Planning your baby’s birth

Before labor, it is usual for an expectant woman to consider the form and type of birth she will experience.  Details include the doctor who will oversee the birth, whether it will be a natural or caesarean section procedure. You may also consider methods of birth such as a water birth, use of a birth ball or any others on offer at the hospital. 

With all this choice it may be wise to plan your labor. A birth plan allows you to write down all you want and expect during labor and  in talking it through with your care team get answers to all your questions.

What is a Birth Plan?

A birth plan is a record of what you would like to happen during labor and after the birth. You don’t have to create a birth plan, but it is a good option to have, since it will help your doctor understand your feelings and priorities. 

A written birth plan also helps new members of your medical team learn about your preferences when you’re in active labor.

Some hospitals provide a birth plan worksheet or brochure that explains the hospital’s policies of childbirth, which lets you know what your options are.

What should you consider before you start writing the birth plan?

It is advisable to read as much as you can about delivery, signs of labor, tools and types of labor to familiarize yourself with the options that may be available to you.

It can be helpful to join classes at a health center, or a hospital near you.

Talk to moms who have already experienced birth. Talk to several moms because each one will have experienced a different labor processes and don’t forget labor is as individual as each women is so it is a matter of taking information in general.

Talk to your spouse especially if he will be your birth partner. Make sure that he fully understands the type of labor of your choice. If you are having a caesarean section, you can still write a birth plan. You can also read more about this procedure and your care team will explain what to expect also.

What should I write in my plan?

• Birth Partner – Consider who you would like as your birth partner – it could be anyone you wish but will usually be your husband, close family member or a friend.  Consider anyone else you want to have with you in labor, and if you want this person to stay with you all the time or not.

• Positions for labor – Mention which positions you would like to use during labor – you will probably not know until the event which feels best but being informed about the options will help you and you will have an idea of preferences you can put down as a guide.

• Pain relief – Consider which if any type of pain relief you would prefer to use and in what order.  There are also natural methods to help ease labor such as massage and warm baths or water births which you may wish to consider.  It will depend also on what your care team can offer at the place you will deliver. Other popular aids to labor at some hospitals may include wall bars, birth balls, mats or beanbags.  Check with your place of delivery to find out what will be on offer to you so that you can think about what you might like.

• Skin-to-skin contact – Think about whether you would like your new born baby placed directly onto your belly at the moment of delivery or whether you would prefer your baby to be washed and wrapped or dressed before you hold him or her.

• Feeding your baby – Be clear about whether you want to breastfeed or bottle feed your newborn. 

• Other specific requirements – Mention your special requirements in your birth plan. Include any religious requirements, such as customs you’d like to be carried out when your baby is born.

What Next?

Share your birth plan with your care team and discuss it with them.  Write down any considerations you discuss specific to your birth plan. 

It is important to remember that a Birth Plan is an ideal of what you would like for your labor and delivery.  No birth is the same and sometimes it is important for the care team to deviate from the Birth Plan for the welfare of the mother and baby.  For example you may wish to have a natural birth but a complicated labor may necessitate some pain relief and perhaps a more invasive delivery such as a caesarean section.  However your care team will consider your birth plan as far as they are able and many times births go according to plan so it is very worthwhile to do a Birth Plan.