Are you giving birth soon? Congratulations on your upcoming, incredibly life-changing event! To know your options for labour and delivery, you should talk with your prenatal care facility and team to learn what to expect. It can be helpful to do your research from credible sites or literature. If loved ones are comfortable discussing their experience with you, you may even want to talk to them about their experiences. Remember that everyone is different, and there’s a lot of varying information regarding labour and birth. You have to figure out what is best for you! To get you started, I’ve listed six essential details you should address with your providers for labour, birth and postpartum. While your care team should provide you with education along the way, having an idea of essential things can be beneficial. If things move fast or you are in pain, it can be more challenging to advocate for yourself the way you had intended. Let your birth plan do some of the talking for you! Here are the details to include:
1. Support People Involved
Identify who you want to have with you in labour, birth, and postpartum. There have been occasions when a long-lost cousin gets word that their relative is in hospital getting ready to have their baby, and they show up expecting to be a part of things. Having a plan lets your birth team know who you are comfortable with. If someone not identified as a support person shows up, they can be your advocate and turn away visitors when you are tired, in pain or just do not want the awkward interaction of kicking the visitor out yourself.
2. Your Pain Management Preferences
Considering your pain relief options is crucial to a birth plan. Your healthcare providers should educate you on what options are available in advance, but it is beneficial to do your research, too! Do you want an epidural? Would you prefer to go “natural?” Are you open to medications in early labour if they’ll help you rest, but you want to go natural after active labour hits (greater than 4cm)? What does “natural” look like for you? Does this include the Entonox gas? Perhaps your plan involves music, hypnobirthing, breathing, movement, the tub/shower or other methods. You may use these alone or in combination with medication. Ask about your options early so you’re prepared! Remember that it is okay to change your mind throughout the process.
"The power of a birth plan isn't the actual plan, it's the process of becoming educated about all your options."
3. Relevant Medical or social history
Your providers need to know the relevant medical history. If you’ve received regular, routine prenatal care, your birth team will often have access to this. If you have particular health needs that may not be routine, ask for these! For example, those with interstitial cystitis (painful pelvis/urethra/bladder) can ask for smaller-sized catheters if they require one (often in the case of an epidural or the event of surgery) to decrease irritation. Providers should be practicing trauma-informed care- which is the assumption that anyone and everyone has potentially experienced trauma- and they should care for you accordingly. However, if you are comfortable with disclosing trauma, it can help your team be extra mindful to protect your autonomy and comfort during labour/birth.
4. Instructions on newborn care
This will include information such as whether skin-to-skin is wanted (recommended if you and baby are well and able), how you wish to feed your baby, delayed cord clamping, and who is cutting the umbilical cord.
5. Birthing position preferences
There are various birthing positions, such as hands/knees, side-lying, semi-sitting, squatting, or with a birthing ball. Bundle Birth Nurses on Instagram has information on positioning in labour and birth, with and without peanut/birthing balls.
6. Other Wishes for labour and delivery
Oftentimes, people will ask for practices to minimize tearing, such as warm compresses and olive oil. You may request not to have an intravenous site, or you may prefer to have one in case of emergency.
In conclusion
-Be flexible. Things can change with you and your baby during the process. Your healthcare team and support people can guide you to make informed choices as needed.
-Ask questions if you have them. You deserve all the information and education on what’s happening and why.
-You can change your mind, that is okay! You don’t know exactly how you’ll feel until you are in the experience. Even if you’ve given birth before, each experience is very unique. Do what’s best for you and your baby this time!
