- As we read on the British NHS website, a simple birth plan perfectly informs hospital staff about the needs of the woman giving birth
- Your own pillow from home and your favorite music from your phone can very effectively improve the overall comfort in the delivery room
- The MedlinePlus website reminds that during severe contractions, a woman has the right to completely change her mind about anesthesia
- Writing down a clear ban for students in advance saves parents a lot of unnecessary stress when welcoming their little one into the world
- The choice of specific pain relief methods is a very important detail to quickly discuss with your trusted midwife
What exactly is a birth plan and why is it important to prepare one?
Plan breed it is nothing more than a short document in which you write down your expectations regarding the birth of your child. As we read on the British NHS website, this is a great way to inform midwives and doctors about what you need in the delivery room. This helps staff know how to best support you while you focus on contractions and bringing your baby into the world.
However, before you go to the hospital, creating such a list allows you to easily learn about the different body positioning options and available amenities. It is worth treating this document more as a wish list, because childbirth itself can be very unpredictable and rarely goes one hundred percent as planned. Sometimes, at the last minute, other decisions have to be made for the good of the mother and the baby, which is why a flexible approach to the entire event is so important.
What to include in the birth plan? Summary of the most important points
You’re wondering what exactly to put down on paper before the big day, so we’ve collected the most common choices for future parents:
- who will accompany you in the room (partner, supportive doula, or maybe a close family member)
- what equipment do you want to use (balls, sako bags, shower or special pool)
- do you want to freely change position during the entire birth?
- what are your preferences for pain relief methods
- Do you care about immediate skin-to-skin contact right after birth?
- who should cut the umbilical cord and at what point
It is worth discussing this outline with your doctor or midwife during pregnancy. This will help you make sure that your requests are simply achievable in the hospital of your choice.
Change of decision in the maternity ward. What to do when things go differently?
Even the best-thought-out script can change as the action heats up, and there’s absolutely nothing wrong with that. The MedlinePlus website reminds you that you have every right to change your mind about anesthesia during strong contractions, even if you had previously planned to give birth completely naturally. Your doctor may also suggest other steps for safety reasons if you or your baby’s health suddenly requires it. It’s a good idea to trust the team that watches over your health at all times. After all, the most important goal is for you and your baby to return home safely together.
How to take care of the atmosphere during childbirth and who to let into the room
In the document, you can include not only purely medical matters, but also small details that create a calm and safe atmosphere around you. It’s up to you to decide whether you prefer to give birth in complete silence or with the sounds of your favorite music played from your phone. It is also worth clearly specifying whether you would like the lights dimmed and whether you would like to have your own pillows from home at hand to make you feel more comfortable.
It is equally important to clearly define who has the right to be in the room and who you would prefer to ask out to avoid unnecessary stress. If you do not want students to watch you give birth, simply indicate this on a piece of paper. Setting clear boundaries makes it so accompanying person can calmly focus on supporting you, instead of worrying about asking unwanted guests out of the hall.
Sources:
