birth plan

Prepare for Your Time After the Baby is Born - Take a tour of the nursery and find out if your baby will be allowed to stay in your room most of the day or if she/he will be brought to you at certain hours for feeding.

What if you are not feeling well? Will the baby stay in the nursery temporarily or will the baby stay in your room? Ask about special care facilities for your newborn. What if your baby is born prematurely or has a medical problem? Where is this special nursery? Can you take a tour of the facility and see what the equipment and nursing staff is like?

Neonatal Intensive Care Units (NICU) are very important if you have a child with special needs, so be sure you understand your options in this regard.

What is the visiting policy? Can you visit your baby at any time? Will you need to wear special gowns or clothing to go into the room?

Get a list of the routine vaccinations and procedures they plan for your baby: injections, tests, medications, etc.

And ask what each of these means so that you know what they are doing when the staff tells you they are about to perform a test or give your baby a shot. If you have a boy, ask about the hospital policy regarding circumcision. Is this optional or do they automatically circumcise your child. Will your child receive pain medication for the circumcision and afterwards if necessary? If you are Jewish and you plan to have this done by a moile, be sure to let the hospital know this!

Lastly, find out how long your hospital stay will be for a normal vaginal delivery and for a C-section birth if required.

Now, take all these details and consider them for your birth plan. Make it specific so that your doctor and medical staff don’t have to guess if you are unable to discuss it with them.

The reason we suggest a birth plan is because it helps you to organize and consider your preferences and to ask all the right questions of your doctor and your hospital or birthing center staff so you are well prepared for your delivery.

Birth plans are not legal documents, but you should show yours to your doctor and get him to sign off on your plans to be sure you are being reasonable in your expectations.

Include information in your birth plan about whether you want induction, amniocentesis, IVs, heparin locks, enemas, epidurals, medications or narcotics, whether you want to eat or drink, use a birthing tub, move around or walk during labor, how you wish to be monitored (continuous or periodic), whether you want your doctor to use forceps, whether you want ‘self-directed’ pushing vs. doctor directed pushing.

Keep your birth plan short and easy to read (try to type it if you can so no one has to struggle over poor hand writing). Hospital staff will not read the document if it is too long and wordy. Describe what you want and what you don’t want! Your birth plan can also include what happens after delivery: Dou want your husband to cut the umbilical cord, and hold the baby first? Will your baby receive medication or vaccine, will she be breast fed or bottle fed? What happens if your baby needs special care? When you think about what you want and what you don’t want you are more likely to talk to your doctor about all the crucial requirements before you get to the hospital. And there is often no time to have this discussion during labor.

Birth plans can have disadvantages. Some doctors and medical staff do not appreciate being told what you want, but in that case, you may be using the wrong staff.
If you have a ‘testy’ health care professional on your hands – but one you would like to keep because of their knowledge and skills – be prudent about how you approach your birth plan.

Talk to them first about the fact that you are thinking of doing one and ask for their input. That will get them engaged. After you’ve done the birth plan ask them to look at it and give you feedback.

Be willing to be flexible and reasonable. Don’t feel you have to control every detail. Most doctors and hospital staff are reasonable enough to work with you if you approach them in a polite and respectful manner.

Now that you have drafted your birth plan, there are a few other things you’ll want to ask your hospital or birthing center staff to be prepared for going home with your baby.

Ask if your birthing center or hospital offers ‘after care’ visits from nurses, lactation consultants or other health care professionals after you have been discharged from the facility.

And be sure you find out about classes or support groups for new parents. Most facilities offer these on site and others will recommend a community-based program that will help you learn basic skills like bathing your infant.

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