When you find out you're having a baby, you feel both excited and a little curious, right? Especially in the early stages of pregnancy, you may not think much about the day you'll have your baby, that is, the birth. But as time goes by, you start thinking a lot about the day your little one comes into this world. That's when it's time to think about a birth plan .
What is a birth plan?
Simply put, a birth plan is a list of things you want and expect when you have a baby, that is, during labor and delivery. But even though it's a "plan," it's not like a contract that has to be followed exactly, it's not like an unchangeable contract. It's just a guideline .
Think about it, when you have a baby, many things can happen. Sometimes things we don't expect can happen. Therefore, this (Birth Plan) cannot map out exactly how your delivery will be. However, it will help you a lot. What is it? It will help you think about what is most important to you during childbirth, and it will help you talk about your wishes with the doctors, nurses, and family health workers who are helping you.
Remember, you don't necessarily need to have a birth plan. You can still have a good, happy birth without one. Some people like to write everything down. It serves as a reminder for themselves, their partner, and the medical team.
How do you make a birth plan?
Before you make this, there are a few important things you need to do.
1. First, talk to your doctor (this could be your treating obstetrician and gynecologist, or your family health worker/midwife). Tell them your thoughts and get their advice.
2. Visit the hospital or birthing center where you are expecting your baby. Find out what the facilities are like and how they usually do things.
Your doctor or hospital may have a birth plan form that they have created for you. If they have one, use it to ask questions about how they typically treat expectant mothers. If the answers they give aren't what you expect, you can consider a different doctor or location that suits your needs.
It is very important to be flexible!
This is the most important thing. Be as flexible as you can. Think about it, if you can't do something in your birth plan exactly as you want, compare it to your other expectations. Maybe you can't do everything exactly as you want because of medical reasons, insurance coverage, cost, or limited facilities in your area. In those cases, focus more on the two things that are most important to you.
Your preferences may not always align with your doctor's or midwife's ideas. If so, ask, "Why do they do it that way?" and listen carefully to their answers. Think about it before you make a decision. They may have specific reasons for choosing certain birth options.
Finally, find out if there are any special circumstances during your pregnancy that may limit your choices. For example, if your pregnancy is considered high-risk because of your age, health, or a problem you had during this pregnancy or a previous pregnancy, your doctor may be able to advise you differently about some of your delivery options. This information should be discussed and considered when considering your options.
What can be included in a birth plan?
Now let's see what kinds of things you can include in this (Birth Plan) .
An environment you want during labor
In many hospitals and birthing centers, mothers are allowed to make some choices about the environment in the room where they give birth.
- Do you want to listen to music ?
- Would you like it to be less light ?
- Do you want the freedom to walk when labor pains come?
- If possible, would you like to have a snack or drink during the pain?
See if you can ask for things like this that make you feel comfortable.
Your preferences regarding what is done during childbirth
You can also add these things to your birth plan :
- How should fetal monitoring be done?
- What kind of equipment do you need besides the room?
- How many internal exams are done during labor?
- Sometimes, for medical reasons, it may be necessary to induce labor or speed it up. You can share your thoughts on the different ways to do this.
Pain Management – This is important for many people!
This is a very important thing for many pregnant mothers. You have a lot of control over this. Talk to your doctor about this.
- Ask about painkillers and learn about the different ways to get them.
- Also, ask about other pain relief methods . For example:
- Massage
- Relaxation techniques
- Breathing techniques
- Birth balls
- Bathing/Water immersion
Know your options and tell your doctor about your preferences. Also, some mothers change their minds about pain medication during labor. There's nothing wrong with that, it's normal.
Position to hold when having a baby
You can try different positions during labor. In addition to the familiar half-reclined position with your legs in stirrups, you can also lie on your side, squat, stand – or whatever position feels right for you at the time.
Let's be aware of episiotomy
If necessary, doctors will perform an episiotomy . This involves making a small cut in the skin between the vagina and anus (the perineum) to make the birth easier. This may be done if your vagina is at risk of tearing, or in a medical emergency. However, if there is an alternative, you can discuss your wishes with your doctor.
Assisted Birth
If the baby becomes stuck in the birth canal, you may need to have an assisted birth . This means using forceps or a vacuum device to remove the baby.
Consider a Cesarean section (C-section)
If you have to have a cesarean section (C-section) , there are a few things you need to think about:
- If possible, would you like your partner to be present during the surgery ?
- Do you want to see the baby come out?
After having the baby...
You can also make decisions about what to do right after you have the baby.
- Does your partner want to cut the umbilical cord ?
- Does your partner want to hold the baby once it's born?
- Do you want to have skin-to-skin contact with your baby as soon as you get him , or do you prefer to clean him first?
- Do you want to see the baby before putting medicine in his eyes ?
- What is your preference regarding the delivery of the placenta ? Do you want to keep the placenta?
- Do you donate cord blood to a blood bank, or store it in a private bank?
- Do you want to breastfeed your baby as soon as you have it ?
More things to think about...
In addition to this, there are other things for you to think about:
- Feeding method: Breast milk? Formula milk? Both?
- Would you like to give your newborn a pacifier ?
- Depending on where you have your baby, there may be different options for where your baby sleeps at night (in the newborn unit? in your room all the time, or only when you're awake?).
- If it's a boy, you can also talk about religious or cultural practices like circumcision .
What else do we need to know about this?
Once you have your birth plan , make time to discuss it with your doctor or midwife. Discuss what you agree on and what you disagree on. Discuss the plan with your partner periodically throughout your pregnancy.
Try to keep this (Birth Plan) as simple as possible. Write down your expectations in order of importance. This will help you ensure that the most important things are accomplished.
Make several copies of the plan: one for you, one for your medical records, one for your doctor/midwife, and one for your birth assistant/partner. Also, keep a few extra copies in your hospital bag when you go to the hospital to deliver your baby. Your doctor may not be on duty when you give birth.
It's true that you can't control everything that happens during your baby's birth. But you do have a big role to play in the decisions you make about your body and your baby. That's where this (Birth Plan) can help you.
Finally, remember these things (Take-Home Message)
Okay, so I hope you now have a good idea of what a birth plan is, how to create one, and what can be included in it.
- Remember, this is just a guide to let you know what you want. Don't expect everything to be perfect.
- It's very important to maintain good communication with the medical team. Tell them your thoughts and hopes.
- Be flexible. Sometimes changes may have to be made for medical reasons.
- Think about what is most important to you and prioritize those.
- Creating a birth plan gives you a sense of control and involvement in your childbirth. It's also very valuable mentally.
Congratulations on your new journey! I hope everything goes well for you and your little one!
` Birth Plan, Pregnancy, Childbirth, Delivery, Pain Management, Cesarean Section
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