What is a Birth Plan (and do I need one)?
A birth plan is a collection of your wishes for your birth. An exercise in understanding your options. After all, the only options you’ll have are the ones you’re aware of.
A birth plan is NOT a strict plan. A birth plan is not a list of demands.
Instead, think of it as an outline of your best case scenarios. Where you’d end up if everything went just the way you’re hoping.
You’re going to show your birth plan to your OB or midwife before the birth. Use it as a catalyst for conversations about what to expect in your birth experience. If your provider doesn’t think you need a birth plan or won’t review it with you, that’s a red flag. Or, if they will discuss it, but it feels dismissive, mocking or otherwise uncomfortable, that’s also a red flag.
You can also ask them if their colleagues will similarly support your birth plan. In most group practices, you don’t know who your doctor or midwife will be until you go into labor. That’s ok! You’ll discuss your birth plan when you meet the on-call doctor at your birth.
Your birth plan is also a 1-pager for your Labor & Delivery nurse(s) on baby day. Your care team at the hospital should actively ask you about your birth plan. Show it to them, go over it together and ask her to hang it on the white board in your labor room.
Want to write a birth plan together? Learn more in a 1-1 session with Barb.
