Creating a Plan that Supports You
Hello there, and welcome back, reader. Thank you for being here. Alright, so you're pregnant, you might be thinking, “Well, now what”? There are so many decisions to be made, and the one that might be the most important and a little overwhelming is how you want your birth experience to look and feel. That is where birth planning comes in. It might get a bad rep; some people may see it as overly controlling. But creating your birth plan isn’t about you getting to control every single detail. It’s about creating a space where you feel supported, confident, empowered, and informed. It’s about preparing and understanding your options so you can make the best decisions for you and your family. We recommend that you don’t think of it as a step-by-step plan that will happen. The reality is, labor is unpredictable, and so, we recommend you look at it as a guide to help your support team and know your preferences.
What is a Birth Plan?
We must understand what exactly a birth plan is before we go over how to create one. A birth plan is a written outline of your wishes or preferences during your labor, delivery, and postpartum care. It helps communicate your wishes to your provider, doula, partner, and nurses. Several people get the wrong idea when it comes to birth planning, but there is a very important part of it; a birth plan is not a guarantee. It is not a strict blueprint that your support team MUST follow.
As we mentioned before, birth and delivery can be very unpredictable. There may be a situation where your delivery isn’t going as planned, and your care team needs to make a shift for your and the baby’s health. Flexibility is key; your birth plan should be a tool for communication, not a source of stress if plans change. Keep in mind that the goal isn’t for everything to be perfect; it is to feel heard and respected throughout your journey.
Why is Birth Planning Important?
Taking the time to plan your birth, thinking through your preferences, and viewing all of your options can make a big difference in how you can experience your labor and birth. Being able to learn different medical interventions, birthing positions, different ways to manage pain, and what to expect postpartum can come in handy when you are there, experiencing it.
Birth planning can:
Help you feel more confident and prepared
Reduce anxiety by understanding all of your options
Encourage communication with your provider and care team
Allow you to make informed decisions ahead of time
Even if your birth experience doesn’t go as you planned, having the conversation beforehand can help put your mind at ease, helping you stay grounded. Laboring can be a long process, and if your mind has changed regarding specific decisions on your birth plan, that is okay. That doesn’t make you weak or wrong in any way whatsoever; it makes you human.
Important Elements to Include in your Birth Plan
To begin with, we want to ensure you feel heard and understood. What we don’t want is for you to feel overwhelmed and frustrated with all of the different things you can put in your birth plan. We can start with some key elements you should have in your birth plan, starting with the basics.
Birth environment:
Let’s think about your birthing space. We all envision a safe, comforting, calm, and loving environment when bringing our baby into the world. We want you to be in the atmosphere you envision during labor.
Some questions to consider are:
Who would you like in the delivery room?
Would you prefer dim lighting or a calm and quiet space?
Will you be utilizing music, aromatherapy, or other comfort items?
Will you be giving birth in a hospital, birth center, or will you be planning for a home birth?
What makes you feel safest and most comfortable?
You don’t have to answer all of these questions in one go; take your time and think about what you prefer.
Labor preferences:
During labor, it’s important you communicate with your care team how you feel and what may make you feel more comfortable because labor can be long, and preserving energy is key. You might want to add how you would like to move through your labor during the different stages of it.
Some questions to consider are:
Would you prefer freedom to move, walk, and change positions?
Do you have a preference in eating and drinking?
What are your thoughts on medical interventions, like induction, continuous monitoring, vaginal exams, and c-section?
Pain management:
There are several different ways to help manage pain, and everyone has a different pain tolerance. Let’s get this straight: if someone decides to utilize medical pain management, it does not make them “weak,” and it doesn’t make them less of a woman.
You might consider:
Natural coping techniques, breathing exercises, movement, hydrotherapy, and massage
Medical options like epidural, IV pain medication
If you are unsure, you can also leave room for flexibility, playing it by ear isn’t wrong, and sometimes you won’t know until you are experiencing it.
Delivery preference:
Labor will progress, and you will be closer and closer to meeting your baby. Adding these small details can help you feel more in control and help you stay more connected.
Some questions to think about are:
Do you have any preferred pushing positions?
Would you like to use a mirror while pushing?
Would you like to touch the baby's head as you push?
Would you like to implement delayed cord clamping?
Postpartum and newborn care:
You can also include your preference for after birth as well. This can help you navigate postpartum after a long and hard labor, making it easier for your care team to know your wishes.
How do you feel about the Golden Hour?
Do you have a feeding preference for your baby?
What are your thoughts on newborn procedures?
If you are having a boy, will he be circumcised?
As we said before, do not be afraid to take your time to understand your options and how to create your birth plan. Talk it over with your partner and make sure they understand your wishes so they too can support and advocate for you.
Embracing Flexibility
Probably the most important part of birth planning is learning to accept that things may not go exactly as you have planned. Expect the unexpected and learn how to cope with it and shift to what comes next. Unexpected interventions or changes can happen, but that doesn’t mean that your voice disappears, not at all. You have every right to ask questions, understand all of your options, and you are able to be a part of every decision. Being flexible doesn’t mean you are handing over control; it means you are informed and supported even when things get hard or take a turn.
“Perfect birth”
It can be very easy to put pressure on yourself to have a “Perfect birth,” but the truth is that there is not one right way to give birth, and there is no right experience. Having a positive birth experience isn’t defined by whether you were able to stick to your plan. It is seen as a positive birth experience if you were supported, respected, and informed through your labor, delivery, and postpartum care. We want you to be safe, and your voice matters. Your wishes matter. With the right preparation and support from your care team and the people you love, you will be able to walk into your birth feeling all of the right things, no matter how your journey unfolds!
We appreciate you taking the time to be present in this space with us. We cannot wait to see you next week. We hope our blog helps you plan for your own birthing journey. Make sure you visit our Instagram page for our blog recap. If you are looking for support or have further questions, don't be afraid to DM us or contact us directly via email or phone.