Birth Plan Basics
Taking the time to make a birth plan is a wonderful way for you and your partner to get clear on what your desires are for your birth experience. After all, YOU are the only one who knows what type of birth you wish to have. Sharing your birth plan with your midwives, doctors, doula and any attendants will set you up for success.
Your birth plan should be uniquely yours just as your birth will be uniquely yours. These are just a few things you may want to include in your birth plan.
- Specify who you want to be present – partner, midwives, doula, doctors, any family members, siblings, friends and possibly a photographer.
- Describe how you imagine your birth to go and the environment you desire. Don’t forget about the lighting, music, sounds (everybody present speaking in low tones), privacy when you might want it, specific attendance when needed or requested by you, and the freedom to express your feelings in what ever way helps.
- Be clear on your medication mind-set.
- Mention any concerns about intervention – fetal monitoring preferences, using natural alternatives to pitocin if needed, frequency of vaginal exams, rupturing of membranes and your freedom of movement during labor.
- Explain your delivery preferences – what room do you want to be in? What is your desired birthing position (standing, squatting, side-lying, sitting on a birthing stool, on hands and knees, in the water); do you want to have a mirror to see your baby during delivery? Is it important for you to touch your baby during delivery? Request perineal support and massage to avoid episiotomy. Who do you want announcing the sex of your baby? Who do you want to cut the cord?
- State your desires for first contact with your baby. Ask for immediate skin-to-skin contact with your baby by having it placed on your stomach and breasts as long as everyone is medically stable. Remember to have the lights dim to protect your baby’s eyes and for the room to be very warm so it less shocking. Request freedom and assistance in initiating breastfeeding immediately to assist in natural delivery of your placenta. Also request some private time for your new family to bond where everyone leaves the room.
- Say how you want to care for your baby. Keep your baby near you all the time. Delay the newborn exams until after your private family bonding time. Do you wish to have an herbal bath with your baby. Emphasize you will be exclusively breastfeeding your baby and your desires of introducing a pacifier or not. Also, be clear on your position for circumcision.
- Finally be clear on where you stand if any major complications should arise. How do you feel about transferring to a hospital, cesarean sections, vaginal delivering a breech baby, and any other common practices you may wish to avoid.
Once your birth plan is complete you will find strength, confidence, peacefulness and support. You may also realize that you are not in the grip of fear about what “doctors” would decide because YOU have decided “your” reasons for transfers or interventions. Always remember your birth plan is YOURS! Midwives and doctors may advise you however, the final decision is YOURS. You have the right to make your own informed decisions. It is your strength, don’t give it away.
25 Responses to “Birth Plan Basics”
Comment from sara111
Time November 29, 2010 at 1:41 pm
We made a birth plan with our second child and are so happy we did!
Comment from massage therapist
Time December 1, 2010 at 6:00 am
Thanks for an idea, you sparked a thought from an angle I hadn’t given thoguht to yet. Now lets see if I can do something with it.
Comment from beautifulbody
Time December 6, 2010 at 6:35 pm
I am planning a homebirth and I have also included how I feel about transfering to a hospital if it is absolutly necessary. Of course transferring is not my ideal bithing situtation but if for some reason it is needed, then I am grateful that my midwife knows how to support me in that situation as well.
Comment from Birth basics
Time December 23, 2010 at 10:17 pm
I wish I had made a birth plan the first time around. I believe so many things could have been prevented had my doctor known my wishes.
Comment from Collene Lorenz
Time December 25, 2010 at 10:00 am
My discussions with my midwife and doula helped me create my birth plan. Having completed my birth plan is making me feel more confident that my birth will go e way I want it to.
Comment from Momtobe
Time January 27, 2011 at 2:32 pm
I really like your birth plan checklist. Thanks for the post.
Comment from Callie
Time February 4, 2011 at 12:51 am
I made a birth plan for my first born and found that nothing went as “planned”. I am very much a planning type and maybe that was part of my issue. I had to surrender and let go of my birth plans to finally give birth to my baby. I am just saying that if you are a “type A” planner you might have to let some of that go during child birth.
Comment from Freedom2choose
Time February 17, 2011 at 6:17 am
Creating a birth plan helped me gain a sense of control. I had a c-section with my first and felt very out of control and upset. My birth plan helped me heal and my second baby was delivered naturally at home.
Comment from GabbyG
Time February 17, 2011 at 7:13 pm
I put my birth plan in chronological order. First labor, then birth and immediate postpartum and then baby care.
Comment from Business of being born
Time April 7, 2011 at 1:00 am
All expectant moms should see “the business os being born”. It will shes some light on the hospital world of having babies.
Comment from Brinly
Time April 13, 2011 at 6:19 pm
Thanks for this outline. I have been to many sites and it is very difficult to find the birth plan outline. You made it very simple.
Trackback from Dancing mom
Time April 17, 2011 at 3:24 am
Is my birth plan too long? It is 4 typed pages. Do any other moms out there have a long birth plan?
Comment from Joni Mckain
Time April 18, 2011 at 3:03 am
My husband and i are expecting our first baby this summer and I am just beginning to write my birth plan. The info you have here is very helpful, I have a bad case of pregnancy brain and I have forgotten many of the points you mention. thanks!
Comment from Baby mama
Time April 19, 2011 at 1:15 pm
Dancing mom….There is no wrong answer to the length of a birth plan. Just believe in yourself and your birth plan. If you have a long birth plan just make sure you go over all of it with your midwife or doctor.
Comment from Mondetotale
Time April 19, 2011 at 11:19 pm
Being over prepared is not such a bad thing. Having a long birth plan means you have thought over many things that you may not even need.
Comment from generic cialis
Time April 26, 2011 at 3:59 am
Many thanks for your resource! I really like what you’re providing here.
Comment from Desmond Demallie
Time April 28, 2011 at 3:29 am
Hey there! This is my first visit to your blog! We are a collection of volunteers and starting a new project in a community in the same niche. Your blog provided us beneficial information to work on. You have done a wonderful job!
Comment from cnm
Time May 2, 2011 at 8:10 am
I am a certified nurse midwife and I do encourage all of my clients to prepare a birth plan. Having a birth plan lets us midwives know what your wishes are and you will have a greater chance of having the birth you want if you have one.
Comment from pinkpoppy
Time May 3, 2011 at 2:40 am
when i presented my birth plan to my doctor he referred to me as “THAT” patient. needless to say i left that hospital and went to a birthing center. if he was going to insult me in front of my face i surely didnt want him to be anywhere near me during labor and childbirth. thank god for the birthing center that i gave birth at!
Comment from Solidad
Time May 3, 2011 at 10:51 am
I dont understand why so many pregnant women today want to have a birth plan?? The baby comes into this world as they choose, so moms you dont have much control in the issue of planning your birth.
Trackback from Taylor Lautner Workout
Time May 14, 2011 at 7:26 am
I spent so much time planning my birth and I should have spent more time focusing on what it takes to be a good mother. You will get through the birth, the real challenge is in parenting!
Trackback from Kasper
Time May 14, 2011 at 7:39 am
Don’t watch any tv shows about birth! These things are not very realistic, they are made for tv! Believe in your own abilities to give birth naturally.
Comment from C.Pirello
Time November 26, 2010 at 1:47 pm
Thanks for this info. I am working on my birth plan and glad I found this site, I am going to add some of the things you mentioned that I forgot about.