Birth Plan Considerations
A birth plan is a conversation-starter. It helps you discover two things - what your preferences are, and whether your care provider is a good match. If you find you aren't as well matched as you originally thought, take some time to consider either switching practices, or changing your expectations.
Labor
- Hep Lock vs IV
- Clothing during labor
- Monitoring of baby
- Activity level: Positions, Ball, Water
- Eating and drinking
- Vaginal exams
- Pain medication: when to use them
- Hypnotherapy
- Relaxation techniques
- Music
- Aromatherapy
- Breathing
- Massage
- Heat/Cold
- Perineal massage
- Doula present
- C-section: Doula ready to help
Birth/Recovery
- Positions during pushing
- Directed vs. mother-led pushing
- Episiotomy
- Watching with a mirror
- Feeling for head
- Cutting the cord – when and who
- Skin-to-skin directly after
- Eye ointment
- Vitamin K
- Breastfeeding
- Cord Blood banking
- Announcing the gender
- Specific pictures
Postpartum Care
- Rooming-in
- Vaccinations
- Circumcision
- Universal Newborn Screening
- Hearing test
- Breastfeeding
- Pacifier use
- Bottle feeding
- Attend baby’s first bath
- Attend breastfeeding support group