When you put together a birth plan, you are creating a list of ideal circumstances for your labour and child birth. Even if you have no idea about how you'd like to birth - and sometimes, that's the best way - a birth plan can help focus you, your carers and your birth partners. A birth plan can also help you get closer to your primary carer if you work on it together.
Labour is a unique beast and difficult to control - hey we know kids like that! You must trust your body, your instinct and your primary carer. It pays to be lenient with your birth plan so that you are not disappointed. Even the best laid plans can be disrupted and labour and birth is probably the main example of this. By being comfortable with changing your plan last minute, you will have a more enjoyable birth.
However, as an example, if the last thing you want in labour is a shot of morphine, be absolutely adamant that you won't receive one. It could be that your medical team will suggest other pain relief, consider it, but if you are completely anti morphine or anything else, try within reason to stick to your guns. No one wants to put you or your baby at risk, so please listen to your health care practitioner and have a sound minded advocate mediating with you, this could be your mother, doula or partner.
Things to think about when writing your birth plan can include basic things such as lighting, music, what you'd like to wear, who you want in the room, food, drinks, what to do with the placenta. Write down the pain relief you'd prefer to opt for in an ideal situation and what other tools you want to use for pain relief - shower, bath, massage, acupressure. If you want your partner to cut the cord and want to wait until it has stopped pulsating, write it down but remember if babe is in any risk, things might go differently.
Talk to your maternity carer about putting together a birth plan. If this is your first pregnancy, they will be able to guide you through it and will be more likely to understand your needs for when the big day arrives!
Labour is a unique beast and difficult to control - hey we know kids like that! You must trust your body, your instinct and your primary carer. It pays to be lenient with your birth plan so that you are not disappointed. Even the best laid plans can be disrupted and labour and birth is probably the main example of this. By being comfortable with changing your plan last minute, you will have a more enjoyable birth.
However, as an example, if the last thing you want in labour is a shot of morphine, be absolutely adamant that you won't receive one. It could be that your medical team will suggest other pain relief, consider it, but if you are completely anti morphine or anything else, try within reason to stick to your guns. No one wants to put you or your baby at risk, so please listen to your health care practitioner and have a sound minded advocate mediating with you, this could be your mother, doula or partner.
Things to think about when writing your birth plan can include basic things such as lighting, music, what you'd like to wear, who you want in the room, food, drinks, what to do with the placenta. Write down the pain relief you'd prefer to opt for in an ideal situation and what other tools you want to use for pain relief - shower, bath, massage, acupressure. If you want your partner to cut the cord and want to wait until it has stopped pulsating, write it down but remember if babe is in any risk, things might go differently.
Talk to your maternity carer about putting together a birth plan. If this is your first pregnancy, they will be able to guide you through it and will be more likely to understand your needs for when the big day arrives!
About the Author:
For more information on natural pain relief in labour such as acupressure and massage, visit Julie Burton's favourite alternative health site. They have info on pregnancy acupuncture, & induction