Creating a Birth Plan
the no-plan plan
For some women, their birth plan may be to have no plan at all. “I know I get upset when things don’t work out according to my vision, so I didn’t write down anything,” says Beth-Anne Jones, a Toronto mom of two. “The best advice my OB/GYN gave me was to be open to everything and embrace the experience for what it is, not what I want it to be.”
Nancy Ripton used birth plans with the deliveries of her two sons. Keep reading to find her template.
the best laid plans...
“Giving birth is like going on a vacation,” says Dr. Senikas. “You can plan everything in detail, but you only know what it will truly be like after you get back.” Here are some considerations for a birth that doesn’t go according to plan: 1 Be prepared to be flexible. “The mother’s experience, while important, falls second to the health and welfare of mom and baby,” says Dr. Hodges. 2 Keep it simple. “The more complex the birth plan, the more likely there is to be deviation from it,” says Dr. Hodges. 3 Deal with changes. “It’s okay to feel disappointed and sad if your birth didn’t go the way you wanted,” says House. Talk about your feelings with family, friends and other new moms.
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