As your pregnancy progresses toward labor and delivery, it’s common to start planning for your birth. Many expectant parents create a labor and delivery plan that documents what they’d like to happen during childbirth.
While it’s important to note that your labor and delivery may end up going off-plan for reasons related to the health and safety of mother or baby, preparing a birth plan helps you consider different eventualities and voice your preferences.
At Longoria OBGYN of El Paso, Texas, expert OB/GYN and women's health provider, Dr. Leonardo A. Longoria, can advise you on a realistic, safe birth plan for you and your pregnancy.
When you’re putting together your labor and delivery preferences, what factors need to be taken into account? Here are a few issues and questions to consider as you prepare to give birth.
Some pregnancies are medically considered high risk. If you’re older, have pre-existing medical conditions, or have a history of birth complications, your path to childbirth may need to look different than it would if you had a lower-risk pregnancy.
Medical intervention and monitoring are more essential for a high-risk pregnancy, and you may need to plan on giving birth in a hospital environment, even if it’s not your first preference.
Parts of your birth plan that need to factor into your pregnancy’s risk level include whether you’d like to give birth vaginally, whether you accept interventions like a C-section, whether you want pain medication or prefer to avoid medication if possible, and what your wishes are regarding fetal monitoring.
Your birth plan is about you, your body, and your choices. Writing down your preferences ahead of the chaos of labor and delivery helps you keep your needs and goals clear and easy to communicate.
But your birth plan also needs to realistically consider the types of care that will be available for your labor and delivery. Do you have access to equipment like a birthing tub?
What type of movement will be possible for you during your labor and delivery? Will a doula or lactation consultant attend? When you know the answers to these questions, your birth plan is more grounded and useful.
Undergoing labor and delivery is intense, physically and emotionally. Take time before your due date to consider who you want with you during labor and delivery.
You may want your partner to be present, or a parent or parental figure. You may also want to partner with a doula or birth coach. Talk to these people beforehand and let your team know who you want around you in this vulnerable time.
There’s no guaranteeing you’ll be able to follow this part of your birth plan once your baby is ready to come into the world. But, it’s a good idea to think about what type of birth experience you’d ideally like to have, and if there’s anything you’d like to request related to the atmosphere or equipment.
Do you want to be able to eat or drink during your labor? Some people want to be able to walk while laboring. You may also have preferences around cutting the cord after birth and the way you and your baby first meet each other.
Discuss this part of your birth plan with your partner and your doctor, letting others know about your preferences so they can better advocate for you.
Discuss your birth plan with Dr. Longoria in your third trimester, and benefit from personalized, professional advice. You can schedule an appointment by calling Longoria OBGYN today or booking online.
