want the baby naked or wrapped in a blanket?
- Who and when will the umbilical cord be cut?
- Do you want to breastfeed and how soon after birth?
- Do you want the baby to stay with you after birth?
- When would you like newborn tests and procedures to be done?
- Do you or your partner want to be present during any tests your baby may require?
- Circumcision – if your baby is a boy are you intending to have him circumcised or not?
- What method of contraception will you use after birth if you do not wish to get pregnant right away?
Who to involve in your birth plan?
When creating your birth plan it is important to discuss your feelings about each option and make a list of priorities. If you are having your baby with a partner, it is helpful to include them in this process as they will be able to remind you of your birth plan and work with you through your labour. Due to the fact that you cannot predict exactly what will happen, you may want to think about which decisions are not negotiable for you.
To assess whether your choices are realistic and safe, talking with your health care provider is a great place to start. You may also want to discuss various emergency situations and ask how your health care provider would handle different scenarios. Birth plans may help reduce stress for everyone involved. The health and safety of mother and baby are crucial. If an emergency does occur, decisions affecting their lives and health must be made quickly. Working as a team to create a positive birthing experience will assist in reducing tension for everyone involved.
How to talk about your birth plan with health care providers?
It is important to discuss your birth plan with those involved ahead of time. If your birth location is a hospital, you may be working with staff who are not aware of your wishes. Rather than presenting your nurse or on duty obstetrician with a hard copy of your birth plan, you may wish to discuss it with them and assess how you will work together to follow your preferences. If your partner is at the hospital with you, this can be an important role for him/her to play, allowing you to focus on the changes your body is experiencing.
