Setting Up a Birth Plan During Pregnancy

During your pregnancy, it is wise to set up a plan to ensure your wishes regarding labor and childbirth. Whether you are using an obstetrician or midwife, a hospital birth or at home, you need to go over these ideas with them. It's always best to set up plan A and B, hoping all will go well with A, but at least you have a backup plan with B, if necessary. The following are thoughts and ideas that you should decide with your partner and your healthcare provider.

Where are you planning to have your baby? A decision needs to be made whether you are having a hospital birth or one at home with a midwife. Also, find out what options you have at the facility. Are you planning on staying in bed during your labor? Would you like to walk around the facility? Do you want to submerge in a tub of water for your birthing? If you birth at home, what are the plans in case of emergency? Are you planning to use a doula along with the midwife? These are the questions that need to be researched and discussed with your healthcare provider and the father of your baby. Now is the time, not when you are in labor!

Who do you want with you? Whether at the hospital or at home, make a list of who you want there at the birth. Also, the question may be how many people will the facility allow you to have. Do you want pictures or a video taken? Other things to think about is whether you would like music played or some women even like to concentrate on a video played during labor.

Are you having a natural birth or medicated one? Do you want an intravenous (IV) line inserted during labor if needed? Are you planning on having a spinal epidural? Do you want to be given drugs to speed up labor like Pitocin (oxytocin)? Be aware that this drug given through an IV can make labor strong and more painful. If you choose to go with a natural delivery and you change your mind during labor because of pain, write down your wishes. Plan your anesthesia now with an optional plan if needed.

Talk about potential side effects from medications. Will they harm the baby? Can you breastfeed immediately after the delivery if you use medications? Does your healthcare provider use any natural or homeopathic remedies for pain? Also ask about fetal monitoring during labor and delivery.

What if I need an episiotomy? Talk about this incision made to enlarge the vaginal opening for the use of forceps, to hasten delivery or to prevent tearing this area. Know the facts and the healing process after this has been done.

What happens in an emergency? Discuss the circumstances for a cesarean birth. There are legitimate reasons when there is fetal distress or sometimes the mother is so fatigued during a long labor that the baby is removed. With my first child I had an emergency because the umbilical cord presented before the baby. I was then given an emergency c-section, followed by two other sections with my next two children. Discuss the type of incision that will be used (if this is to happen) and if you can have a vaginal birth with your next child.

Creating a birth plan now and writing it down on paper is a wise thing to do while you have the time to ask questions and make important decisions. Let the idea of planning remove any stress during your pregnancy and just concentrate on a wonderful milestone about to happen in your life.

Sources:

Creating Your Birth Plan
How and Why to Create a Birth Plan