Printable Birth Plan Template | Word | PDF | RTF
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One of the greatest moments of your life—having a child—is also a lengthy, sometimes complicated medical event. Thus, to ensure the best childbirth experience possible, you should consider your preferences regarding each aspect of birth: labor, monitoring, induction, anesthesia, caesarian sections, delivery, and postpartum issues.
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Of course, medical personnel will have a lot of say in these decisions as they arise, but like any other medical procedure, the patient’s preferences play a major role. Making these decisions beforehand also relieves you of any extra stress that making them during labor would create.
Labor Preferences
Your options here include where to give birth (hospital or home), the people you want to attend (e.g., family members), whether you want your OBGYN or a midwife to deliver, whether you want to be able to walk or use a birthing ball, and any atmospheric elements, such as music or aromatherapy.
A birthing ball may help you get into a more comfortable position if you feel the hospital bed isn’t optimum. Otherwise, walking around before you begin to deliver may be more comfortable. If the hospital uses a wired device to monitor the baby, however, you may have to remain in bed. You may also want to inquire beforehand whether the hospital will allow you to bring in food or drink, or play music during labor, as not every hospital will. The hospital may also limit who may accompany you during childbirth.
Anesthesia and Induction
You can choose to receive narcotics or an epidural to manage pain during birth. An epidural will eliminate pain, narcotics will decrease it, and both will relegate you to a bed. Otherwise, you can choose nonchemical ways to manage pain such as using a birthing ball or stool, massage, and special breathing techniques. It is easier for you to give birth when your pain is under control, so if it becomes too much to bear, consider chemical pain relief.
There are a number of ways to stimulate delivery as well, ranging from rupturing membranes, and using medications like oxytocin, to cervical gel, nipple stimulation, and walking. You may prefer natural means rather than chemical means, although if there is a complication, physicians may have to augment labor with medication.
If you receive pain medication or labor induction, you will likely have to remain in bed on a monitor and abstain from food and drink, so consider how important these are to you before agreeing to pain medication or induction.
Here is a sample birth plan for you to articulate your preferences regarding these issues and share them with your doctor.
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