5 Good Reasons You May Want A Birth Plan

Whether this is your first or fifth pregnancy, you should know that no two births are identical and it’s impossible to plan every tiny detail of your birth in advance.  However, you can help prepare yourself for the unpredictable moments during your labor and delivery with a birth plan. Below you’ll learn how a birth plan will help you.

• It’s Personal – Birth plans are not generic, but instead are customized to fit your unique needs and wants. You can address as little or as much as you want in your birth plan. For instance, you may only want to address the major things like epidural, surgery, etc. or you may want to also address smaller issues such as visitors, who holds the baby first (after you of course), etc. The point is that it is your birth plan and will address everything you want it to address regarding your labor, delivery and after-care.

• Helps You Prepare – Birth plans are designed to help both you and your partner prepare for the labor and delivery of the baby.  In order to outline a detailed birth plan, you will have to research various types of labor techniques, hospitals and their procedures and a number of other things.  This research will help you and your partner get an idea of to expect once you do go into labor.

• It Speaks for You – The good thing about birth plans is that they are prepared by you, when you are thinking clearly – not when you are in the middle of labor.  Once a woman is in labor, she can become vulnerable and make decisions she wouldn’t normally make as a result.  When you have a birth plan and a decision has to be made while you are in labor, it can be referred to and “speak” for you…you can even look at it to refocus your thoughts during the difficulties of labor too.

When you provide the hospital, nurses and doctors with your birth plan, you won’t have to worry about re-explaining your wants and desires in regards to your labor. The birth plan will speak for you and help prevent any misunderstandings from occurring.

• Helps Ease Fears – Creating a birth plan is a great way to help ease your fears regarding your labor and delivery.  Preparing for birth can be a scary process as there are many questions and fears that often go unadressed.  However, you will have addressed many of these questions and fears when you created your birth plan, which will help ease your mind and reduce your anxiety as your due date approaches.

• Protection – Not every birth goes perfectly as planned and if complications do arise, having a clearly defined birth plan can help protect you from unwanted interventions from family, doctors and nurses.

L       Looking for some ideas of how to get started with creating a birth plan of your own? Check out this video offering you tips for how to create a visual birth plan: