Have the Birth Experience You Want

Many health-care providers today encourage pregnant women to write out a birthing plan – an outline of what you want to happen during the birth of your baby and how you feel about various options in the labor and delivery process. This is a good stimulus to thinking about what you want and expect out of your childbirth experience. Your plan is also a good vehicle for communicating your preferences and expectations to your care providers.

A birth plan should include the following:

• An introduction, telling your care providers about you and your partner.
• Details about your general health.
• What kind of birthing environment you want – music, soft lighting, etc.
• Who you want to be present at the birth.
• Details about your preferred labor position(s).
• How you want to deal with pain.
• Details about your desired delivery position(s).
• Who will cut the umbilical cord and whether a male baby will be circumcised.