How to Write a Birth Plan - An Overview
There are two main reasons for writing a birth plan.
The first reason is that you need to plan ahead for major events so that you know what to expect.
When you are in the middle of labor, it's difficult to think clearly about alternatives and make a decision.
The decisions should be made ahead of time.
You also can use a birth plan to firm up the things that you prefer your health care provider to do during and after the birth.
Learning how to write a birth plan that will cover all your bases is something that can be made simpler through pre-planning and review of some of the elements.
Writing a birth plan helps to formalize what you desire before the fact.
It is not cast in stone, of course and you should include information about what to do in the event of a serious change in the circumstances surrounding the birth.
No one wants to think of the worst scenario, but planning for some contingencies is responsible.
You should plan for who will be present with you at what stages of labor and birth.
Maybe you prefer the support of friends during preliminary stages, but not in the final stage.
There will need to be some important information about you, as the mother.
Do you have allergies, special dietary needs or religious preferences that you will want honored? Your medical care staff needs to know about these before you are in labor.
Talk about the atmosphere that you envision in the labor and delivery room.
Do you prefer dimmed lights, soft music, visitors? Do you want to be able to move around during early stages of labor? You should define preferred positions when it is time to push.
Your plan should specify the type of pain relief you want used during labor.
This can include both pharmaceutical and non-pharmacological relief.
You should specify whether or not you want an episiotomy.
Do you want pitocin used to induce labor or to speed up the process? The plan should define what procedures will be done on the baby and when.
If you are breastfeeding, when should that begin? Do you want the baby to be offered supplements if you are breastfeeding? You should also be prepared on what action you will take if you don't go into labor on the due date.
You should use the time now to learn about the various natural labor inducing methods so you can avoid risking your baby's safety.
Having the knowledge will make you feel safer and you will be better prepared.
All of these factors are the things that should be considered when you learn how to write a birth plan.
There are good examples on the Internet to use for a road map.
Ultimately, the decision is up to you about what you put in the plan.
The plan gives you a talking paper when discussing options with the medical staff before labor begins.
The first reason is that you need to plan ahead for major events so that you know what to expect.
When you are in the middle of labor, it's difficult to think clearly about alternatives and make a decision.
The decisions should be made ahead of time.
You also can use a birth plan to firm up the things that you prefer your health care provider to do during and after the birth.
Learning how to write a birth plan that will cover all your bases is something that can be made simpler through pre-planning and review of some of the elements.
Writing a birth plan helps to formalize what you desire before the fact.
It is not cast in stone, of course and you should include information about what to do in the event of a serious change in the circumstances surrounding the birth.
No one wants to think of the worst scenario, but planning for some contingencies is responsible.
You should plan for who will be present with you at what stages of labor and birth.
Maybe you prefer the support of friends during preliminary stages, but not in the final stage.
There will need to be some important information about you, as the mother.
Do you have allergies, special dietary needs or religious preferences that you will want honored? Your medical care staff needs to know about these before you are in labor.
Talk about the atmosphere that you envision in the labor and delivery room.
Do you prefer dimmed lights, soft music, visitors? Do you want to be able to move around during early stages of labor? You should define preferred positions when it is time to push.
Your plan should specify the type of pain relief you want used during labor.
This can include both pharmaceutical and non-pharmacological relief.
You should specify whether or not you want an episiotomy.
Do you want pitocin used to induce labor or to speed up the process? The plan should define what procedures will be done on the baby and when.
If you are breastfeeding, when should that begin? Do you want the baby to be offered supplements if you are breastfeeding? You should also be prepared on what action you will take if you don't go into labor on the due date.
You should use the time now to learn about the various natural labor inducing methods so you can avoid risking your baby's safety.
Having the knowledge will make you feel safer and you will be better prepared.
All of these factors are the things that should be considered when you learn how to write a birth plan.
There are good examples on the Internet to use for a road map.
Ultimately, the decision is up to you about what you put in the plan.
The plan gives you a talking paper when discussing options with the medical staff before labor begins.