Baby Making

So you're getting ready for your baby's arrival? You've got tons of things racing through your mind, you've got to get the nursery prepared, baby clothes, diapers, wipes, and a million other things done before he or she gets here, not to mention those darned Braxton-Hicks Contractions are keeping you on your toes, but have you thought about making a Birth Plan?

Birthing Plans are accepted with mixed feelings, there are people that go in to Labor and Delivery with page after page of directions for the staff to follow and if things don't go according to what they have written down they feel let down in their delivery; then there are people that go in to Labor and Delivery with no clue what so ever, what ever happens, happens.

The point of a Birth Plan to outline your expectations and goals for delivery, which should be a happy and healthy baby, but you have to remember that not everything goes according to plan, and when you make out your Birth Plan that you leave room for change since every delivery is different.

Here are some things to think about when making out your Birth Plan. Don't wait until the last minute to make your Birth Plan out; rather than picking a doctor and expecting them to follow your Birth Plan, why not make your Birth Plan out first then use it to find a doctor that has the same type of idea as you as to what Labor and Delivery should be like. Make sure that you keep your Birth Plan to a minimum; it is recommended that it be no longer than one page, just enough to outline your concerns and how you want them handled should they arise.

If you've already chosen a doctor and a delivery hospital, check into their policies and then make your Birth plan around them, to ensure that you get the type of care that you would want; remember, the nurses will try and accommodate you as best they can, but they still have to follow hospital procedures, so don't forget to be flexible.

If you want to specifically avoid something make sure that your doctors understands that and signs your Birth Plan, if you don't have it in writing that your doctor says that it's ok for you to avoid those certain things, hospital policy will over ride your decision.

When you are writing out your Birth Plan don't take for granted that the people taking care of you are trained professionals, and while in the throes of labor they may seem like they are not very helpful, they really do know what they are doing, make sure that the language you use is not demeaning, childbirth is something they have seen and gone through many times, you wouldn't want someone coming and telling you how to do your job, don't tell them how to do theirs.

Lastly, don't be disappointed if not everything in your Birth Plan is followed, there are things in life that we cannot control and giving birth is one of those things, the main goal is to deliver a healthy baby, and as long as that is the final outcome, there is no need to quibble over the things that are in the past.

When making your Birth Plan out, answer these key things: When would you like to be admitted to the hospital, when you go into labor? If needed, would you want to be induced? What are your views on pain relief? Who are the people you want in the room when you deliver or if needed have a Cesarean? After the baby is born, do you want to breastfeed? Stick to these basic things and you'll be set for a great delivery.