Why and How to Create a Birth Plan?

Why and how should you create a birth plan?

Having a birth plan is an effective way to take an active role in preparing for your birth. Among other things, it allows you to educate yourself and make your own choices. Having clear ideas is certainly a good thing, but keep in mind that flexibility is key.

A pregnant woman sitting cross-legged on a bed

Don’t forget to download your birth plan template so you can fill it out in private with your partner before discussing it with your midwife or the birth facility of your choice.

DOWNLOAD HERE

What does it do?
A birth plan is, first and foremost, a tool for YOU. It allows you to write down everything that comes to mind—your ideal birth, your wishes, and your concerns. Include everything you want without worrying about “what people will say” or standard protocols. Having a birth plan will open the door to communication with your partner. Indeed, we each have our own vision of how the birth and the immediate postpartum period will unfold, and the plan will allow us to share certain ideas, challenge others, discuss them, and likely discover that some points that seem obvious to you aren’t necessarily obvious to your partner. Preparing a birth plan will also help you learn about certain practices and protocols, regardless of where you give birth. And above all, it will highlight the wishes and priorities of the parents-to-be so that the healthcare team can take note of them and respect the key elements… as much as possible.

Do I need help writing it?
Expectant parents are perfectly capable of doing their own research and drafting a plan. However, it’s a good idea to discuss this with a midwife or doula to clarify what is and isn’t possible (in a hospital setting, for example), what is and isn’t negotiable, and to ensure that the parents understand why they are making certain choices. For example, if the parents want delayed cord clamping, the person—and in particular the doctor or midwife—who reads your plan may ask, “Why do you want to wait at least 10 minutes before cutting the cord?” At this point, knowing how to answer the question will give you some leverage with the person reviewing it and show that you’ve done your research. Discussing it with professionals will also help parents consider aspects they may not have thought of.

Practical and Logistical Considerations
The birth plan must be clearly legible, and your intentions must be clearly stated. To present it to the maternity ward, for example, be sure to create it in advance so that the hospital staff can keep a copy in your file. Don’t forget to pack it in your hospital bag for the big day and to give a copy to your partner if necessary. Your partner is the person, after you, who knows your wishes best and who will ensure that the plan is followed when you are no longer able to manage it yourself. Don’t forget to prepare one as well if you have a scheduled C-section—it’s absolutely ESSENTIAL!

I made a birth plan, but in the end, nothing went as planned
If there’s one event that NO ONE can predict, it’s childbirth. That’s why it’s so important to be flexible, to be ready to adapt, and, above all, to accept that we can’t control everything. To avoid unpleasant surprises, disappointments, and even trauma (for example, an emergency C-section under general anesthesia when you had planned a completely natural birth—which can be very difficult to cope with), it helps to put your ideals on paper while remaining aware that things might unfold differently on the big day. This approach is sure to make the experience a little better. The birth plan is not set in stone but can evolve throughout the pregnancy and right up until the moment of birth itself. A plan drawn up at the beginning of the pregnancy will not be the same as one drawn up after attending childbirth classes. You don’t owe anyone anything, and you can change your mind at any time!