Home Health and wellbeing Children's health, parenting and pregnancy Pregnancy and family planning Antenatal information Journey of labour Preparing for labour and birth. Print Journey of labour Preparing for labour and birth In addition to the natural physical preparation your body makes for birth, you may also find yourself preparing emotionally.
You may: feel a strong need to be ready find yourself worrying more than usual be concerned about making it through labour, or whether your waters will break in public be concerned about whether your partner will be able to help you, or whether you will have a bowel movement during the birth and how your partner might react to that be worried about the safety of you and your baby during birth be worried about having a caesarean birth.
Your birth preferences Preparation for labour starts during pregnancy. Birth preferences may include: who you would like with you in labour what position you would like to give birth in what comfort measures you might use as your pain relief options. The procedure is usually done in the first few days after birth. As of , about Though medical research shows some medical benefits of circumcision, the American Academy of Pediatrics states that the benefits are not sufficient to recommend the procedure as routine for all boys.
Some parents may want their sons circumcised for religious, social, and cultural reasons. Others are concerned that circumcision desensitizes the tip of the penis, causing a decrease in sexual pleasure. Since circumcision is not essential to a boy's health, parents should choose what is best for their son by talking it through and exploring the benefits and risks. Some hospitals allow parents to keep their newborn with them in their room, rather than in the hospital nursery.
You can state your feelings about this before birth, but feel free to change your mind later on. Here are your options:. As you gather your ideas, be open to the unpredictable nature of labor, suggests Kathleen Slone, a certified nurse-midwife in Baltimore.
You may have firm ideas about holding your baby right away , for example, but you should avoid sounding adversarial or overly demanding. Always preface each statement with "All things being normal, I'd prefer. Pam Cass, a certified doula from Warrenton, Virginia, suggests opening with a statement like "I realize that any birth may take unexpected turns.
These goals reflect my idea of a model birth, and I thank you for your support in helping me achieve as many of them as possible. Then emphasize one or two of your most important objectives, she suggests. You might underline them or put them at the top of your list. Focusing on the issues that mean most to you can help you feel good about your labor — no matter what happens.
A good birth plan, however, should be more than a list of preferences; it should convey a sense of who you are. For instance, you might write, "I've never been in a hospital before except when my grandmother was dying, so I'm a little fearful" or "It took us nine years to get pregnant, so we want every bit of technology you've got to ensure that our baby is born healthy.
You should start thinking about what to include in your plan as early as your second trimester , though you needn't put it down on paper until the 32nd through the 36th week of pregnancy. Bring up your questions with your obstetrician or midwife, and negotiate any areas in which you might have different viewpoints, suggests Slone. Once you've written your plan, give a copy to your doctor and schedule an appointment that will be slightly longer than usual to discuss it.
Make sure the plan is part of your medical records, which are automatically sent to your birthing site. Save Pin FB More. Describe what you'd like your labor experience to look like, including elements such as:. I can walk around, try different positions , etc. The lights are dim. Our favorite music is playing. There's a TV. There's a bath or shower available. Some women want to deliver their baby on a birthing bed or chair.
Additionally, many hospitals now offer birthing rooms that allow a woman to stay in the same bed for labor, delivery, and sometimes, postpartum care care after the birth. These rooms are fully equipped for uncomplicated deliveries.
They're often attractive and have gentle lighting. But some women believe that the most comfortable environment is their own home. Advocates of home birth believe that labor and delivery can and should happen at home, but they also stress that a certified nurse-midwife or doctor should attend the birth. An important thing to remember about home birth is that if something goes wrong, you don't have the amenities and technology of a hospital. It can take a while to get to the hospital, and during a complicated birth those minutes can be invaluable.
For women with low-risk pregnancies who want something in between the hospital and home, birthing centers are another option. These provide a more homey, relaxed environment with some of the medical amenities of a hospital. Some birthing centers are associated with hospitals and can transfer patients if necessary. It's a good idea to find out what happens in case of a complication: How would you get to the hospital?
How long would the transfer take? Who will assist at the birth. If your pregnancy is considered high-risk, you may be referred to an obstetrician who subspecializes in maternal-fetal medicine. These doctors have specialized training to care for pregnant women with medical conditions or complications, as well as their fetuses. Another medical choice is a family practitioner who has had training and has maintained expertise in managing non-high-risk pregnancies and deliveries. In some areas of the United States, especially rural areas where obstetricians are less available, family practitioners handle most of the deliveries.
As your family doctor, a family practitioner can continue to treat both you and your baby after birth. And doctors aren't the only health care providers a pregnant woman can choose to deliver her baby.
You might decide that you want your delivery to be performed by a certified nurse-midwife, a health professional who's medically trained and licensed to handle low-risk births and whose philosophy emphasizes educating expectant parents about the natural aspects of childbirth.
More women are choosing to have a doula, or birth assistant, present in addition to the medical personnel. A doula is someone who's trained in childbirth and provides support to the mother.
The doula can meet with the mother before the birth and can help communicate her wishes to the medical staff, should it be necessary. Your birth plan can also indicate who else you'd like to have with you before, during, and immediately after the birth. In a routine birth, this may be your partner, your other children, a friend, or other family member.
You also can make it clear at what points you want no one to be there but your partner. Atmosphere during labor and delivery. Many hospitals and birthing centers let women make some choices about the atmosphere in which they give birth. Do you want music and low lighting? How about the freedom to walk around during labor? If possible, would you like to eat or drink during labor? You might be able to request things that may make you the most comfortable.
Procedures during labor. Hospitals used to perform the same procedures on all women in labor, but many now show increased flexibility in how they handle their patients. Some examples include:.
Other procedures that you can include in your birth plan are preferences about fetal monitoring, extra birthing equipment you'd like in the room, and how often you have internal exams during labor. Pain management. This is important for most women and is something you have a lot of control over.
It's also something you'll want to discuss carefully with your health care provider. Some women change their minds about pain relief during labor only to discover that they're too far along in their labor to use some methods, such as an epidural. Also ask about other forms of pain relief, including massage, relaxation, breathing, and bathing.
Know your options and make your wishes known to your care provider. Position during delivery.
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