Can you believe that such a short time ago women had very few options available to them in regards to the birth of their own child? The process of childbirth, to me, was seen as more of a surgical process where mom was drugged up and rooming in was unheard of. Thank goodness times have changed, and today we have the power to make our own decisions.
While you can’t control your birth, having a plan helps in communicating your wishes and desires. The APA provides a great list of questions to help you get started:
“You may want to consider one page for an uncomplicated birth/postpartum and a second page about how to handle complications should they occur. The following list of questions may seem overwhelming, but now is the time to think them through. If a question does not pertain to you, cross it off the list, then prioritize the ones that mean the most to you.”
- Who do you want to be there?
- Do you want a doula?
- Will there be children/siblings present?
- Do you want mobility or do you wish to be confined to a bed?
- What activities or positions do you plan to use? (walking, standing, squatting, hands and knees)
- Would you prefer a certain position to give birth?
- What will you do for pain relief? (massage, hot and cold packs, positions, labor imagery, relaxation, breathing exercises, tub or Jacuzzi, medication)
- How do you feel about fetal monitoring?
- How do you plan to keep hydrated? (sips of drinks, ice chips, IV)
- Do you want pain medications, or do you want to avoid them? Do you have preferences for which pain medications you want?
- Would you like an episiotomy? Or, are there certain measures you want to use to avoid one?
- What are your preferences for your baby’s care? (when to feed, where to sleep)
- Do you want a routine IV, a heparin/saline block, or nothing at all?
- Do you want to wear your own clothing?
- Do you want to listen to music and have focal points?
- Do you want to use the tub or shower?
- For home and birth center births, what are your plans in case of hospital transport?
- If you need a cesarean, do you have any special requests
