Bringing a new life into the world is one of the most profound experiences a person can have.

While the journey of pregnancy is filled with excitement, anticipation, and sometimes uncertainty, planning for your labour and delivery is a way to take control and make the experience as comfortable and empowering as possible.

One of the most important tools that can help guide this process is a birth plan.

In this blog, Karetrip provides tips and advice from Dr. Beena Jeysingh, a respected childbirth educator, doula, and advocate for women’s health, on how to create a birth plan that reflects your values, preferences, and needs.

What is a Birth Plan?

A birth plan is a written document that outlines your preferences for labour and delivery. It can include everything from the type of pain relief you prefer to who you want in the room with you.

It serves as a guide for the medical staff to understand your wishes and ensure that your experience is as close to what you envision as possible.

While birth plans have been criticised for being too rigid or unrealistic, many advocates, including Dr. Beena Jeysingh, emphasise that a birth plan is less about dictating a specific outcome and more about outlining your wishes, understanding the options available, and being informed.

The flexibility of a birth plan allows you to adjust your expectations as your labour progresses.

Why Should You Create a Birth Plan?

There are several benefits to creating a birth plan, including

• Clear Communication: Your birth plan ensures that your healthcare providers understand your preferences, which can reduce confusion during the birthing process.

• Empowerment: By creating a birth plan, you are taking charge of your experience and making informed decisions about your body and your baby.

• Reduced Anxiety: Knowing that you’ve considered your options and that your healthcare providers are aware of your preferences can reduce feelings of anxiety and fear.

• Advocacy: A birth plan can be a helpful tool in advocating for your needs if you are unable to communicate during labour due to pain, medications, or other circumstances.

Tips from Dr. Beena Jeysingh for Building Your Birth Plan

Dr. Beena Jeysingh is a seasoned expert in maternal health and childbirth, and her tips for creating a birth plan emphasise the importance of flexibility, communication, and collaboration with your healthcare team. Here are some key recommendations based on her approach

1. Educate Yourself About Your Options

Before you start drafting your birth plan, Dr. Beena emphasises the importance of educating yourself about the different options available during labour and delivery. This means learning about various pain management techniques, labour positions, and interventions that may be used in the process.

• Pain Relief: Understand the pros and cons of different pain relief methods, such as epidurals, natural pain relief, or medications like fentanyl. Also, consider non-medical methods like water immersion, breathing techniques, massage, and aromatherapy.

• labour Interventions: You should familiarise yourself with interventions that may be recommended during labour, such as induction of labour, the use of forceps or vacuum extraction, or a cesarean section. Knowing your options ahead of time can help you make informed decisions if these interventions become necessary.

• Birth Environment: Research the environment of your birthing facility. What amenities are available for relaxation? Is there a birthing pool, or can you move freely around the room? Having a good understanding of your environment will help you make decisions about how you want your birth to unfold.

2. Focus on Your Preferences, Not a Set Outcome

One of the key pieces of advice Dr. Beena gives is to focus on your preferences rather than expecting a rigid, specific outcome. Childbirth is inherently unpredictable, and things may not go exactly as you had planned. However, having a birth plan helps you clarify your preferences and communicate them to your team.

• Be Realistic: Instead of creating a birth plan that demands a specific outcome (e.g., "I want a natural birth no matter what"), frame your plan as a set of preferences (e.g., "I would like to try for a natural birth, but I'm open to other options if needed").

• Remain Flexible: Understand that the course of labour can change unexpectedly. Be open to changing your plans if complications arise or if medical professionals suggest different approaches for the health of you or your baby.

3. Include Your Support System

Your birth plan should also include details about who you want to have with you during labour and delivery. Consider whether you want a doula, partner, family members, or friends in the room and whether you want them to play an active role in supporting you.

• Partner's Role: Outline how you would like your partner to support you—whether it's by helping with breathing exercises, offering encouragement, or providing physical support during contractions.

• Doula and Other Supporters: If you are planning to have a doula, specify what role you’d like them to play. Doulas can offer emotional, physical, and informational support, and your medical team must understand how they fit into your birth plan.

4. Consider Comfort Measures and Pain Management

Discussing pain management is an important component of your birth plan. Beena Jeysingh encourages expecting mothers to explore different methods and techniques for managing pain and comfort during labour. You may want to try several options, depending on how labour progresses.

• Non-Medical Comfort Measures: Think about whether you’d like to use massage, heat/cold packs, or relaxation techniques like deep breathing or visualisation. Consider if you want to move around during labour or use specific positions for comfort.

• Medications: If you are open to pain medication, outline your preferences. Do you prefer to start with natural methods and only opt for an epidural or medication if necessary? Or do you want to start with medication right away? Being clear about your preferences ensures your medical team can support you in managing pain.

5. Plan for Postpartum Care

Your birth plan can also extend beyond labour and delivery to include your preferences for postpartum care. Beena highlights the importance of being informed about what happens after your baby is born and ensuring your wishes are respected.

• Immediate Skin-to-Skin: Many mothers want immediate skin-to-skin contact with their newborn after delivery, as this has numerous benefits, including promoting bonding and helping regulate the baby’s body temperature.

• Delayed Cord Clamping: If you are interested in delayed cord clamping, make sure to include it in your birth plan. Delayed clamping allows for more blood to flow from the placenta to the baby, which can help with iron stores and overall health.

• Feeding Preferences: If you plan to breastfeed, outline any preferences you have for how the first feed should occur. You can also specify if you would like to have assistance with breastfeeding, especially in the early days.

• Newborn Procedures: Include any preferences for newborn care, such as whether you would like your baby to have certain medical procedures (like vaccinations or eye drops) delayed or done after bonding.

6. Communicate with Your Healthcare Team

Effective communication with your healthcare provider is crucial. Dr. Beena stresses the importance of discussing your birth plan well in advance with your doctor, midwife, or obstetrician. This allows you to ask questions, clarify your preferences, and receive feedback based on medical knowledge.

• Discuss Preferences Early: Don’t wait until you are in labour to discuss your preferences. Talk to your provider during your prenatal visits about your birth plan and be open to their input.

• Stay Open to Flexibility: While having a birth plan is important, it is equally important to stay open-minded. Your healthcare team may suggest alternatives or modifications to your plan based on your health and the baby’s well-being. Open communication helps build a trusting and supportive relationship with your team.