5 Tips for Creating a Birth Plan

Pregnancies are as varied as snowflakes. Whether you anticipate a normal pregnancy or have concerns and are considered “high risk,” you have a picture in your mind and heart about the way you want your birth to go, ideally.

This is what the basis of a birth plan is — a best case scenario that you can keep in mind as you approach your due date, and an important set of hopes and expectations you can share with your doctor. As is the case with life, not every birth goes according to plan, but if you have a stated and structured list of preferences in mind, it helps you approach your birth with a sense of calm.

Dr. Keven Hooker’s decade of experience treating women who had “by the book” births and births filled with surprises and challenges have prepared him well for his work. The hallmark of his care is an ideal balance of sound clinical expertise and compassion.

What are the details of a sound birth plan?

You want your birth plan to be a practical document that can be used when it’s needed. It’s advisable to include things like:

• Whether you want your partner, a friend, a doula or midwife with you in addition to your doctor
• How much medical intervention you want during labor
• If you’re overdue, do you want to wait as long as possible to be induced?
• If any factors make yours a high-risk pregnancy, what safeguards can you and your doctor put into place?

Dr. Hooker can play an important role in helping you arrive at answers for your birth plan. And there’s no substitution for going into one of the most miraculous experiences of your life as well-prepared as you can be. 

Be realistic about your birth plan

Remember that your birth plan is just that a vision for what you want to happen, as opposed to an inflexible contract. The birth process is simply too dynamic to think that you could have exactly the birth experience that you imagined, with no unexpected factors to consider. 

That said, this advice will serve you well as you formulate your birth plan.

1. Do you want your birth to be a very private affair or have a “cast of thousands?” 

You may want your birth to be attended only by you, your partner, and your doctor, and that’s fine, but if you want a friend, other family members, or a midwife there, for example, let Dr. Hooker know. This also applies to whether you want your birth filmed or if you prefer to just take a few photos and hold the experience more in your memory.

1. Consider your surroundings

Many different things soothe women as they go through labor. One might like soft lights and quiet music, while another prefers more energetic music, conversation, and activity. Go with what feels best to you. 

1. What level of physical activity do you desire during labor?

There are many ways you can give birth that allow you to labor while moving and getting away from being in a reclined position the entire time. Birthing stools, pools, and simply standing and walking around intermittently are all options.

1. Decide on your preferences for pain control

Some women frown on drugs during labor, while others are more “give me all you’ve got!” Dr. Hooker helps you decide what’s right for you, and your plan can allow flexibility, either way, should you change your mind during labor. 

If you opt to receive Pitocin, for example, which accelerates your labor, you might decide 

that some sort of pain intervention is something you want. 

1. Vaginal birth versus C-section: A big topic

This is perhaps one of the biggest birth variables that can change at the last moment. 

If you have a scheduled C-Section, you and Dr. Hooker have determined the date, but if you’re counting on a vaginal birth and something happens to prevent that, he may not be able to explain the need for a C-Section until moments before the birth. 

In addition to these tips, think about how you want the moments immediately after your baby is born to be. You and your baby can have immediate skin-on-skin contact, or they can quickly receive standard treatments like antibiotic eye drops and a Vitamin K shot before bonding with you.

Lots to consider before your birth

You need to make many decisions before you have your baby. Dr. Hooker is happy to help you think about all of those choices so you are fully confident before the birth. 

A birth plan is a great tool for creating clarity between you and your caregivers at an emotional time. 

Create a birth plan for a better birth

Dr. Hooker and our team are excited to help you prepare for your birth in any and every way. Call our office at 928-683-1667 for a consultation, or schedule one online at our website.