10 Tips for Making A Birth Plan

Having a baby is an exciting time of life, whether it’s your first child or your fifth. Every birth is different and each one is worth celebrating. Many moms are busy ensuring everything is ready for the nursery and creating a list of potential names.

But what about a birth plan? Have you placed time and consideration into that? 

Did you know that more babies are delivered at our BirthPlace than at any other hospital in the Myrtle Beach/Horry County area? Our dedicated healthcare team, coupled with family-oriented care, provides the best possible start for you and your baby.

Let’s take a closer look at birth plans. We’ll examine what they are, tips for making one and important elements to consider. 

What Is a Birth Plan?

The birth plan is a document or outline of how you want your labor and delivery experience to be. It lets us know your preferences and how we can help you.

For example, your birth plan may answer questions such as:

• Who do you want with you in the delivery room?
• Do you want pain medication or a natural childbirth?
• Do you want special music to help you relax?
• Are there any things you need to make labor more comfortable for you?

Answering these questions enables us to serve you better.

But it’s important to realize that a birth plan is just that—a plan. It’s really an outline of your preferences.

Whenever possible, we’ll honor your wishes. But it’s vital to know that sometimes things don’t always go as expected when you’re having a baby. That’s why it’s essential to be flexible.

We encourage you to talk with your OBGYN provider who can give you additional details on what documentation you need to have to communicate your plan to the labor and delivery team.

10 Tips for Your Labor and Delivery Care Plan

When you’re expecting a baby, there’s a lot on your mind. We know that the thought of creating a labor and delivery care plan may seem overwhelming. That’s okay. We’re here to help.

We’re sharing 10 useful tips for creating a birth plan and how you can get started.

1. Discuss the Plan with Your Support Person or Partner

It’s important that your partner is involved in preparing your birth plan. Not only will your partner provide feedback, but they will be able to help communicate your wishes to the care team.

We believe that open and honest discussion fosters an environment of trust that helps streamline the entire process of creating a comprehensive birth plan.

2. Get Input From Your Doctor

Your doctor or nurse-midwife is an excellent source of information. You should speak to them about what your options are and the best way to let them know about the details of your birth plan. It’s essential to communicate your preferences to the entire healthcare team.

3. Make Sure to Cover the Basics

You may be overwhelmed with a lot of topics, so it’s easy to overlook the basics.

Be sure all your bases are covered and that your plan includes:

• The name of your doctor
• Your contact information
• Where you plan to give birth
• Your due date
• Who you want to have in the delivery room with you

Once you get these key points taken care of, then you can get into deeper details.

4. Think about the Environment

Would you rather deliver your baby in a room with dimmer lights? Does soothing music help you? Or perhaps you would rather have a room that is as quiet as possible?

When possible, we’re glad to accommodate these requests. We just ask that you let us know.

5. Consider Photos or Video

Having a baby is exciting! It’s a landmark event in your life and a cause for celebration.

We know you want to have photographs of the occasion. But before you pull out the camera, it’s important to understand the details of our photo policy. These details are there to ensure the safety of both mother and baby.

Our policy is that, while we allow still photos, we do not allow video. Feel free to take pictures as long as it does not interfere with medical care.

We suggest that you wait until your baby is born—you’ll have more uninterrupted time for photos with your new family.

We ask that you avoid taking pictures of your healthcare providers unless they give permission. We also do not allow photographs of surgical procedures, and we ask that you stop taking pictures if there is an emergency.

6. Understand the Labor Preferences that Are Available to You

Did you know that you can use a birthing stool or even a chair? Some mothers find that warm showers or baths help ease the labor process. Others find that a birthing ball provides the comfort they need.

You have many options available to you when you are in labor. Just ask your doctor or your nurse-midwife to determine those you have.

7. Fully Review Pain Management Plans with Your Doctor

Some women want to have an epidural.

Some want to have a natural childbirth.

Some begin labor with the intention of not having medication but change their mind.

All of these are okay.

Pain management is an individual choice and all individuals feel pain and process and experience pain differently.

You may also want to try pain management techniques such as massage and deep breathing.

The crucial point is to talk to your doctor. As much as possible, we’ll do what we can to honor your request.

8. Make Sure Others Have Copies of Your Birth Plan

We will work with you when you arrive at our BirthPlace center, but it’s always a good idea to give a copy of your birth plan to your doctor to be included in your medical records.

We also suggest that you have a copy to take to the hospital with you—because depending upon the circumstances surrounding your labor, your regular doctor may not be available and another physician may deliver your baby.

Make sure your support person has a copy as well.

9. It’s Not Too Early to Think About Feeding

We do encourage women to breastfeed when it is possible. We want to know if you want to breastfeed after the baby is delivered or if you prefer bottle feeding?

We know that breastfeeding can be a challenge—that’s why we have a lactation consultant available.

We also offer prenatal breastfeeding classes every month, led by our board-certified lactation consultant nurses. But our caring for you isn’t limited to when you are in the hospital. Our lactation concerns can help you after you’re discharged as long as your physician or midwife writes an order.

10. Explain Your Hopes for the Actual Delivery of Your Baby

Notice we used the word “hopes.” Every delivery is different, and sometimes they don’t go as planned. But we want to honor your wishes as long as they don’t interfere with the outstanding care we want to provide.

So when thinking of your delivery, consider:

• Are you planning a vaginal birth? If so, did you have a previous birth by C-section?
• Do you want a mirror available so you can witness the birth of your baby?
• Do you want your partner or support person to cut the cord?

We realize that things may change, but we would like to have a complete understanding of your wishes.

Items That Should Be Included on Your Birth Plan

A birth plan can be relatively simple or go into great detail. We encourage you to be as specific as possible. Be sure you don’t overlook matters such as:

• Do you want a mirror to see your baby’s birth?
• Do you want your labor partner to support you during the pushing stage?
• Do you prefer a quiet room?
• Do you want the lights dimmed?
• If your baby is a boy, do you want him to be circumcised? 
• Is it okay to offer your baby items such as a pacifier, sugar water, or formula?

Recognize That Your Birth Plan May Change

We are dedicated to providing the best care and following your birth plan. We respect that every delivery is different, and you should have a choice in how your baby is delivered.

But flexibility is also an important factor.

There are so many varied circumstances during labor and delivery that it may prompt adjustments to your plan. Whenever it is safely possible, we will follow your birth plan. However, the unexpected could happen, and when that is at stake, we consider the medical needs of you and your baby first. This is the best way to help ensure a healthy delivery.

Check Out Our FREE Pregnancy App

Need valuable pregnancy information in one location? Look no further than our free app, which you can download here.

The BirthPlace at Conway Medical Center Works With You to Create a Birth Plan

The BirthPlace at Conway Medical Center was designed to provide comfort, privacy and compassionate care. It’s conveniently located right above the patient service entrance. It features:

• Two exam rooms
• Seven birthing rooms
• A C-section room
• A 27-bed nursery
• A 16-bed postpartum unit

We invite you to contact us to learn more about our labor and delivery care.