One of the things you may want to consider before your baby’s birthday is a birth plan. If you want to wing-it, that’s okay too. It’s whatever you want to happen. If you do decide to wing-it your midwife will be able to walk you through your birthing process, no problem. However, a birth plan can look many different ways. So, lets cover some of the option that may be important to you on your special day.
How do you plan for a home birth?
First of all, if you are pregnant without complications, you can choose to give birth at home. Take the advice of a midwife, who will advise you to whether you can give birth at home. To have a good home birth must be well prepared. Discuss in detail with the midwife all possible scenarios, including those that would involve problems, so you know what to expect. Your midwife can talk to you about the many options available to avoid problems and have the birth plan that best suites you. Here’s a list to get you started.
Here are 10 things to consider for your home birth plan:
- Who do you want to be present?
- Do you want a doula postpartum?
- Where will your current children be?
- Are you wishing to delay the cord clamping for the baby?
- Do you want immediate skin to skin contact?
- Do you wish to breastfeed immediately after birth?
- What activities or potential positions do you plan to use?
- How do you plan to stay hydrated?
- Do you want music and/or smells?
- What are your plans in case of an emergency?
Of course your list can be much longer than this. No birth is exactly the same, nor are peoples desires. Just keep your birth plan in the back of your mind as you’re carrying baby, you’ll come up with interesting things that you may want to write down. Even silly things like having your favorite episode of “Friends” playing in the background. Later you can change things that seem non-essential.
Keep your head in the right place.
Here are some other things to keep in mind:
- Design your birth plan with a positive focus
- In your birth plan include your wants, but also your hopes and desires
- What are some of the things you really enjoy that you want while laboring
- How do you want to remember your birthing process (pictures, video)?
- How do you want your attendee to assist you (mentally, physically)
- How about the people you absolutely don’t want in the room during labor
A written plan can help you stay on track during labor, and avoid feeling out of control.
The choice of giving birth at home is not possible for all mothers. The development of your pregnancy and over-all health determines this possibility, which is reserved for low-risk pregnancies and deliveries.
It is essential to consult a midwife during pregnancy. They can tell you if you can consider giving birth at home.
11 More Odds and Ends.
1.Always Add and Subtract From Your Birth Plan
Write a birth plan in which you explain how you would like things to happen. It’s a good way for you to take grasp of how you want things to go. If, for example, you do not wish to birth on your back, write it down. After some thought, you may want to get rid of some things on your list that end up feeling kind of redundant.
2. Be on the same page with your midwife
Consult with your Midwife about your desired Birth Plan, point by point, to make sure that things can be done the way you envision them in your mind. Make sure your midwife shares exactly the same vision as you.
3. Having your partner or husband more involved
Your partner should be on board 100%, they must know your wishes in order to be able to support you on the birthing day and to ensure that the Midwife will lead the birth in the desired direction. Your midwife can even facilitate things for your partner to do if they just feel like they want to be involved more.
4. Let your Midwife be your Advocate and Facilitate the Process
Even though you have a desired birth plan let your midwife facilitate the process, she is your advocate 100% and will always have your back.. Keep communication open with your midwife, you have built a relationship of trust with her and her presence on the birthing day will reassure you as she knows you and what you want.
5. Be Surrounded by People That Won’t Upset You
I’ve said this many times and it’s worth saying again… There have been many times when mommy’s thought it best to have their mothers in the room when they birth. Most of the time, this couldn’t be further from the truth. Mom’s are always moms, and you are always their little girl. Nine times out of ten they are going to make things uncomfortable by trying to be the overseer-of-all-things-good for her daughter, instead of a support system.
6. Baby’s Cord
Once the baby comes out of your body it is still attached to you via the umbilical cord. This is the last time you will be physically attached to your little one. Do you want to pause a second before detaching them from you? Just an extra few moments with your baby attached to your body may be a very intimate moment for you.
7. Be an Active Participant During This Process
During a home birth, you have more control and more freedom than hospital birth. Keep in mind that you will still have to follow the lead of your midwife for the important steps during delivery and especially if any issues arise. If you don’t feel comfortable with certain steps while giving birth communicate with your midwife your concerns, she will make the needed changes or decide what would be best for the situation.
8. Feeding Baby
If you have never breast fed before we very highly encourage it. If it seems foreign to you or you just don’t know the benefits, ask your midwife. She’s an amazing lactation consultant and will help you in every way possible. If you prefer you can also discuss pacifiers.
9. Keep Your Peacefulness with Relaxing Music and Smells
Try to recreate an atmosphere that makes your home a better and comforting place. Music and certain smells are a good way to do that. Make up your playlist, pick songs that carry you, songs that give you strength, and loop them around on the big day.
10. Consider That Your Plan May Change
It’s important to feel what your body wants during the birthing process. You may already know that the gynecological, or missionary, is the worst position to give birth, it is simply the best position for the gynecologist, but probably not for you. If you’re feeling your body correctly you may find yourself wanting to get into all kinds of different positions, even all fours. Just let your midwife know what you’re needing to do and she can assist you to get you there.
11. Do You Want Pictures and/or Video?
If you do, cooperate with your midwife as to not distract her or the mother.
You are and remain the main actress of your home birth.
Right after the birth, there are routine tests that are done on the baby, but which can be skipped in order to leave you and your baby to recover from the exhaustion. If your baby is well, ask that these checks be postponed so that you can take care of your child and allow some bonding with the baby. The baby also went through quite a bit, offer it as much peace as you’re able.
By opting for a home birth you will be able to postpone all non-mandatory routine examinations after the birth and not be bothered unnecessarily with doctor checks and other hospital protocol. Your midwife will do what is needed and will leave you and your baby to rest after the birth. She will be there to only offer support and help you in case the need arises.