Why Are Birth Plans Important?
Imagine that you are building a house, and you tell your contractor, “Hey, you are the one who knows best how to build houses! I trust you to do it right.”
And then your contractor hands you the keys to a 800 square foot box with one bedroom and and a 3/4 bath. But the thing is, you wanted a fireplace and a chef’s kitchen, and also you have three kids! But because you didn’t go over the plan before hand and express your needs and preferences, your contractor built what was easiest for him and called it a day.
Birth planning is the same. If you don’t sit down and inform your provider of your wants and needs, you will get an assembly line birth experience that is easiest on the provider and hospital, not what is best for you and your individual circumstances.
When I had my first baby, I told my doctor that my birth plan was to do whatever he told me to do. And he loved that plan. But the thing is, I ended up with a vacuum extraction birth after a grueling pitocin experience, and I didn’t get to hold my daughter until she was 15 minutes old. Granted, this was in 2006 so some standards have changed, but I wish that I had known more about what my options were.
My goal now is to help any birthing mom I come across, not just my clients, have a more informed and empowered experience. The amount of birth choices out there can be overwhelming, so I created a free comprehensive Birth Plan Checklist to help you know what your options are and give you direction into researching and learning more about what is available to you.
Know your options. Create a plan that works for you, including backup options, because we know that babies love to throw curveballs, and go over it with your provider so you can have an empowering and positive birth.
Christine Rogers is a birth doula and childbirth educator. She is the owner/operator of Draw Near Doula Services and serves in-person in Anchorage, Eagle River and the Mat-Su Valley regions of Alaska, and offers virtual doula services and education all over the United States. A mom of four, she works hard to ensure every client she serves has a positive and empowering labor experience, because no one should have to be afraid of birth. When not doula-ing, she’s a writer, baker, aspiring potter (as in bowls and vases, thank you very much), and her love languages are mason jars, dangly earrings, and Dr. Pepper.
Need a doula? Looking for childbirth education? Find Christine’s services online at www.drawneardoula.com. You can also follower her online on Instagram & Facebook: @drawneardoula .
