Birth Plan
It’s a lot to think about, I know. We all just want a good experience and a healthy baby. But it’s a great idea to help your birth team give you the best experience they can by making sure everyone is on the same page.
If you aren’t sure what your options are, thebump.com has a pretty comprehensive list of possible preferences you can look through for inspo. ACOG has a very simple template as well.
I’m a fan of succinct. I think there’s a better chance of everyone reading it if its not pages upon pages long.
The following sections are just my examples.
You get to create your birth plan in any way you want.
Name:
Partner Name:
Doula Name (if applicable):
Due Date:
Practioner/Pediatrician:
Upon Arrival:
You’re setting the tone. You’ll want to specify if you prefer to wear your own clothes rather than a hospital gown, your preference for fetal monitoring (why this matters), and whether you have a preference for frequency of cervical checks and room visits in general. You’ll also note any fears or trauma you might have, and anything else you think is important for them to know.
During Labor
This is where you’lll state your goals for labor and what you’d like to avoid ie. “I would like to labor as long as possible with no pain medication. Please do not offer me medication unless I ask. I do not want my labor to be augmented to speed my progress. Please allow me to progress on my own, as long as I’m ok and my baby is ok. I would like to be in the tub. I want to be able to eat and drink during labor, and move around during my contractions. If necessary, I want blood pressure cuff around my ankle and pulse oximeter on my toe, if I’m not mobile.”
2nd Stage (Pushing):
“I would like to try pushing in positions other than on my back. Allow me to tell you when I’m feeling the need to push, instead of asking me if I want to try pushing. I do not want an episiotomy unless my baby’s life is threatened and other options are explored. I want warm compress applied to my perineum to avoid tearing. Please don’t yell at me to push, I would like my body to guide. My partner would like to watch baby come/catch baby/cut cord etc.
Delivery:
I think instructions for how to handle and not handle your baby is some of the most important information you can have in your plan. It’s a hectic hour with many people coming in and out and boxes needing to be checked. Here are some things you might want to specify. “I want my baby skin to skin as soon as they are delivered, and I want them on my chest for at least an hour. I want the umbilical cord to stay in tact for as long as possible but at least five minutes, and I want my placenta to deliver on it’s own with no traction of extraction. We will be doing placenta encapsulation so please pack it up with ice in the cooler we brought. Do not scrub my baby (I don’t know why they insist on this. It can’t feel good on the freshest skin there is) to rub vernix off or stimulate them. We can do this with our hands. Please consult me or my partner before admistering ointments (I recommend waiting till after the hour, for good eye contact) or vaccines, and allow my baby to lead initial breastfeeding during golden hour. I want my baby to room in with us, and if necessary, baby does not leave the room without my partner.”
We would like to thank staff for respecting our wishes and helping us achieve a birth we will remember fondly forever.
Easy as that. Imagine your ideal birth, and go from there. Type it, print it, or marker it up and make it beautiful.
And don’t forget to bring it to the hospital haha.