Preparing for baby's arrival with a comprehensive birth plan

Women making a birth plan and packing a hospital bag

[3 MIN READ]

Key takeaways:

Birth plans help you feel safe and confident and make planning for the unexpected easier.
Providence encourages patients to discuss their birth plans early on so physicians know your preferences.
Birth plans help you figure out the best doctor and labor support team combination for you.

This article is part of a paid branded content series with Get Creative, a division of USA Today. The article originally appeared on USA Today here.

Welcoming a new baby into the world is one of life’s most amazing experiences, but it can also be overwhelming. To alleviate some of the stress associated with this life-changing experience, create a comprehensive birth plan that helps ensure your delivery team honors your wishes on “the day.” At a time when pregnant women are at their most vulnerable, Providence caregivers employ a listen-first approach to help you create the right birth plan for you.

Why have a birth plan?

A birth plan provides a roadmap. The labor and delivery team will use it to give you the best experience throughout your delivery. While Providence caregivers are committed to delivering your baby as envisioned, it’s important to keep in mind that circumstances in-the-moment may necessitate modifications to protect you and your baby's health. The plan helps you think through your ideal birth experience. Moreover, having a plan makes clear your personal preferences and makes it easier for you to share your desired journey with your labor and delivery team.

With a plan in place, you’ll be better prepared for the various parts of labor, delivery and the post-partum process – even if your body, or the baby, have plans of their own!

“A birth plan includes what will make you feel safe and confident going into labor.”

– Tanya Sorensen, M.D., maternal fetal medicine specialist at Swedish in Seattle, WA

Building the right birth plan

You can build a birth plan at any point during your pregnancy, but Providence obstetricians recommend you discuss it with your care team no later than the third trimester. A birth plan can be documented and shared in many ways – you can write it down, type it out or even create it using a mobile app. Regardless of the format, it’s worth considering asking your care team to add the plan to your medical record alongside other relevant health information like your medications or pre-existing medical conditions.

“[By the third trimester] you’re far enough into your pregnancy to experience and think about the reality of birth.”

– Tanya Sorensen, M.D., maternal fetal medicine specialist at Swedish in Seattle, WA

The patient-doctor discussion

Talking through your birth plan can help your doctor understand what you want, and to get clarity on the reasons why specific preferences may not be feasible during delivery. You may want to avoid an IV during labor, for example, so you can walk around without pulling a pole with a saline bag. Your doctor may advise you that an IV is helpful for medications given emergently for contractions or blood pressure regulation. Being connected to the saline IV may not be required during labor.

“Ultimately the patient has the right to say she wants this or that. If I can’t meet that desire, I need to explain to her why I wouldn’t do that.”

– David Lagrew, M.D., Executive Medical Director of Women's Services at Providence in Southern California

When to use a doula, midwife, or OB-GYN

Choosing a doctor and labor support team is very important. By the time you are creating a birth plan, you’ve probably already chosen or narrowed down a list of doctors for your delivery, but it’s also important to consider your options for who will help deliver the baby.

Doula: A doula can provide you support before, during and after labor.

“We have a doula program at Swedish, including a group of Black doulas who support Black women in labor, to work against the disparity of birth outcomes.”

– Tanya Sorensen, M.D., maternal fetal medicine specialist at Swedish in Seattle, WA

Midwife: A midwife has medical training and can help you deliver your baby at home or in the hospital. Midwifes can be a good option for low-risk pregnancies.

“Midwives take care of low-risk pregnancies. Their strength is providing a high touch and low intervention. (They achieve) good outcomes and high patient satisfaction, for low-risk patients.”

– Tanya Sorensen, M.D., maternal fetal medicine specialist at Swedish in Seattle, WA

Family medicine doctor: Family medicine specialists with obstetrical training can deliver babies in low-risk situations. They typically do not perform C-sections.

OB-GYN: An obstetrician-gynecologist is the doctor you've selected for prenatal care, labor, and delivery. They can perform C-sections and other surgical interventions if needed.

Maternal fetal medicine specialist: This obstetrician has additional training for high-risk pregnancies. Some only perform consultations, but these specialists at Providence hospitals also deliver babies.

Who’s in the room?

Your hospital or health system may have its own rules about who can be in the delivery room with you. Whether your support person is a partner or family member, or a doula or midwife, make sure they’re on board with your birth plan and prepared to advocate for your wishes during labor. When you share your birth plan with Providence caregivers, you can rest assured that they’ll be prepared to get your support team on board with your preferences.

A safer delivery

The type of delivery can depend on both your own and your baby's condition. While you may prefer one type of delivery, your doctor or care team may recommend an alternative for your own and your baby's safety.

Providence’s C-section rate is half of the national average

18%

Across 51 Providence hospitals, there was only 1 childbirth-related maternal death in the past two years.

Did you know?

Oxytocin is often administered under two key scenarios: a) to strengthen or start contractions to help the labor process as your uterine muscle begins to get tired and b) to help reduce bleeding by making the uterus contract after the placenta is delivered.

Pain relief

You can decide in your birth plan if you want to use pain relief medications, and under which circumstances. Sometimes you can change your mind during the labor process, but that’s not always possible. The baby may have progressed too far to safely give some anesthetics. One consideration for receiving pain medications is if labor is induced.

Pitocin (Oxytocin) Pitocin can help your labor begin or accelerate it, bringing on painful contractions. This medication can also be used after birth, as it has been shown to reduce the potential for hemorrhaging. Anesthetics Anesthetics like an epidural or spinal block can make it easier to tolerate the pain and still allow you to remain alert. These blocks will cause you to lose some feeling in your lower body and you may not be able to walk around, which can affect birthing positions.

Finished your birth plan? Congratulations! A comprehensive birth plan is a wonderful way to prepare for the delivery experience and make sure your wishes are communicated clearly. Creating the plan and talking through the options with your labor and delivery team can enhance your birth experience and ensure it’s as close as possible to what you want. Remember, while it’s great to have a plan, finding the right team that listens and understands your desires is essential. At Providence, we approach every expectant mother with compassion and dignity. Our partnership approach helps to ensure a safe and successful birth. To learn about maternity, birthing and maternal care at Providence, visit providence.org

NOTE: Swedish is an affiliate of Providence serving patients in the Greater Seattle area

Members of the editorial and news staff of the USA TODAY Network were not involved in the creation of this content

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