HOW TO WRITE THE PERFECT BIRTH PLAN
Image Credit: Unsplash/ @kylejglenn
In the spirit of new year goal setting, I thought I’d apply this to writing your birth plan and make things a little easier for you with these top tips. Not only can these pointers bring you closer to the birth experience you fantasise about, but you can also apply them to your postpartum or feeding goals after your baby’s arrival. Happy planning.
BE SPECIFIC
Get really clear on what you want your birth to be like, the more detail you can put into your plan the better. This will make it easier for you to rehearse your ideal birth experience in your mind beforehand to reassure your brain that it doesn’t have anything to fear. This will also give you time to look into the policies in your chosen birth place to ensure that what you want is available and possible, and if it’s not you can look into other options. Don’t assume that anything is possible, always ask questions about your unique situation.
FLEXIBLE PREFERENCES OVER RIGID PLAN
Birth by nature is highly unpredictable, so it is important for you to not fixate on one specific plan. Think of your birth plan as a menu of preferences and consider a plan A, B and C just in case the unexpected happens. This will mean that regardless of the twists and turns, your birth experience will still be aligned with your wishes in some way and you’ll still feel a little more in control.
USE IMAGES TO CREATE YOUR VISION
According to neuroscience, the brain finds it way easier to process images than words, making them more memorable. You can use this fun fact to your advantage when plotting your birth by creating a vision board of your dream birth, as well as having written copies for your birth team. Looking at these images every day displayed in somewhere you’ll pass them often will help your brain to experience birth as a familiar event, which in turn will help your birth muscles work harmoniously on the day, resulting in a more easeful birth.
COLLABORATIVE EFFORT
Brainstorm your birth preferences with your birth partner and write them together as a team. This will not only make you feel more supported on your birth journey, but it will also help your partner explain your wishes to your medical team. It is vital that your partner knows what you want in case they have to make decisions on your behalf or advocate for you if you feel like your team aren’t receptive to or listening to your wishes.
INVEST IN AN ANTENATAL CLASS
During pregnancy there are so many must-have lists of products you need for your baby, but when it comes to the essentials for your own wellbeing, that list isn’t as widely publicised. Signing up to an antenatal class, like a hypnobirthing or breastfeeding education course, can present you with options you didn’t know existed. It can make your rights during birth really clear, so that your expectations are realistic. It can also point you in the right direction with the options you need to research more, so that in the moment you are making informed choices, rather than rushed or pressured ones.
For more information on how hypnobirthing can help you achieve your birth goals, book in your free clarity call to get your questions answered. In the meantime, sign up to my email newsletter for more pregnancy and birth tips and to receive your free birth icon template to help you plan your dream birth today.
Love, Megan
