Should I have a birth plan?
DEAR GENTLE DOULA
SHOULD I HAVE A BIRTH PLAN? MY SISTER SAYS ‘YES!’, MY OBSTETRICIAN SAYS ‘NO!’ AND MY PARTNER SAYS ‘I JUST WANT WHAT YOU WANT’. I THOUGHT A BIRTH PLAN MIGHT BE A GOOD IDEA, BUT WHAT DOES IT MATTER SINCE WE CAN’T CONTROL WHAT HAPPENS AND IT’S BETTER TO JUST GO WITH THE FLOW? I COULD REALLY USE YOUR ADVICE!
~UNSURE
Dear unsure,
The short answer to your question is ‘yes’! You should have a birth plan (in fact, isn’t not having a plan then sort of the plan?!) But here’s a longer answer to your question that will probably be a little more helpful. There are three main reasons to have a birth plan:
Your birth experience leads to your baby’s birth-day! And any special event/day (think party, wedding, etc.), needs some planning so that it includes the things that matter… Your birth plan can consider questions like: Who will you invite to the ‘party’? Where will you be when you welcome baby? And—perhaps most importantly—what does the guest of honour want most at their birth-day celebration? A birth plan goes beyond labour to help create an environment that is best for your newborn—that supports their innate fetal agenda—and is part of supporting their best start in life.
Birth is all about going with the flow—which makes it important to have a plan! Do you want a birth that supports the hormonal dance that helps your labour flow, with few interventions? Do you want a birth that is more medically based (meaning you go with the flow of the hospital’s routines, and whatever happens, happens)? A birth plan can help you decide which river to paddle in (i.e., which ‘flow’ you’re going to go with). And it can give you a place to consider what matters to you—and a reason to face any fears you have, or learn more about birth in order to work towards your goals.
Birth is often unpredictable. (And, yes, I’m aware that this is the reason many people advise against a birth plan!) However, it’s exactly because birth is both understandable and mysterious that it is helpful to have a plan. You can plan (and prepare) for how you will birth if everything goes smoothly. But thinking through some ‘what if’ scenarios can also help—making the more unexpected (and sometimes difficult) outcomes of birth less traumatic. For example, are you planning a home or clinic birth? Thinking of what your plan/wishes would be if you had to transfer to the hospital can help you feel in control—even when you lose some control. Are you planning a hospital birth? Knowing that you have planned ahead can make an unexpected change, such as a cesarean birth, one that still reflects as much of your original birth plan as possible. This can be empowering—and can be a part of your baby’s birth story that still reflects who you are and what matters most to you.
A birth plan is more than just a list. You start with a list: what matters to you (and baby)? And then you start preparing to welcome your little one. Here are some simple steps to consider when planning for birth:
think about what is important to you
learn more about your options
understand what different birth scenarios mean for baby’s well-being on their birth-day
find a supportive team (consider adding a doula!)
prepare, practice, and present your plan to your caregiver
Who benefits when you plan for birth? You do. Your baby will, too. And so does your partner. Even the people caring for you (nurses, doulas and doctors) will be helped by knowing how they can support you in making your birth the best it can be.