A Birth Plan

A birth plan is a practical tool that outlines and clarifies your preferences for labor and delivery. It is recommended to create a birth plan well ahead of the delivery.

Before creating a birth plan you should:

	Think about your preferences.
	Discuss the risks and the benefits of your options with your doctor.

The following are some of the key issues to include in your birth plan:

	What is your choice of the birth environment?
	who will attend the birth?
	If induction is necessary, what method do you prefer?
	How do you feel about using analgesic drugs?
	How do you feel about monitoring devices?
	Is there a particular position you would like to follow?
	Would you like to avoid an episiotomy?
	How would you like your baby to be taken care of after the delivery?
	Would you like to have your baby 24 hours rooming in or brought for feedings only?
	If it is a boy will he be circumcised?
	Are you going to collect the umbilical cord blood stem cells for banking?

Keep in mind that a full fulfillment of your desired birth plan will not always be possible.

Tip

Try to be flexible if a departure from your plan is inevitable, as the health and safety of you and your baby are always the first priority and all other considerations must be secondary.

Return from Birth Plan to Giving Birth

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