A birth plan is a way of conveying your wishes for your
baby’s birth and for the care of your baby and you. It can include preferences
for labor and birth, such as pain relief for you, and goals for after your
baby’s birth, such as ways to create memories together and include family and
friends. You can also integrate your baby’s medical care plan, outlining your
decisions regarding evaluations and testing, aggressive intervention, and
palliative care.
The benefits of having a written birth plan in a situation
like yours, in which time will be of the essence, are many and very real—for
you as well as your caregivers. For you, it can provide a format to help you think
about the upcoming birth, understand your options, explore what other parents
have chosen, and evaluate what will be important to you. A birth plan can decrease
your anxiety by ensuring that your wishes are clearly communicated and by
giving you a sense of control in a situation where so many things may feel out
of your control. It provides a structure so you and your caregivers can work
together to make your baby’s birth as close to what you are envisioning as
possible.
A birth plan can also benefit your caregivers in important
ways. It can offer insight into your needs and desires so they don’t have to
try to read your mind. It ensures that all parties have similar information. It
allows for advance planning and offers a format for discussion. Having this
information ahead of time decreases their
anxiety, too. A birth plan gives all of you a road map to follow together.
