Birth Plan

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A baby does not come a-rolling down the slope and landing on your doorstep or in your lap and catch you by surprise. A baby takes nine months to develop in your womb, an ample time for you to prepare for its coming out. This small bundle of blessing comes packed with joys and complications. This brings out the importance of making a birth plan so everything will be smooth and well-planned when your baby arrives.

Pregnancy is a phase that is packed with many unexpected twists and surprises. Every pregnancy and every delivery is different, so it is not reason enough that you had been pregnant for several times already to take it for granted without making a birth plan.

A birth plan is just like preparing an itinerary when you go on a trip. You want everything to flow smoothly so your focus will be only on the aspect of delivering your baby and regaining your strength after the ordeal of being pregnant and having a baby. All the other details should be in your birth plan. Your birth plan is also a big help to your doctor and the nurses who will attend to you during delivery. They will already have your instructions as to how your delivery will be handled. Going through labor and delivery are most unpredictable. You should never take anything for granted because even the smallest complication could cause things awry and throw your carefully planned birth plan down the drain.

A birth plan should be composed in a compact style because your doctor and the attending nurses wouldn�t have time to read a long novel. Two pages is sufficient for an ideal birth plan but this does not mean that you will oppose any other suggestions your doctor or midwife may have during the actual delivery that is not in your birth plan. Flexibility is important with the ultimate goal of a safe delivery and having a healthy baby.

Your birth plan should cover three areas in your pregnancy: labor and delivery, after delivery and complications. These are the most unpredictable aspects of pregnancy and should be on your priority list. Include decisions in your birth plan focusing on the following:

Labor & Delivery

Indicate in your birth plan who you want to be allowed in the delivery room during labor. Your personal comfort counts, so you should include if you would want to remain in bed during labor, or move freely about, if you have any laboring positions you would want to maintain, if you want a monitoring of your baby.

You should also indicate how you would like to cope with labor pains, whether you would like to use medication or not. For example you want to use medication to ease the pain of labor and delivery; you should also specify in your birth plan what kind of medications you want.

You could also include in your birth plan what position you would want to deliver in, and you could opt for the traditional semi-reclining position, sitting, lying on the side, squatting or putting your feet in stirrups position during delivery. Include whatever you feel is important to ease you through the whole process of labor and child delivery.

Postpartum

Your plans immediately after delivery should be included in your birth plan. Details could include as to who will cut the baby's umbilical cord, if you want your baby to be immediately placed in your chest or stomach bare skinned after he/she comes out or if you want the baby wrapped first. You should also indicate if you have any plans if the baby will sleep in your room, or if you plan to completely breastfeed your baby or give him a pacifier or bottle.

Complications
Giving birth is an unpredictable aspect and complications could happen. It is important therefore that you indicate in your birth plan what you want to be done in case any problem or difficulties occur during your delivery. You should put in your birth plan possibilities like if the need arises, would you want to be induced if labor stalls, or if you have a difficult delivery, would you want the doctor to use forceps or a vacuum to help the baby get out. It is good to be prepared in advance for uncalled for emergencies.

Again, flexibility is the word. Your birth plan is just a plan, not final so when adjustments are called for, you should not hesitate to receive suggestions or changes which are for your own good. Your birth plan will differ depending on where you plan to give birth. A birth plan made for a delivery in the hospital will differ from a plan designed for giving birth in your home, but whatever plan you have, just be sure to include all the basic things you would need should complications arise.

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