What should be included in an informed birth plan?
An Informed Birth Plan (Birth Map) is an original document developed over several antenatal appointments in conjunction with care providers, allowing time to consider options and weigh up the risks and benefits to make informed decisions.
The written plan can outline the techniques intended to use, allowing support people to follow this guide, rather than interrupting to ask questions to ‘just check’. The plan makes it clear what is wanted generally, but also allows for truly informed consent or refusal. By negotiating and determining in advance the circumstances where certain procedures may (or may not) be considered, the mother is able to relax and concentrate on birthing.
General Considerations included might be regarding positions, water birth, assisted ‘pushing’ and environment. Informed inclusions may regard vaginal examinations, cord management (or even lotus birth), baby to chest, baby-led attachment for breastfeeding. There are many optional, but routine, procedures that need to be considered in advance and require informed consent or refusal. When intentions deviate from ‘routine’, the birth document becomes particularly important. A workable birth document will have been agreed to in advance, so the mother should not have to ‘fight’ for Her Birth.
For many women, an Informed Birth Plan, is unachievable without help. A workable plan is the result of informed preparations and it is often overwhelming and restrictive to gather relevant evidence-based information, let alone know what question to ask and when.
My book THE BIRTH MAP: boldly going where no birth plan has gone before includes an introduction to the purpose and reasoning behind a birth map, suggested resources and provides a series of questions to facilitate the preparation process. It is divided into the different stages of labour and consideration of a labour that deviates from expectation.
It has a built-in contingency plan. Not because things will ‘go bad’, or because it is even likely too. The contingency is the insurance, the backup, the ‘just in case’. It protects you from on the spot decisions. It means you are more likely to recognise and understand any deviations from your expectations, and respond calmly and appropriately having made informed decisions in advance.
A doula - a personal mentor – can support you in your birth preparations, providing you with evidence-based resources and taking the guess work out of birth preparations. You do not need to reinvent the wheel, you can draw on the experience and knowledge of those who have gone before. Using THE BIRTH MAP and considering doula support is the most efficient way to approach birth preparations. It is Your Birth Your Way.
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The written plan can outline the techniques intended to use, allowing support people to follow this guide, rather than interrupting to ask questions to ‘just check’. The plan makes it clear what is wanted generally, but also allows for truly informed consent or refusal. By negotiating and determining in advance the circumstances where certain procedures may (or may not) be considered, the mother is able to relax and concentrate on birthing.
General Considerations included might be regarding positions, water birth, assisted ‘pushing’ and environment. Informed inclusions may regard vaginal examinations, cord management (or even lotus birth), baby to chest, baby-led attachment for breastfeeding. There are many optional, but routine, procedures that need to be considered in advance and require informed consent or refusal. When intentions deviate from ‘routine’, the birth document becomes particularly important. A workable birth document will have been agreed to in advance, so the mother should not have to ‘fight’ for Her Birth.
For many women, an Informed Birth Plan, is unachievable without help. A workable plan is the result of informed preparations and it is often overwhelming and restrictive to gather relevant evidence-based information, let alone know what question to ask and when.
My book THE BIRTH MAP: boldly going where no birth plan has gone before includes an introduction to the purpose and reasoning behind a birth map, suggested resources and provides a series of questions to facilitate the preparation process. It is divided into the different stages of labour and consideration of a labour that deviates from expectation.
It has a built-in contingency plan. Not because things will ‘go bad’, or because it is even likely too. The contingency is the insurance, the backup, the ‘just in case’. It protects you from on the spot decisions. It means you are more likely to recognise and understand any deviations from your expectations, and respond calmly and appropriately having made informed decisions in advance.
A doula - a personal mentor – can support you in your birth preparations, providing you with evidence-based resources and taking the guess work out of birth preparations. You do not need to reinvent the wheel, you can draw on the experience and knowledge of those who have gone before. Using THE BIRTH MAP and considering doula support is the most efficient way to approach birth preparations. It is Your Birth Your Way.
See more FAQ
