Writing a Birth Plan – Hows and Whys

If you’re having your baby in a hospital, writing a birth plan is so important if you are to have as much control as possible over your birth and early postpartum experience.

Your birth plan can look however you want it to, and there are various free templates online that you can print out and use. Your birth plan may include information about your wishes in regards to the following areas and procedures: the comfort measures you’ll be employing during labor; your feelings on labor induction; whether you’ll accept anesthesia and what kind; Cesarean section delivery; perineal care; delivery; newborn care; postpartum; breastfeeding; additional areas like picture taking; video-recording, and your decision with regards to circumcision.

Keep in mind that many hospitals won’t honor your wishes (a birth plan has no legal standing), however, there are other hospitals you may find who are open to follow your wishes as much as they are able. Ask around to find a Doctor or Midwife who will support your choices as much as possible. If you’ve done your research, are well nourished, low risk and educated on the options, potential risks and benefits of various hospital procedures, they’re more likely to respect your opinions.

[ad#ad-2] You may agree that some hospitals do not have the greatest reputations or, for that matter, the best facilities. Some have shocking caeserean rates, as high as 40%, something birth experts agree is no accident, but rather a result of their philosophy.

Writing your birth plan allows you to fully digest all of the possibilities you need to consider when choosing the proper hospital to deliver your child. You may decide that a birthing center or Midwife assisted homebirth is more appropriate for you and your baby.

Writing a birth plan can alleviate a great deal of unneeded stress as you prepare to become a mom. Being proactive is always a good idea. Your birth plan allows you to set down all of the details and choices beforehand and communicate those clearly to hospital staff when you’re doing the work of labor.

One Mom said: “I made all the nurses read the birth plan that I had posted to the bulletin board on the wall. When they found out I had taken Bradley childbirth education classes, they knew I was not going to take pain medications, and respected my choices. I’m certain it had a lot to do with the fact that I had an unmedicated vaginal delivery (with no episiotomy) even after a long labor and second stage.”

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