Are You Making A Birth Plan? Here Are Suggestions for Expectant Mothers
Creating a birth plan should be part of your pregnancy journey. Let us show you what’s included in your birth plan.
When you receive “good news”, thoughts about labour and birth do not immediately come to your mind. You’ll learn more about what you eat during pregnancy, eating well, and keeping your baby healthy. But even if you have to wait a few months to welcome your child, you should start making a birth plan. A birth plan is basically planning out the details of your needs when your baby is born. You don’t need to plan the birth right away. Enjoy the first few months of pregnancy and then start planning for birth. Read on to learn how to incorporate this into your birth plan.
What is a birth plan?
A birth plan is a document that shows a parent’s preferences regarding the birth of their child. The purpose of birth planning is to convey the mother’s wishes to the healthcare team and ensure that these wishes are taken into account during birth.
Why is a birth plan important?
Creating a birth plan is important because it allows expectant mothers to express their preferences and thoughts regarding the birth of the child. This information helps the medical team understand and respect the parents’ needs, resulting in a more personalized and successful birth. Experts say birth planning can also help reduce stress and anxiety by providing a sense of control and support during this special time.
When should a birth plan be created?
It is best for parents planning to give birth in the second trimester of pregnancy. This period allows evaluation of preferences and provides sufficient time to discuss the plan with the physician. Creating an early birth plan allows for adjustments and ensures that all preferences are communicated to the medical team before birth.
What should the birth plan be like?
Family Planning must include the following information:
1. Birth Environment
Describe the ideal child’s environment, including music, light, and climate preferences. This sets the tone for a comfortable and relaxing environment during delivery.
2. Pain Management
Refers to preferences for treatments such as natural methods, medications, or epidurals. Discussing these options ensures that the mother’s comfort needs are understood and respected.
3. Labour and push positions
Expresses preference for different birthing and pushing positions, such as standing, squatting, or using a birthing ball. In this way, it enables the mother to get involved in the birth process.
4. Healthcare provider
Clarify preferences regarding the collaboration of doctors, including midwives, obstetricians and nurses. This ensures that the mother has a support group that is appropriate to her preferences.
5. Interventions
Discuss medical choices such as fetal monitoring, delivery, and episiotomy. This allows the mother to share healing efforts during labor and birth.
6. Atmosphere in the delivery room
Express your desire for space in the birth room, including who will come, photography, and any religious or cultural preferences for the ceremony or blessing.
7. Immediately after birth preferences
It indicates that the baby prefers immediate skin contact, delayed clamping of the cord, and other needs in the postnatal period. This helps prepare for the critical period after birth.
8. Food preferences
There are many ways to feed a baby to communicate their preferences about breastfeeding, formula feeding, or donor milk, and to seek assistance with breastfeeding after birth.
9. Special circumstances
Indicates a special or unexpected event, such as surgery. Show your preference for these events in the birth plan.
What is the difference between a birth plan for vaginal birth and cesarean section?
The main difference between birth preparation for vaginal birth and birth preparation for cesarean section or C-section lie in the specific preferences and emotions for each type of birth.
1. Vaginal birth
Vaginal birth planning, focusing on preferences related to labor and birth, such as pain management, childbirth, children’s vaginal preferences, and immediate postpartum emotions. It covers the different stages of labor, different births, and the need for skin-to-skin contact immediately after birth.
2. C-section
There are special birth-related considerations when planning a cesarean section. This may include preference for anesthesia (e.g., epidural or spinal), availability of supporting personnel during surgery, music preference, and the need for immediate postnatal care and the baby. It also includes common and primary nutritional preferences in the operating room or recovery area.
