You’ve read all the books your friends and family recommended.
You’ve done all the research your doctor recommended. You and your
partner have even attended the prerequisite Lamaze classes. After all
this preparation, you’re quite educated about your labor and delivery
options and you’ve conveyed your preferences about the birth of
your child to your doctor.
But what if your doctor isn’t on call when your
baby decides he or she is ready to enter the world? Will the doctor at
the hospital, or the nursing staff responsible for the safe delivery of
your baby, know of your preferences? Probably not.
To ensure that your wishes are clear to everyone who
will be with you on your big day, consider compiling a written birth plan
in advance. A birth plan is quite simply a written document, which includes
your ideas and expectations about the birth of your baby. It will help
the people caring for you to know a little bit more about you, and what
you want from the birth.
Many women worry that something they request will end
up hurting them or their baby, but the birth plan only discusses your
preferences. The members of your labor and delivery team will rely on
their knowledge and training to assess the situation and, if necessary,
override your preferences to perform medically necessary procedures.
A typical birth plan addresses the mother’s preferences
regarding issues such as:
Number of people allowed with you during birth
Whether you prefer continuous or periodic fetal monitoring
Whether you want to wear your own clothing
Whether you want to listen to music
Preferences for pain medications
Preferred positions for giving birth
Certain measures you would like to use or avoid such as an episiotomy
Preferences for a cesarean section, should the need arise
Preferences for who should cut the baby’s umbilical cord
Whether you would like ice chips during labor
Whether you want to be allowed to breast feed after birth
Who you would like to hold your baby immediately after birth
How long you would like to stay in the hospital post-birth
If you or your child struggle with a birth injury such
as Cerebral Palsy during the labor
and delivery process, you have the right to seek legal compensation for
the lifelong costs of raising a child with special needs.
