How to write a birth plan?
Guide to create your own birth plan.
What is a birth plan?
A birth plan is a written document by you.
The birth plan lets your medical team know your labor and delivery preferences.
The plan describes pain management, postpartum care, and newborn procedures.
It is a guideline for you and the hospital staff.
A birth plan encourages you to consider all your options and communicate your preferences to the hospital healthcare team.
But many times, things don’t go as planned.
So don’t be too disappointed if things go very differently than planned.
Check out these birth planners to make writing a birth plan even easier for you:
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Writing the birth plan
You usually have an option to get to know your hospital before the birth.
I had my baby during the corona pandemic, and I didn’t have the luxury of exploring the hospital.
Ask questions from your hospital about the things you are curious about.
Let’s write!
Keep it short and simple.
Try to keep it on one page, even a half! Bullet points are useful!
Tell the hospital staff who you are!
You can start “nice to meet you, I am…”
Most likely first people you meet, you have never met before, so they know nothing about you.
Tell a little bit about yourself and your companion if someone is there with you.
Do you have a support person?
Partner, doula, mom, sister… Introduce them and explain their role.
Would you like them to take some part of the journey?
Like we chose with my husband that my husband would be in skin contact with the baby while I was in the recovery room.
Also, we wanted the nurses to teach my husband how to take care of the baby.
Do you want someone else in the room?
Do you plan to have many people in the delivery room with you? Or would you prefer to just have your support person?
Describe your expectations.
Do you have a specific position or place for the labor?
Like a tub or shower?
Are you more comfortable in your own clothes or hospital clothes?
Do you want someone to help you and in what way?
Pain relief.
Do you want all the available medications and pain relief you can get or perhaps unmedicated delivery?
The birth.
Do you have certain positions in mind that are more natural to you? Is there something specific you do not want to happen?
Would you like to see the birth from the mirror perhaps?
Does the support person want to cut the cord?
Who would want to take the baby to skin contact after the birth?
Do you want to breastfeed or use formula?
With the Newborn
Do you want the Vitamin K shot to be given?
Do you want someone to show you how to bathe the baby?
The nurse showed my husband and I was watching from the bed.
It was a very adorable sight.
Do you want to do the PKU test?
Do you want your baby to sleep in your room or in the nursery? If you have an option.
I definitely wanted my girl to be with me all the time.
I also wanted a midwife to help me and guide me with breastfeeding.
Highlight the most important things for you.
In the case of hospital staff are busy and only have little time to read your plan.
This way they get a rough idea of your wants and needs.
Put your birth plan in your hospital bag.
So you will have it with you on the big day.
WANT TO LEARN MORE?
If you have any other questions about the birth plan, let me know in the comments section below.
Or if you have a video idea that you would like me to create, you can send me a DM on Instagram @marika.anneli.kim
And don’t forget to subscribe to my channel!
I’ll see you back here for more helpful tips soon.
XO, Marika Kim
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