Many pregnancy websites and books will tell you that you need a birth plan, and that it’s one of the things you should pack in your hospital or birth center bag. But is it really necessary?
You may have strong feelings about whether you want medication during your labor, who you want in the room with you, how you want to push, when you want the umbilical cord cut, or any number of things regarding your labor and the delivery of your baby. Anything you feel strongly about should be shared with your midwife or obstetrician at office visits during your pregnancy. Unless your provider is a solo practitioner, however, chances are you will meet with several providers throughout your pregnancy, and each provider is responsible for dozens of patients. A three-page detailed birth plan is likely to be forgotten or ignored. What’s more important, however, is that if you have a very specific idea of how you want the birth of your baby to go, and things don’t go exactly as planned, you could be left feeling helpless, powerless, or even disappointed. These are the last things you should feel about this momentous milestone in your life! At Chesapeake Birth and Baby, we believe you should feel empowered, strong, capable and confident before, during and after giving birth.
As doulas, we want you to have the best possible outcome in your birth story. We feel the best way to do that is to go into it educated and mentally and physically prepared for whatever lies ahead. We want you to feel confident in your body’s abilities, and to know that if your birth story is not what you had envisioned, we will help you navigate the changes taking place. We want you to feel empowered to make the choices that are right for you. We are present to be your comfort and your ally, and a person who reminds you how strong and capable you are when you need it most.
When you hire a Chesapeake Birth and Baby labor doula, we schedule a two-hour prenatal appointment with you and your partner. Together, we go over our own birth plan checklist and discuss all medications and interventions pertaining to labor and delivery. We take this time to get to know you and understand what is important to you. Your doula is available to you from the moment you hire her until about an hour after the birth of your baby, so she can answer any questions that may arise during your pregnancy and labor. When it’s time for your doula to be at your side as you labor, she will know your birth plan and she will help you steer the birth in your desired direction. Your doula will give you the autonomy to make decisions if unexpected nuances arise.
A birth plan sounds great in theory, but they’re often forgotten or ignored by busy providers. We recommend letting your provider know the aspects that are most important to you, then hiring a doula to help you navigate the rest. The best way to have a birth you feel good about is to go into it feeling equipped and educated, and with the unwavering support of your doula, whose sole responsibility it is to ensure you have the best birth possible.