In my previous blog, I shared my birth story and now I'd like to discuss my birth plan. A birth plan serves as a valuable tool for communicating with healthcare providers who will be involved in the delivery of your baby. It allows you to express your preferences during and after labor, as well as outline what you would like to avoid, where possible.
Initially, my birth plan was several pages long. Once my husband and I finished drafting it, we sent it to my doula for review before taking it to my next midwife appointment. She suggested condensing it into one page, considering the attention span and time constraints of healthcare providers. Following her advice, we revised it accordingly.I brought the condensed version with me to my midwife appointment around week 30. My midwife and I went through each point, discussing them thoroughly. She informed me of certain policies that didn't allow for some of my requests, such as filming during labor. However, she assured me that filming could commence once the baby was delivered. Thankfully, we were able to capture footage of everything after the baby's head was born.
It's important for the provider to sign the birth plan after reviewing it with you, and to ensure it is uploaded into your chart. This way, if the provider isn't on call when you go into labor, whoever is caring for you can easily access your preferences.While my preference was always an unmedicated vaginal birth, I also prepared a C-section birth plan just in case. However, my husband and I decided not to upload it into my chart. But we had several copies of both plans with us in case they were needed during my care.
Having hard copies of your birth plan readily available for your support team ensures continuity of care, especially if different providers are attending to you during labor and delivery. If I have another hospital birth in the future, I plan on using the same birth plans. They played a significant role in ensuring a positive birthing experience for me. Feel free to use my plan as a starting point in creating your own birth plan.
Remember, every birth is unique, but having a well-considered plan can empower you to advocate for your preferences and make informed decisions during this important time.
