Whether you are getting ready for your baby to arrive this month or later this year, it is never too early to start planning for your birth. You may hear from friends and other moms who urge you to “create a plan, but expect it will change.” Others may even say, “don’t bother with a plan.”
We have a different approach to planning when it comes to birth prep and think you might be into some, or all of it.
First of all, birth planning isn’t just about whether or not you and your physician decide on a planned c-section or to let nature take it’s course. Before even getting that far, it is important to know all of your options when it comes to giving birth. Here are 5 initial questions to consider:
- Do you want to try to give birth naturally and drug-free?
- Would you like extra support in the birthing room in addition to your spouse or family, such as a Doula?
- What is the difference between birthing in a birth center, hospital or planning a home birth?
- What are the considerations when deciding between giving birth with a Doctor or Midwife?
- Are there genetic or personal health factors that you should consider?
Once you decide where and with whom you want to give birth, you can start thinking about how. Before getting into details, we will caveat by saying, birth plans are prone to change. And, guess what? It’s ok if they do. Creating a birth plan isn’t meant to shame you later. It is meant to give your birth team an understanding of what your goals are in advance of the big moment, as long as the birth goes as planned in a non-emergent way.
To help you get started, you can contact us for a sample birth plan. Feel free to use this as a template for your own birth. Even better, you can meet with our Birth Planning Consultant who can be your coach and guide you through a personalized plan.