What is the birth plan and what is it for?

Each pregnancy and each childbirth is a world. Each mother has wishes and expectations of how she would like the delivery to be. Today the mother's wishes regarding the delivery and expulsion process are increasingly being respected. If you are pregnant you should know what is the birth plan and what is it for.

What is the birth plan?

When the moment of delivery approaches, doubts arise. There is a lot of information but there are also nerves, fears and expectations. The birth plan is a document where your wishes, preferences and needs are reflected when the time of delivery arrives, as long as it is a natural birth and there is no danger for the mother or the baby. It is left done before delivery so that professionals know the mother's preferences. This often gives parents a sense of security as the time approaches.

During labor, a multitude of variables influence that may disrupt your ideas and expectations of how you would like the delivery to be. So It is advisable to go with an open mind and be flexible as it may not be as you would like to avoid disappointment. It is fine to have a rough idea of ​​how you would like everything to be, but you also have to be aware that the nature of labor makes it unpredictable.

What is?

The birth plan serves so that when the time comes healthcare professionals know your individualized preferences about the birth plan to follow your instructions and make their work easier. As we said above, as long as it is a normal delivery.

You have legal validity and you can revoke it at any time. For example, if you have written that you do not want medication to alleviate the pain of contractions but then it is many hours of labor and you cannot bear the pain, you can ask to have an epidural. As long as conditions allow it, they can apply it to you.

In the event of any complication, healthcare professionals will inform you about the most appropriate action in each case and will ask for your consent.

Ultimately, the birth plan has several functions: reflect on the time of delivery, report our preferences and inform the doctors of your personal preferences. Its presentation is optional, you have no obligation to present it.

When is it made?

It must be made before delivery, during pregnancy. It is a document that you can modify as the moment approaches and the information you handle. Depending on the center, it will be presented one way or another. Some sites must be presented in several places before registering it and in others that you take it on the day of delivery is enough. Find out what is the protocol to follow in the center where you want to give birth.

On the website of Ministry of Health you have useful information especially regarding the birth plan, with information on the alternatives in care and procedures during childbirth.

What can be planned?

• Place of delivery.
• Who will attend your delivery: midwife or gynecologist.
• Who do you want to accompany you during the process: mother, partner, sister, mother-in-law, doula ... whoever you want. You can also choose if you want me to accompany you all the time or only during certain times.
• If you prefer to have your pubic hair shaved completely, partially or only if necessary.
• Whether you want enema or not.
• If you prefer labor to start spontaneously or be induced.
• What medications do you prefer during labor?
• Whether or not you allow video cameras during labor.
• That they do not separate from your baby unless it is strictly necessary to do skin-to-skin.
• Whether or not you want to be given a bottle of artificial milk without your consent.

And you will be able to choose more details of both the delivery process, the expulsion process and once the baby is born.

Because remember ... you can decide about your delivery.