Childbirth Education and Labor Support for Expectant Families
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Go Now to the Interactive Birth Plan Tool
Imagine arriving at a restaurant, sitting down and looking over the menu. After several
debates with yourself you settle on the grilled chicken with side of rice and steamed
vegetables. Just as you look up from your menu the waiter is bringing you a hot plate with
steak, well done, a side of mashed potatoes and carrots and a nice tall soda. "What's
this?" you ask. "This is what you're eating today, the chef thinks it will be just right for you!".
He sets the plate down and brings you the bill, reprimanding you for the questioning look
you are giving him, "If you didn't want this why didn't you say so to begin with?"
Sounds crazy-you would never stand for it. You would probably leave the dinner and the
bill on the table and leave the restaurant.
Now imagine you are in the hospital. To the nurses and staff there, you are a laboring
mother. They will do for you what they think is best for you if you don't tell them what you
think is best for you. Be a consumer! They are your waiters. Tell them how you want it to
be. Of course, you and your unborn baby's health will always come before what you want
but if you are well and your baby is well there are a lot of options to choose from. If you
don't choose them, you are choosing not to choose!
Without writing your choices down clearly and concisely, you are not giving them the
opportunity to see you as a unique, thoughtful individual who will be an active participant in
the delivery of her child. Without giving them this information before you are in active labor,
it will be difficult to have the type of birth you want.
Just like the waiter who didn't ask you for your order before bringing you your meal, a nurse
who acts before reading your birthplan is not acting in your best interests. You have the
right to stop her and ask her to please do so as her very first act as your nurse (Can you
read my birth plan over while I am changing into the gown? works great!)
And if what they serve you is not what you ordered, give them a gentle reminder by asking
them to please re-read your birth plan. If your nurse is not reading your birthplan and there
is no emergency occurring, send your partner or support person out to ask the charge
nurse for a new nurse (My wife is having a personality conflict with our nurse and is
uncomfortable. I'm sure she's great at her job but can we switch nurses?)
So, how do you get it all down in a way they can hear and follow? Just complete the
following form, click "submit" and your birthplan will be emailed to you, ready to print out
both as a word document and in the body of the email.
Click Here to Create My Birth Plan
