{"id":1342,"date":"2021-06-19T05:59:19","date_gmt":"2021-06-19T05:59:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/s37407.p1377.sites.pressdns.com\/resources\/need-a-birth-plan-template-16-options\/"},"modified":"2021-06-19T05:59:19","modified_gmt":"2021-06-19T05:59:19","slug":"need-a-birth-plan-template-16-options","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.care.com\/c\/need-a-birth-plan-template-16-options\/","title":{"rendered":"Need a Birth Plan Template? 16 Options"},"content":{"rendered":"

A birth plan is a great way for you to visualize what you want your baby’s birth to look like and to verbalize that with your provider. As Robin Elise Weiss<\/a>, Ph.D., a pregnancy expert and president of Lamaze International, explains, “A birth plan is really just a communication tool — it’s a way for you to think about your birth the way you want it to happen.”<\/p>

A birth plan template available online can be a great tool to help you get started with that process.<\/p>

What a birth plan should include<\/h2>

When looking at birth plan templates, here are some things to consider:<\/p>

Comfort measures<\/strong>
What do you think would help you to feel comfortable during labor? Some things to think about, according to Dr. Linda Burke-Galloway<\/a>, M.D., a board-certified OB-GYN, author and pregnancy expert, are: “Can the patient can be mobile and walk around in labor? Can she eat or drink during labor? Can she choose what position she’s in during labor? Can she listen to music? Can she have a massage?” Think about ways to put yourself at ease during birth.<\/p>

Pain relief<\/strong>
Whether you intend to have a natural birth or you want an epidural as soon as possible, your birth plan is a way to communicate these preferences.<\/p>

Support systems<\/strong>
Who do you want to be present with you during the birth? Do you want your partner, a doula or certain family members?<\/p>

Postpartum baby care<\/strong>
What do you want to do when the baby is born? Do you want to do skin-to-skin right away? Do you prefer that your baby is cleaned and checked before holding her?<\/p>

Tips for using a birth plan template to create your own<\/strong><\/h2>

Talk to your provider<\/strong>
Use the birth plan templates as a conversation starter with your provider and have that conversation early. “It is critical that these begin to encourage women to have real conversations with their provider well before labor,” explains Nicole Deggins, CNM, MSN, MPH, CEO and founder of Sista Midwife Productions, LLC<\/a>, which provides coaching, education and advocacy to pregnant women. The templates are a great way to bring up things you might not know about or understand, which you can then discuss with your provider. Deggins encourages women to learn about what is routinely done where you will be giving birth.<\/p>

Keep it short and sweet<\/strong>
Both Weiss and Deggins emphasize keeping your plan to one page. “If you could have a three-item birth plan, what would you write to get the most bang for your buck?” explains Dr. Weiss.<\/p>

Skip things that aren’t routinely done<\/strong>
Many birth plan templates include items like enemas and shaving, but those are rarely done anymore. Having that conversation with your provider will help you know what things you can skip when looking at a birth plan template.<\/p>