Creating Your Birth Plan
Creating Your Birth Plan
No matter your planned birth setting, creating a birth plan can help you tailor your birth experience to your needs and desires. A birth plan is a written document that outlines your wishes for labor, delivery, and postpartum care. Why is this important? Because these preparations allow you to think deeply about what you want and can help you consider ways to achieve your birth goals. This is also beneficial for your provider to have so they know how to best support you.
Your birth plan can be a short list of bullet points, but they can also be incredibly in-depth! Developing a birth plan helps you determine what you want, so you can facilitate those things in advance, but it also helps you clearly define what you do not want. Once you have asked these questions and considered the answers in a low stress environment, you’ll have a clearer picture of your ideal birth, steps to take, and what to do if something unexpected happens.
Benefits of Creating a Birth Plan
Writing a birth plan helps you:
Discover options you may not have known were available
Clarify your preferences for your birthing environment
Communicate your wishes clearly to your birth team
Foster open discussion with your partner
Feel empowered and prepared for various scenarios
Explore potentially uncomfortable situations in a safe environment
Preparing for the Unexpected
While your birth plan reflects your ideal scenario, it’s helpful to be aware of what happens in case complications arise or your birth setting changes.
Consider outlining your preferences in case there is a need for a hospital transfer. This might include your wishes for both non-emergent transfers (such as for an epidural) and urgent situations (such as fetal distress).
Many parents hesitate to discuss “what if” situations, fearing it means they don’t feel confident about their Plan A, but that’s not the case. Birth can be unpredictable. Understanding what would happen if concerns arise can actually reduce anxiety and give you peace of mind that your wishes are documented no matter what happens.
What should you include in your birth plan?
There are many things to consider regarding labor, birth, postpartum, and newborn care, but your specific plan can be as simple or thorough as you need it to be. While this is not an exhaustive list, let’s look at some things to consider for your birth plan.
Labor Preferences
Your birth environment plays a big role in your overall birth experience. Consider all 5 senses and how you keep yourself calm and relaxed, and avoid things that make you feel anxious or stressed.
Support Team:
Who do you want in the room during labor? What are their relationships to you, and what roles will they play?
Will your older children be part of the birth experience?
Are you hiring a doula, birth photographer, or videographer?
Are students allowed in the room during your labor or birth?
Environment:
What are your preferences for lighting, music, sounds, or words to use - or avoid - during labor?
What comforting items do you want from home?
What smells relax you?
What labor snacks and drinks do you want?
Comfort Measures:
Do you want the option to shower, bathe, or have a water birth?
What labor positions are you drawn to?
What birth aids do you want to have? (i.e. birth ball, rebozo, tens unit)
Potential Treatment/Interventions:
Do you want to be informed of your cervical exam results? Would you like to minimize exams as much as possible?
Are you open to using nitrous oxide during labor?
If you’ve tested positive for GBS, will you accept antibiotics during labor?
Are you open to IV fluids if medically necessary?
Birth Preferences
Most people focus solely on labor and birth, but can neglect postpartum decisions. Allowing yourself to examine options and make choices in advance can make the postpartum period much smoother.
Will you be able to hold your baby right after birth?
When would you like the umbilical cord clamped and cut? (immediate or delayed)
Do you or your partner want to catch the baby?
Who will announce the baby’s sex if it’s not already known?
Do you plan to accept pitocin after birth to prevent bleeding (known as “active management”), or only if excessive bleeding occurs?
Would you like to encapsulate, photograph, or make prints of your placenta? Will you take it home?
Postpartum Preferences
How do you plan to feed your baby? Breastfeeding, pumping, formula, or a combination?
Do you want help initiating breastfeeding, or would you prefer your baby to self-latch?
How long would you like to delay newborn assessments and procedures to allow for uninterrupted bonding?
Newborn Medications/Vaccines: What medications or vaccines do you want your baby to receive?
When would you like your baby’s first bath?
If you’re having a boy, do you plan on circumcision?
Who will be your baby’s pediatric care provider?
Postpartum Care
Do you want help with chores, meals, and rest?
How soon will you allow visitors?
What roles will visitors play aside from holding your baby?
What relationships can you call on during tough moments?
Is there any job related paperwork you need completed?
How Indiana Birth Center Supports Your Birth plan
At Indiana Birth Center, we honor your birth plan and support your preferences whenever possible. Our midwives discuss these preferences in appointments and welcome your birth plans. You deserve to have the birth you want and providers that respect and uphold your wishes whenever possible. If you’re seeking prenatal care and want encouraging and respectful support, send us a message!
