The Best Birth Plan Ever

Did I get your attention? Ok, here’s my bias. The Best Birth Plan is the one that:

• Labor and Delivery (L & D) nurses will actually read
• Your midwife or OB/GYN will discuss with you
• Is not too long
• Helps you feel that your concerns and wishes will be honored as much as humanly possible
• Has your most important concerns at the top
• Helps you familiarize yourself with all the options that are available.

A little background

Birth plans have changed and I think improved the way we help moms deliver! Over the past few years, as more and more women brought in their birth plans, OB/GYN doctors, nurse practitioners and midwives have been reading them and adapting their practices to integrate the woman and couple’s priorities into the process of trying to ensure a safe and healthy delivery of the baby and the mom.

Some Hospitals have changed

Most hospitals and providers have adopted the typical and common birth plans, which has significantly improved women’s experiences. Most do not give enemas, or automatically put in an IV for no good reason. Most encourage women to get up and walk around and have several pain relief options available.

For more on pain relief see: Pregnancy Myths

So if you’re pregnant and ready to deliver anytime soon, thank the moms who brought in birth plans and insisted on being heard. In fact, thank your moms, because they also insisted on not being put out to sleep for your delivery and wanted your dad or another support person in the room when you were born. Thanks Mom!

What was in your birth plan?

Is your provider communicating with you? Was your birth experience what you expected?

Check back next week for more on Birth Plans, or see Your Personal Guide to Pregnancy.

Comments

[a birthplan friendly L&D RN]

Barb wrote:
>Best Birth Plan is the one that:
• Labor and Delivery (L & D) nurses will actually read
• Your midwife or OB/GYN will discuss with you
• Helps you familiarize yourself with all the options that are available.
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I totally agree!

The best birth plans are the ones the women write AFTER they've researched all their options and GONE ON THE HOSPITAL TOUR WHERE THEY"RE GOING TO DELIVER and found out what the standards THERE are, then they take the birth plan to their 36wk visit with Barb and after discussing it with her.....the BEST BIRTH PLAN is the one that then GETS THROWN IN THE TRASH cuz what the patient wants is the way the hospital and care provider already practice which means the pregnant woman has made the right choices!!

[NurseBarb]

Wow, a L & D nurse speaks out! What happens in real life? We want a story or 2 from the trenches