As a hypnobirthing educator I’ve helped hundreds of women prepare for their hypnobirth. Most women do great with their hypnobirthing classes, but after their classes they often procrastinate on writing their birth plan. The birth plan is the final step towards a stress free and pain free birth, and I encourage all my students to make this a high priority.
A birth plan is just a written document that is used to communicate your preferences regarding labor and delivery. It will explain your preferences to everyone involved including the doctors, hospital administrators, nurses, birthing coach and doula.
Some women who are expecting their first baby are often confused about why they would need to write these things down. What they don’t realize is that each hospital and each doctor has their own standard way of handling a mother’s labor and her baby’s delivery. Most of these standard practices may be just fine with you, but others may rub you the wrong way. The great thing about having a birth plan is that it let’s your exact preferences be known, and it does so in a way that is not controversial or awkward for those involved.
Some women I’ve talked to about birth plans think that they can just tell their doctor ahead of time about how they would like to handle the birth. This is no substitute for a proper birth plan! There can be no assurance that your doctor will be the one delivering the baby. They may be out-of-town or tied up with another birth. Or they may not remember each detail of your plan. And don’t forget about the rest of the personnel at the hospital, since you will be treated initially by the nurses who are on duty.
Other women feel uncomfortable giving a birth plan to their doctor, and they fear that it will make them seem pushy. Or that the doctor will be annoyed by having to read their plan. On the contrary, I’ve found that doctors are happy when their patients get involved with these issues and it helps them do their job. Keep in mind that the birth plan is not just a tool to help you get your preferences, but also acts as a tool for the nurses and doctors. And also remember that it is just a plan, and if you end up changing your mind about any aspect of the birth, just speak up and let your doctor know.
Once you decide to write a birth plan, then you must consider what to include. Start with the due date and the name of the doctor. Then just have a brief sentence that explains the purpose of the plan. Next you will want to mention your plans for the management of labor pain. For instance if you are using hypnobirthing or hypnobabies, it is important to mention this fact, so no one is caught by surprise.
Then you should note your preferences on monitoring devices and pain medication. Following this you will need to list criteria for inducing the baby and any notes about procedures for episiotomies or cesarean delivery. Next, you will want to spell out the procedures for handling the baby immediately after birth and whether you are planning to breast feed or bottle feed the baby. It is also appropriate to state your policies on photos, music, and video during labor and birth. And if you will have anyone supporting you at the hospital such as a doula, husband, or coach, then you should point this out as well. Finally, if there is anything else that is important to you, make sure you include it in the birth plan.
Having a well written birth plan is a key step in having success with hypnobirthing. By following these simple guidelines you will make the birthing experience less stressful and more enjoyable for everyone involved.