Birth Plans: Are they really necessary?

Womb Wrap Co.
Apr 18, 2018
3 min read

Updated: Jan 18, 2023

With my first child I knew I wanted to give birth naturally. And with that came this need to make a birth plan. Reading up on birth related literature I familiarized myself with standard care of laboring women in the hospital. This included baby monitoring, stripping membranes, breaking the water, induction, pitocin, epidurals, and possibly epesiotomies and cesarean sections. My Birth Plan read like a toddler, "No. No. No. No. No." Hindsight it's no wonder my doctors and nurses did not look at it. Ha! Or anyone's for that matter. I'm not saying we shouldn't have a say in our births. I'm also confident that there are some doctors, few but some, that have read their mothers birth plans. What I am saying is there may be a better way to have your requests known and respected.

Take care of business! You've got 10 months to find a doctor on the same page as you. Talk to your doctor. Question them. Ask them what they think about your decisions? Do they get ruffled? Do they try to pursued you to do it their way? Do they talk down to you? Being confrontational with your doctor can be difficult but you do not want to be discussing your birth choices while in labor, trust me! Your wishes should be made known and agreed upon with your doctor or midwife months before you ever deliver.

Make the Switch! The delivery room is not the place to find out that you don't like your doctor. Asking the hard questions will give you direction on whether to have a doctor or midwife, birth at the hospital, birth at home or a birthing center etc. Your birth plan doesn't have to be on paper and it's more than telling someone what you want. Your birth plan starts with you and your desires. Find a caregiver that is already providing the care you want and you shouldn't need a written birth plan. On that note: it does not hurt to write your wishes down in case of an emergency where a loved one would have to answer for you.

THE HARD QUESTIONS:

Do I want to give birth in the Hospital, Birthing Center or at home? Which atmosphere would I be most comfortable and relaxed in?

Do I want to birth in a hospital in case of an emergency?

How far away is the hospital from your home or birthing center?

Do I desire to be induced by stripping membranes, breaking of water, or pytocin?

Do I want my caregiver/doctor/midwife to be with me throughout the labor process?

Do I want someone telling me what I can and cannot do?

Do I want to be allowed to eat and drink in labor?

Do I want to walk around freely?

Do I want the baby monitored?

Do I want to be able to go home if labor stops?

Do I want to deliver my baby vaginally if the baby is breech or occiput posterior or have a cesarean?