Birth Plan And Why You Need To Have One

Studies have revealed that a mother’s experiences during and after childbirth are seldom evaluated. Assessing the experience of the mother assists the health care providers to have a much better understanding of her needs and expectations so as to increase the mother’s satisfaction; and thus the need for a birth plan – a document written by an expectant mother during the antenatal period which explains her physical and emotional choices during labor and delivery which is presented upon labor.

A birth plan puts emphasis on the relationship between the mother and the health care providers by respecting the right of women to get involved in decision making; therefore giving her control over the process of her labor and delivery. Her involvement in decision making leads to satisfaction during the labor and delivery process.

In general, a birthing plan is split into three areas:

1. Normal delivery wishes: this can include your choices for pain relief, people present during your labor and delivery, what environment you want to have your baby in etc.
2. Baby care post delivery: several options in baby care post delivery will be made aware of. This may include who will cut your umbilical cord, if you’ll breastfeed, where your baby will sleep and so on.
3. Measures to take in unexpected circumstances: during delivery, things can happen that were not in the plan. It is important to have a contingency plan just in case such happens. A lot of the plans will include wishes of cesarean sections or any other complications.

    Why do you need a birth plan?

As earlier stated, a birth plan gives you some sense of control and decision making in preparation for delivery. Contrary to popular opinion about it – that it is set for failure and that nothing works – a birth plan really goes a very long way in helping you during your delivery. Having one makes you learn about other birthing options.

i. To be educated and be made strong for birth.

 Having a birth plan will enable you to make well versed decisions on how you’d like your birth to go and be able to understand your options. Ask questions. Talk to other moms. Browse the internet. Engage in birth education classes. Educate yourself on the different birth alternatives and how this affects your baby. Analyze possible scenarios. Look into the drugs and possible interventions –both pros and cons. Study how your body is meant to work during labor and delivery. The more the knowledge you acquire, the lesser the fear you’ll have about the labor and delivery.

ii. Helps your care givers guide your care and to initiate dialogue with your care givers.

One of the main purposes of a birth plan is to let your doctor know what you’d like to happen during labor and delivery and after. Your wishes are made clear therefore your care givers have a clear roadmap to assist you attain the best possible experience during labor.

It is important to listen to your doctor and ask for opinions and advice. The care givers are subjective like everybody else. And thus, their recommendations may be anchored on their experiences, hospital policies, doctors under which they interned under, the professors who trained them and so on and so forth. And other times, their general workload may even become a factor in the equation.

In as much as their advices and recommendations are very important, at times they may not be the best option for you. You are the only person who can determine how you would like to give birth to your baby in the most comfortable way.

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• Learn the standard for the care givers and leave them out in the birth plan.
• Do not include a lot of unnecessary details in your birth plan as this can make it harder for your care givers to understand many of your preferences at a glance.

 iii. You are able to think and plan things ahead of time.

When you’re in labor, it can be quite difficult to make decisions. But by being able to think through and write down your wishes before hand, you are at a much better position to be included in your care.

From the number of people you want during labor, to the different forms of pain relief, the birth plan making process helps you arrange and clarify your thoughts as well as analyze and anticipate different situations.

• You can always change your choices and preferences during labor –it is your birth plan.

 iv. Helps care givers focus on other possibilities if things don’t go according to plan.

Anything can happen during labor and during such situations; changes that were not in the birth plan may need to be incorporated. For example, you wanted little to no medical intervention during your labor but the baby is in distress and you’re advised to have an IV and fetal monitoring –none of which were in your birth plan. In the case of this happening, a birth plan enables your care giver ensure that some elements of an ideal labor can be incorporated even though some of the elements may be a little bit risky.

v. It serves as a piece of communication with your partner or your birth support person.

During the labor, the last thing you want is to be attempting to remember what you wanted to fill in your birth plan, or even to explain it to someone. Having prepared a birth plan ahead of time will ensure that you give it to your spouse or (your birth partner for that matter). This will help him to understand why certain decisions have been made and this will help him have an idea of how he can offer you help and support when you need it most.

Ensure you go through it together and expound on the important details. Don’t just give it to him and expect him to read it and understand it all. In so doing, your partner may raise some questions and issues that you may not have thought of. It will become a favorouble launching ground for the both of you to discuss the special event, as well as fears, hopes and the concerns that you might have. It will also help your partner feel like you are in together and this reinforces the essential role in your labor and delivery.

vi. Ensure the best possible birth for the baby and the best possible birth experience for the mother.

“So long as I have delivered a healthy baby it doesn’t matter.” That is only half truth. Yes, everyone wants to have a healthy baby delivered with no complications –that’s a given. Nevertheless, we also want a healthy mother –physically and emotionally and mentally. The way a mother delivers can go a long way in how she bonds with her baby during the first few months post partum. It is extremely essential for the mother to experience a delivery in which she feels supported and has succeeded in doing what she was meant to do in the best way possible. And having these positive feelings will greatly help her through her vulnerable first months of motherhood, where the tiniest bit of confidence goes a long way!

What should I include in my birth plan?

• Basics: your name, your doctor’s name, contact information, where you’ve decided to give birth and your birth support person.
• Environment: think of what will make you feel most at ease. Is it dimmed lights? Slow music? Do you want a quiet room? Should your birth support partner film your labor and delivery?
• Medication: an important consideration during labor. Do you want an epidural? As you are writing these, make sure to consult with your doctor for opinions and options of pain relief as well as inquire if necessary.
• Delivery preferences: a lot of options are considered for your baby’s birth. Would you want a mirror to see your baby’s birth? Will your birth support partner cut your umbilical cord? In case of an emergency C-section, who would you want in the theater?
• Post partum care: after delivery, you’ll need to think about feeding and care. Would you like to breastfeed your baby right after delivery? Or do you prefer bottle feeding? Or would you like to combine both breastfeeding and bottle feeding? Would you like your baby with you at all times in your room or would you prefer to have your baby stay in the nursery sometimes? If your baby is a boy, would you like for him to be circumcised after birth?

Do’s and don’ts when writing a birth plan.

1. Do NOT write a novel. Keep it as short as you possibly can.
2. DO keep it brief. Minimally introduce yourselves and the go right ahead into what you want and what you do not want for your delivery.
3. Do NOT give an overview of how healthy your pregnancy was.
4. DO tell your care givers any health information that could be useful. They can include allergies, past trauma, current drugs (if she was prescribed any) etc.
5. DO include a C-section. Even if you were well prepared for the delivery, you could still end up in the OR. It is a good idea to include your desires should you end up in that situation. Include a clause that starts with “if a C-section is medically necessary …” and go ahead and list your main concerns.
6. Do NOT address every possible scenario.  
7. DO focus on what is important to you.
8. DO include your baby. Have a brief section that addresses your baby’s needs after he/she is born. For example: we want to exclusively breast feed our baby. No baby formulas needed.