Creating Your Birth Plan
This will be the first in a series of articles about how to create your personal birth plan. In this article I will cover the following:
What is a birth plan?
Who should you share your birth plan with?
What is the ideal format?
The next article in this series will be an outline and sample birth plan. There is no such thing as one size fits all when it comes to the birth planning process. It is a very personal document and what is important for you, may not matter to the next person. Take what you read here and apply a healthy dose of flexibility.
What is a birth plan? A question I am often asked is “what is a birth plan and how do I go about creating one?” The basic premise behind a birth plan is that you are creating a written plan which defines and describes your ideal birth. If you were to close your eyes and realistically imagine your labor and birth, how would it look? Where would you be? Who would be there? In many ways, your birth plan is not all that different from any other type of plan. Your chances of experiencing a birth which you feel positive about are much greater if you have spent time thinking about what your ideal birth experience would be. It is important to remember that your birth plan is not something which is written in stone. Labor and birth are a natural processes which are experienced differently by every women (depending on how you perceive pain, your coping mechanisms, support system, views on labor/birth as well as previous birth experiences). Your birth plan will require some significant flexibility and should be something that both you and your partner (unless you are a single parent) are involved in creating. It is important that both you and your partner be on the same page as it is not uncommon during labor and birth for your partner to speak on your behalf.
Who should you share your birth plan with? Ideally, you should share your plan with anyone who you feel will be playing an integral part in your labor and birth. When you are writing your birth plan it is important to remember that it will be read by your support team as well. Depending upon where you choose to give birth, you may find that some of the people you present your plan to are less than supportive. It may be looked at as a list of demands, which of course it is not. When you pick your primary caregiver and support team, it is important to know that they support your plan and will respect your wishes. If they don’t, you should consider finding someone who will. To assist in presenting your plan to others, I recommend you remember two things:
Make sure it is written in a positive tone that depicts your likes and desires, not demands. Be firm but not forceful.
Remember that this is your plan, your body, your birth and your (and your spouses) baby. You are fully entitled to have the final vote as to how the labor and birthing process will proceed. You should welcome professional opinions, especially in an emergency situation but you are still entitled to be involved the decision making process.
People you should share your birth plan with include:
Your doula (who can assist you in writing your plan)
Your Midwife or Doctor
Any family members who will be attending your birth
Hospital support staff (if you are giving birth in a hospital)
Your postpartum doula
What is the ideal format? I have seen some great birth plans and I have seen some that require a little polishing. When you are in labor, you will not have the time or mental energy to be reviewing your plan and neither is it likely that those who are supporting you or assisting will have time to review a complicated plan. It is for this reason that I recommend a 1-3 page plan that contains 1-2 short introductory paragraphs followed by bullet-pointed sections which can be easily read on the fly. It is not possible or realistic to outline every minute detail of your birth. Doing so will not only frustrate you but it will make the plan virtually impossible to follow.
Your birth plan should be simple, clear, easy to follow and allow for flexibility. The sections should ideally be broken down into early labor, active labor, pushing and postpartum. It is also a good idea to share your plan with those involved prior to labor starting. In doing so, you will avoid any last minute surprises. That being said, it’s important to remember that you have a voice in any deviations or changes to or from your birth plan. Even in an unforeseen emergency, you maintain the ability to be involved in the decision making process.
What Next? Please visit lovethylabour.com for the next article on how to create a birth plan.
Ginger found her passion as a doula in December 2003, taking her doula training & 18 hour breastfeeding course at Douglas College as well as childbirth & post-partum educator training through CAPPA. Since becoming a doula in 2003 Ginger has been helping familes through the labour, birth and postpartum process. She is also been a paramedic & emergency medical dispatcher for over 16 years.
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