Six Questions your Birth Plan Should Answer

Birth plans have become very popular in the last decade as women seek to have more control over their birthing experiences. And that is a great thing! Creating a birth plan is no different than a blueprint for a building or a map for a road trip. When you embark on one of the most life changing events in your entire life, why wouldn’t you choose to have a plan?

All birth plans are not created equal though. It is important that your birth plan addresses these five questions in order for it to be effective and comprehensive. Empowered birth is possible! Let’s plan to make it happen.

1. Where are you giving birth?

This might seem like a no brainer to some people but to others it can be a major decision. Maybe you have always known you wanted to have a homebirth with the local midwife like your sister did. Or perhaps there is only one hospital that takes your insurance, so the decision is already made for you. But some have never considered the options and now is the time to do so.

First, do you want to give birth at home or in a hospital? The doulas here at Black River Birth Services are able to support moms in both places. We have seen beautiful births at home in mom’s living room and also in a hospital surrounded by medical professionals. Decide what you feel comfortable with and what is most important to you in your birth experience.

If you want to give birth at home, look into the midwives in your area. Do you only have one or are there several options? Is there even a midwife that serves your community? Now is the time to find out. Reach out to your doula if you want help finding a local midwife.

If being in a medical setting is important to you, then a hospital birth will be your choice. Are there several hospitals in your area? Which ones does your OB have privileges at? What limitations or perks do each one offer? Again, ask your doula for input. She has probably been to all the hospitals you are considering and can offer you valuable input or ideas of what to look for.

For some women a third option is available. Birth centers are a hybrid between home and hospital birth. They don’t exist everywhere, but if you have one it is worth a look! They are usually a cross between a resort and a hospital with the comfort of the rooms. They get the process out of your home but offer much more freedom than a hospital.

Determining where you will give birth is an important first question to get answered when making your birth plan.

2. Who is your care provider?

This question goes hand in hand with the previous one. Obviously if you only have one midwife in your county and you want to have a home birth, she is your only option. But some areas have a plethora of choices when it comes to midwives and OB-GYNs.

What should you look for in a care provider? Someone you trust and feel safe with. Someone that is willing to answer your questions or has experience with any specific complications you are dealing with. How does that doctor's reputation line up with your birth goals? These are all important considerations when choosing a care provider for your birth.

3. Who is on your birth team?

Like birth plans, birth teams have become popular in the last decade. Deciding who will be present for the birth of your child and what role each person will play can help you have an empowered birth.

Here are some of the common roles to have filled on a birth team:

Partner- having the father of your baby present is almost expected nowadays. Most men want to experience the birth of their child, and there is no one mom is as intimate with as dad. Just think about how that baby came to be!

Care Provider- Your midwife or OB is a critical part of the team. They will be there to provide medical care and oversight to the birth process.

Doula- When you choose your doula you are choosing labor support, partner support, birth planning help, postpartum care, and more. Your doula is literally your birth servant. She is there to help your voice be heard, make sure you don’t get walked over, and create a setting where a beautiful birth is possible. Select a doula that makes you feel loved, supported, and able. Because you truly are.

Photographer- Some women find pictures or footage of their birth so important, they hire a professional photographer to be on the team. Birth photographers are practiced in taking pictures that tell the story of your labor and delivery. They capture the expressions on faces as the baby is met, they help you remember all the details of those dreamy moments after the baby is born. You doula can connect you with a local photographer who can make your birth picture dreams come true.

Bonus people- Maybe this is your mom, sister, best friend or all three! When you fill these slots, be sure to give each person a purpose. Are they in charge of coffee runs for the team? Will they do the social media updates during labor? Are they going to write down things as they happen? Will they hold a leg when you push? Don’t bring people along to just be spectators…trust us. No one wants to be on display for idle eyes while the most private areas of your body push a baby out!

Crafting your birth team is a great benefit of having a birth plan. Know who you want there and what part they will play in your birth.

4. Pain Management

Knowing how you want to work through labor can be a very complicated subject. But thankfully you have nine months to think about it and are welcome to change your mind as often as you like.

If you are giving birth at home, your options will be more limited. You can choose things like positive affirmations, hypno-birthing, Lamaze breathing, or the Bradley method. Don’t be afraid though, with the support of a doula those are often enough. Having the right birth support around you is the best pain management in the world.

At the hospital there will be more options to navigate. If you want to pursue an unmedicated birth you may want to choose a code word with your team to let them know you want to switch to medicated. This allows you to vocalize any way you like during contractions without the anesthesiologist being called by accident because your partner thought you wanted them. When you scream “give me drugs”, they know you are working through contractions. When you say “goldfish” they know you are ready to be done and want additional pain management support.

If you want to pursue a medicated birth, determine what options your hospital offers. When does your OB suggest you get your epidural? Are there other things he wants you to try first? Are there any options you want to avoid? All those details can go into your birth plan to help your team all be on the same page.

5. Preferences during labor

Your birth plan should contain things you want or don’t want during labor. Of course, we all understand things sometimes go sideways, certain things might become unavoidable. Ultimately what everyone wants is a healthy mom and healthy baby on the other side of birth.

Consider the setting. What things do you want that will make the birthing space feel right to you? Are there certain smells you want to smell? Lighting changes? Affirmations or images you want to have visible? Include all those things in your birth plan.

Are there certain procedures you wish to avoid? Do you want to skip continuous monitoring? Do you want to be able to move around and labor in different positions? Is an episiotomy okay with you or do you want to be allowed to tear instead?

How would you like to push? Is directed pushing what you want, or would you rather labor down? Are there certain positions you want to push in or avoid pushing in? If this seems like an overwhelming number of questions and possibilities, don’t fret! That is why you have a doula. She will help you navigate all your many options and share evidence-based information to help you make the right decisions for your birth story.

6. Preferences for After Birth

These are some of the most important things to have in your birth plan because you won’t necessarily be able to advocate or voice your opinion in the moments surrounding your baby’s birth. Whether it is because you are in a cloud of euphoria or groggy from meds, it is best to have already laid out a best-case scenario plan for you and your baby.

The timing for things such as cord clamping and cutting, baby’s first bath, and other newborn activities should be written down. Do you want the baby to do the breast crawl? Will you keep the placenta for ceremonial or health reasons? Who is allowed to hold your baby after birth? If you and the baby have to be separated, will your partner stay with you or go with the baby? What about your doula, will she stay with you while he goes?

Do you want the golden hour after birth to be honored? Is there a certain food or drink you hope to enjoy as your first meal as a mom?

What about circumcision, eye ointment, vaccination, or bottle feeding? Do you have a preference for when or if these things are done? If so, it is very important to have them on your birth plan and have it communicated with your entire birth team.

Conclusion

Having a birth plan can help ensure your voice is heard through each step of the process. But unless your birth plan addresses each of these important questions, it is not going to be sufficient. Next time you meet with your doula, review your birth plan and make sure you have all your bases covered. This birth is your birth. Own it. Love it. Plan it.

Want to learn more about how Black River Birth Services can help? Check out our

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