Congratulations on your pregnancy, we hope it is all going as smoothly as possible. You are probably busy seeing family, keeping your home in order, day-to-day routine and doctors’ appointments. In between it all you may be thinking about your birth plan. If you are finding it tricky to keep your mind in order, we are here to provide you with some ideas of what you can include in your birth plan.
Curious? Read on.
Medical Details
This one might sound strange, but this is something worth considering. Of course, your doctor and midwife will have access to your medical records but having some important info on hand can save people lots of time. Here are our suggestions…
– Allergies: Food allergies and allergies to any medications are excellent to have right there at your fingertips. If you are somewhat preoccupied (you know … having a baby) your birth partner, midwife and even the nurses and doctors will have a reference much closer by than on a computer or in a record somewhere.
– Placenta: This is something people may not think about until later in their pregnancy journey. There are a few things that you can do with your placenta but make sure to note down anything specific. Are you having it privately stored? Are you keeping it? Or would you prefer that it be disposed of by the hospital? (Just ensure that you keep any paperwork that you need alongside your plan)
– Pain relief: How much or little and the types you would like. Most options you have will be discussed with your doctor but for safety have it in your plan.
The Environmental Factors
This is a big umbrella term for “you can have some things to make your birth experience less stressful.”
When you have a home birth it is much easier to control the details of your room. You can organise the furniture, equipment, lighting, people and various other things exactly how you want them.
For hospitals or birth centres, may be more limited in their customizability. It is always worth taking some time to ask about the things available and noting down what you want to use. Yoga balls, birth pools and the like are likely to be available to you in most places but for more personal things like music or lighting, you may want to ask in advance what the rules are and take note of these in your plan.
You may also want to note down how you want people to act in the room. This is something you may need to be flexible on but if you want everyone to be straight and honest with you every step let them know. If you prefer a slightly quieter room, note it down and let your birth partner know so they can take on the responsibility of keeping things calm.
In conclusion
Before we round up completely, keep in mind that you will potentially have to be flexible with your plan should you receive medical advice that contradicts it. Be ready to hear alternatives and suggestions.
Creating a birth plan is not a legal requirement. It is a choice that you can make. However, knowing how customisable it can be, there is always a benefit to jotting down your requests or having something on hand for your birth partner to refer to. If you want one but can’t muster the energy to write everything there are templates online that you can use. If you prefer to just take each step as it happens then you can leave this part out. It is designed more for comfort and details you feel necessary than a requirement.
