In researching this topic, there are numerous sites online explaining why birth plans are so important. A few things to think about is why you should have a birth plan and how it can help you. If you’re wondering whether or not you should have a birth plan, understanding what goes into a birth plan may help you decide if you should have one. So, let’s take a look at one such plan so that you can fully appreciate the steps taken in this written document and how it may benefit you.
The document begins with your name, caregiver, name of hospital or birth center, due date, coach (father or other); and name of baby. The document then proceeds with the following subtitles with questions relating to each, which you can check off accordingly. Labor; Labor Induction; Anesthesia/Pain Medication; Cesarean Section Delivery; Perineal Care; Delivery; After Birth; Newborn Care; Postpartum; Breastfeeding; Additional Notes which encompass picture taking; video-recording, and circumcision.
While there is a presumption that many hospitals may not deem this document necessary (keep in mind it has no legal standing), there are other hospitals you may find who are open to follow your wishes as much as they are able. This opens up another train of thought which is: researching and finding the right obstetrician and hospital that will conform to your requests.
You may agree that some hospitals do not have the greatest reputations or, for that matter, the best facilities. Creating this birth plan allows you to fully digest all of the possibilities you need to consider when choosing the proper hospital to deliver your child.
While we sometimes put doctors on pedestals, no one can know more about how you feel than you. Therefore, creating a birth plan can alleviate a great deal of unneeded stress as you prepare to become a mom. Why you should have a birth plan allows you to set down all of the details and choices beforehand.
About the author
Maya Bennett
Meet Maya Bennett Maya Bennett is a pregnancy and parenting writer and a mom of two. After navigating two very different pregnancies of her own — and years spent reading, researching, and trading stories with other expectant parents — she fell in love with helping families feel ready for what’s ahead. At More4Kids, Maya turns the big questions and quiet worries of pregnancy into warm, practical guidance, from the first positive test through the tender early days with a newborn. She believes every parent-to-be deserves clear answers and a little reassurance along the way.
Add Comment