Birth "Plans"
Birth plans used to be all the rage. Writing down detailed notes about what you want and mostly, don't want from your birth experience. When I was a Childbirth Educator (CBE) in a hospital, we felt we were really cutting edge by offering a specific-to-our-hospital birth plan. When most other hospital's classes focused on navigating the system, we were on the forefront of birth education and advocacy. Well, at least that was our intention...
What I have learned through almost 25 years of being in the birth world is plan is the wrong word. What would be better is a Birth Guide. Doesn't that feel better just saying the word guide?
If you hire an architect to design your new home, the plan they show you better darn well be the house you see at the end of construction or there is going to be a problem!
Writing down ideas about how you would like things to be is a great way to communicate with Midwives/OBs/L&D Nurses and a great way to communicate with your support people. Focus on things that ARE within your control. Instead of spending your energy on trying to keep things at bay. Everyone is pretty sure you would like to avoid a cesarean. But, IF you need to have one, what choices do you have and what kind of support would you like.
Here are some ideas:
Vaginal Birth:
Would you like to wear your own clothes instead of the hospital gown?
Would you like the nurse/OB/Midwife to be present and "hands on"? Or would you prefer they focus on the medical side of things and leave the support up to your chosen birth team?
Would you like the baby placed on your chest immediately after birth?
Would you like to "discover" the baby's gender vs having people tell you?
Would you like to labor as much as possible without pain medication or are you thinking you'd like to have an epidural as soon as possible?
Are you planning on breastfeeding or formula feeding?
Cesarean Birth:
Would you like to hold your baby immediately after birth? (In Madison, this is standard practice!)
Would you like the drape lowered when your baby is being born? (Keep in mind, you won't see anything except the baby, so no worries!)
If you live in the Madison area, many of these things are standard practice. If you don't, you'll need to find out what your hospital policies are.
Writing down your thoughts is a quick, easy way to communicate your desires. There can be many in the moment decisions you have to make but having these baseline ideas communicated can make a big difference in how you feel going in to your labor!
Warmly,
Jodi
What I have learned through almost 25 years of being in the birth world is plan is the wrong word. What would be better is a Birth Guide. Doesn't that feel better just saying the word guide?
If you hire an architect to design your new home, the plan they show you better darn well be the house you see at the end of construction or there is going to be a problem!
Writing down ideas about how you would like things to be is a great way to communicate with Midwives/OBs/L&D Nurses and a great way to communicate with your support people. Focus on things that ARE within your control. Instead of spending your energy on trying to keep things at bay. Everyone is pretty sure you would like to avoid a cesarean. But, IF you need to have one, what choices do you have and what kind of support would you like.
Here are some ideas:
Vaginal Birth:
Would you like to wear your own clothes instead of the hospital gown?
Would you like the nurse/OB/Midwife to be present and "hands on"? Or would you prefer they focus on the medical side of things and leave the support up to your chosen birth team?
Would you like the baby placed on your chest immediately after birth?
Would you like to "discover" the baby's gender vs having people tell you?
Would you like to labor as much as possible without pain medication or are you thinking you'd like to have an epidural as soon as possible?
Are you planning on breastfeeding or formula feeding?
Cesarean Birth:
Would you like to hold your baby immediately after birth? (In Madison, this is standard practice!)
Would you like the drape lowered when your baby is being born? (Keep in mind, you won't see anything except the baby, so no worries!)
If you live in the Madison area, many of these things are standard practice. If you don't, you'll need to find out what your hospital policies are.
Writing down your thoughts is a quick, easy way to communicate your desires. There can be many in the moment decisions you have to make but having these baseline ideas communicated can make a big difference in how you feel going in to your labor!
Warmly,
Jodi
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