So depending on where you are in your pregnancy, you may be getting ready to write your birth plan, but even if you're not ready to start writing it's always a good idea to start doing research as early as possible. Nowadays, there are so many different theories and options for what kind of birth you are going to have. Will it be 100% natural and "crunchy", will it be 100% medicated and "sterile", or a combination of both. Vitamin K shot, or not? Bath immediately after or not? There are so many options and choices you need to make (yep, parenting decisions start before birth) that it only makes sense to do as much research as you possibly can to make the decisions to give you the type of birth you really want. But, it is important to understand that birth plans are NOT written in stone, they are a depiction of your ideal birth, and give the hospital or birthing center staff an outline of what you are trying to accomplish, but be aware that things may change.
For my birth plans I always put that unless it is a medical emergency where either my life or the life of my child is in immediate danger, ALL medical decisions must be discussed with me and my husband and that we be allowed to discuss our options in private before a decision is made. I didn't have any issues with my birth plan not being followed at my first birth, which was a hospital birth, and I don't foresee an issue with this birth since it's at the same hospital. It is very important to tour the hospital or birth center you are planning on delivering at, for two reasons. First it will give you an idea of what you need to bring when you pack your hospital bag, and second it will give you insight on what practices your hospital has for delivery, what options they give you (birthing tub) and if they are open to more natural birthing methods. All of this information will help you to make your birth plan, and if your hospital is completely against the birth you want (most hospitals are moving towards becoming more accepting of natural births) you will then need to decide if you want to stay with the hospital or find a different option.
I suggest working on your plan for several weeks; do your research, type it up, come back to it a week later and make any changes, discuss it with your doctor and make any changes you want after that. You should shoot for your birth plan that is 1-2 pages long, anything longer than that may be too detailed and micromanaged. If you do this you are more likely to become disappointed with your birth, and nothing is guaranteed. If you have micromanaged your birth plan down to the detail you are setting yourself up for failure. You want your birth plan to express your overall goals for your delivery and list any important features that are key to your birth. Once you plan has been written you need to print out about 4-5 copies and put them in your hospital bag. You want enough copies to give to your OB, the midwife/doula if one is present, and any nurses that will be present (keep in mind that you might not have the same nurse throughout labor and delivery due to shift changes) so you want to make sure you have enough copies for anyone that will be at the birth.
What should be in your birth plan?
You first want to list any allergies, or medical issues you have as they may become pertinent during your birth.
LABOR:
- Who should be allowed in the room during labor
- How do you want changes of your birth plan to be handled
- If you're unable to make decisions who should do it for you
- Do you want an epidural or not
- Is it okay for staff to ask you if you are in pain, can they use the 1-10 scale
- Can staff offer you pain medication or not.
- If there is a birth tub do you want to use it, how soon after arrival.
- Do you want freedom of movement during birth
- what does that mean to you
- walking around
- changing positions in bed
- What kind of fetal monitoring is okay with you
- Continuous
- Intermittent
- What would you like to happen if your labor stalls?
- wait to see if it starts up again naturally or get intervention
- Do you want to drink and eat during labor or not
DELIVERY:
- Do you want freedom of movement during delivery
- what does that mean to you? Any specific positions you want?
- Is it okay to push based on counting (the doctor counts 1-10 while you push and you push throughout the entire time) or do you want to push based on your feelings (no counting)
- Are you okay if your perineum is cut if needed, or would you prefer to tear.
- Do you want to pull your baby out?
- Are you okay with the use of forceps, vacuums, etc?
CONTINGENCIES:
- What do you want to happen in the case you have to have a c-section.
- Who should be with you
- how soon do you want to hold your child after the c-section.
POST DELIVERY:
- Is it okay if the cord is clamped immediately or do you want it to stop pulsating first?
- Who is going to cut the cord
- What is the minimum amount of time you want skin-to-skin contact before measurements are taken of you child.
- Do you want your placenta to be delivered naturally or removed?
- Can your baby receive a bath shortly after delivery or would you like to wait
- if you want to wait, how long
- Who will go with your baby, if anyone, during the bath?
- Do you want your child to receive the vitamin K and Hep B shots?
- Do you want your child to receive the antibacterial eye cream?
- Are you planning on breastfeeding? Can the hospital staff provide formula bottles while at the hospital?
- Will the baby sleep in the room with you or in the nursery.
- If you're having a boy, will he be circumcised or not?
- Are you cloth diapering? If so, are you doing so in the hospital or can staff put your baby in disposables?
Those are the main points that should be discussed within your birth plan. Remember to be as succinct as possible, bullet points usually help with this. I also like to bold the important parts like the "do's" and the "do not's" so the hospital staff's eyes are immediately drawn to those areas. Remember that your birth plan is a guideline and there is not guarantee that your birth will go exactly as you want. The birth plan, will help to guide your medical staff so that they can work to try to make sure you get your dream birth. A great way to help insure your birth plan is realistic is to talk to your doctor/midwife and tour the hospital/birthing center so you know what the policies are so you don't go into your birth with a birth plan that doesn't apply to the rules of the hospital/birth center. I hope this helps all of you and is a good guide to get you started. If you have any trouble or questions feel free to ask!
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