What is a birth plan?
A birth plan is an outline of your preferences for labour and delivery and is a way to let your healthcare team and family know what you want and what you wish to avoid. It can cover anything about the labour and birth that is important to you and may include the names of the persons who should be present during labour and the birthing process, preferences regarding feeding and care in the hospital, whether you want pain medication, and specification on the preferred atmosphere. A birth plan can include the things that will make your experience more comfortable.
There is no right or wrong birth plan! Your birth plan is for you - by you.
It is Important to remember that your labour and birth may not necessarily go as planned — a birth plan is not a contract.
Your birth plan should be flexible and should make room for unforeseen events. Sometimes interventions are necessary to avoid complications that can affect a mother and/or baby and therefore the medical team may deviate from the birth plan.
What to include in a birth plan?
A birth plan is specific to your needs and preferences and there is no exact template. Here are some things that you can consider when compiling a birth plan:
Who should be with you for support?
Are there any culturally important factors to consider?
Where would you prefer to give birth?
Would you like to include a specific type of music?
What type of examinations would you prefer and how often?
What are your preferred pain relief options, if any?
Are there any specific positions that you want included in the process?
Do you have any preferences for skin-to-skin contact or delayed cord clamping?
Are you planning on breastfeeding as soon as possible after giving birth?
How can your partner support you?
What should happen after your baby is born? — for example, should baby stay with you and not be separated?
A birth plan should be informed by your needs and how you wish to experience your labour and birthing journey. Think clearly about your desires and have a discussion with your midwife, doctor and birthing facility/ hospital to ascertain what is feasible and what is not.
Do you need to have a birth plan?
The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends that a birth plan be in place and mostly advocates for normal birthing processes without interventions. A birth plan is more than just a checklist of preferences, it serves as communication or clear directive to the labour team about your wishes, should you not be able to voice them during labour. It also may improve the labour and birthing experience.
However, birth plans are not essential and you may choose to go without one.
Who should review my birth plan?
You may discuss and review your birth plan with your partner and anyone else who will be with you in the delivery room. You can also ask your doctor, hospital, or birth center for input as they may have their own delivery policies or concerns. Reviewing and discussing your birth plan with all the relevant people ahead of time gives you an opportunity to resolve any potential conflicts and to ensure that all necessary persons are aware of your needs.
Who needs a copy of my birth plan?
Once your birth plan is finalised, give a copy to your doctor (to keep with your medical records), as well as the hospital or birth center. You may also want to give copies to anyone who will be with you during labour and birth.
Take Home Message
A birth plan is a way for you to tell your healthcare team what your labour and birth preferences are and includes what you want to avoid. Your birth plan can cover anything about labour and birth that is important to you.
This article is written by Dr. Itumeleng Buti (MBChB)
References:
1. Kathleen Dailey. How to Create a Birth Plan. [ internet] Web MD: [Updated 2021 March 19; Cited 2022 March 17] Available from: https://www.webmd.com/baby/guide/how-to-create-a-birth-plan.
2. Jennifer Kelly Geddes. How to Create a Birth Plan. [internet] What to Expect; [ updated 2021 June 14 cited; 2022 March 2022] Available from: https://www.whattoexpect.com/pregnancy/labor-and-delivery/birth-plan/
3. Pregnancy Birth & Child. Making a birth plan. [ Internet] [ updated 2021 September; Cited 2022 March 17] Available from: https://www.pregnancybirthbaby.org.au/making-a-birth-plan
4. Tommy Pregnancy Hub. Making your birth plan [ internet] [updated 2019 June 5; Cited 2022 March 17] Available from: https://www.tommys.org/pregnancy-information/giving-birth/making-your-birth-plan
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