Lamaze Magazine 2008 - (Page 7) By Charlotte De Vries Anticipation Pregnancy Birth Day, Your Way Be prepared with a birth plan stating personal preferences. your body Wtoithfeelprofound andaslifeit changing in such ways, isn’t always easy in control your due date approaches. Creating a birth plan helps you begin to make decisions early on and to build confidence before labor and birth unfold. Think of your plan as a source of strength and inspiration, not a rigid road map of what must be done. It isn’t about checklists or completing a form. Every pregnancy and birth is unique, and one plan does not fit all. Sift through information from health-care providers, classes, books, friends and family, and get to know your options. Keep an open mind and a peaceful, positive outlook. Remember: A plan isn’t any guarantee that your birth will go just as you envision it. Plan for the unexpected. Consider these key factors: ENVIRONMENT You probably already know where you’ll have your baby, but you can still shape that environment so it becomes a private, safe space where your voice will be heard and your choices will be respected. Choose a few ground rules, such as closed doors, restrictions on who can come in and out, and a minimum number of machines. SUPPORT TEAM Do you want a doula? Will siblings be present? The people who will be with you to offer support during labor and birth should be central to your plan – their job is to make you feel confident, comfortable and safe. Share your desires clearly. Remember that what is obvious to you is not necessarily apparent to them. PHOTO: BANANASTOCK/ALAMY your baby. Remember that pain is central to the elegant design of birth – it is not an unfortunate side effect. Express how you would like to manage it and consider the natural, safe alternatives to anesthesia. FREEDOM TO MOVE Moving around as you wish and choosing your own positions for pushing is important. Make it known if you’d prefer to forgo machines, monitors and drugs. MEETING BABY Your early moments with your newborn are just as important as your labor and birth. This is intimate time to connect and bond. Protect the first moments you meet and marvel at each other as you begin your life together. | Make extra copies of your birth plan for your partner, doula, health-care provider and every key person involved in the birth. Sample Birth Plan Here’s an example of one woman’s wishes and preferences that may help guide you as you design your own birth plan: We are open to whatever our labor brings and are writing this birth plan with the understanding that every labor and birth is different. In our desire to have the safest, most memorable and happiest birth experience possible, we have listed our preferences. We ask for open communication and complete information, and we thank you in advance for your cooperation. 1. Do not offer me pain medication. I will request it if I want it. 2. Permit my husband and doula to be present at all times. 3. Provide only intermittent fetal monitoring. 4. Let labor begin on its own. 5. Give me the freedom to change positions as needed in labor and while pushing. I want to wait to push until I feel the urge. 6. Maintain a quiet room with no excess hospital staff. 7. Use interventions (IV, episiotomy, Pitocin, etc.) only if there is a medical indication. 8. After birth, immediately place the baby onto my abdomen. 9. My husband will cut the umbilical cord. 10. Perform initial care of baby while baby is on my body. 11. Permit breastfeeding only – no bottles, pacifiers or formula. 12. Allow rooming in with baby, and perform all exams of baby in our presence. PAIN RELIEF There are so many natural ways to cope with the valuable and important pain of labor. Simple comfort measures like walking, movement, massage and aromatherapy are noninvasive with no risk to you or LAMAZE MAGAZINE 2008 7 LAMAZE.ORG http://LAMAZE.ORG
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