What’s a Birth Plan and Why Do You Need One

Birth plans have become a popular topic in recent times as more and more women become active participants in their birth outcomes. No longer are we satisfied with simply trusting the system. No longer is the baby the only thing to look forward to during the birthing process. We want a good experience too.

So, what’s a birth plan and how does it fit into having a good experience? A birth plan is the blueprint to how you envision your birth. What do you want your birth to be like? What do you see happening? Who is surrounding you? Where are you ideally located? What types of things do you want to happen, and what things are you trying to avoid?

Understanding what you’ll face as you give birth allows you to achieve the best outcome possible. Birth cannot be controlled, but there are plenty of decisions to be aware of and knowing about them in advance will help you to be prepared.

Here are some of the things you’ll need to think about:

• Where to birth: home, hospital, or birth center?
• Who will be your care provider: obstetrician or midwife?
• Who will you have with you at your birthing: your partner, family, a doula?
• How do you feel about pain medication?
• How do you feel about having an epidural during labor?
• Do you want your bag of waters to rupture on their own or artificially?
• How would you feel if the need arose for an induction?
• How would you feel if the need arose to have a Cesarean?
• Do you want the baby’s heartbeat to be monitored continuously or at intervals?
• How do you feel about internal fetal monitoring?
• Would you prefer to birth in the water or out of the water?
• If having a boy, do you plan on circumcision?
• Do you plan to breastfeed?
• Should the baby’s cord be clamped immediately following birth or left to finish pulsating?
• Do you want to hold the baby right away or wait until the baby has finished being examined, weighed, and assessed?
• What will you do if your water breaks before contractions start?
• What will you do if labor is not progressing as quickly as is desired?
• Episiotomy or no episiotomy?
• What will you do as comfort measures during labor?
• What routine assessments for the baby (e.g. Vitamin K shot, Hep B vaccine, antibiotic eye ointment, automatic bath, etc.) would you like performed and which would you prefer to decline?
• What would you like to happen to the placenta following delivery?

This is a simple list of the possible things you will need to consider and as you do your own research, you will most likely find more.

Once you have completed your birth plan for your ideal birth, be sure to educate yourself on the policies of your midwife or obstetrician and also the hospital if you plan to birth there.

Having your care provider on board with your choices will drastically help improve your birth experience. A physician can overwrite any of the hospital’s policies if they are willing. Also, you are in charge of your care and you do not have to consent to any procedures you are not comfortable with.

It’s important to know you have choices and a right to be choosey. This is your birth and an experience that will forever be with you. Best of luck creating your birth plan.

Click here for our sample birth plan.

For more information, please visit www.AZBirthDoulas.com.

Elizabeth Blitz is a registered nurse, birth doula, and placenta encapsulation specialist serving the Phoenix metro area. She is the owner of AZ Birth Doulas, LLC. To reach Elizabeth, send her an email at azbirthdoulas@gmail.com.