Preparing for the birth of your baby is one of the most exciting—and often overwhelming—experiences of pregnancy. While no one can predict exactly how labour and delivery will unfold, creating a well-researched birth plan is one of the most empowering steps you can take. A birth plan is more than just a checklist of preferences; it’s a powerful tool that ensures you, your birth partner, and your healthcare team are aligned on your wishes for labour, delivery, and postpartum care.
What makes a birth plan truly transformative is the research that goes into it. Every decision you make, from your environment during labour to how interventions are handled, can impact the trajectory of your birth experience, as well as the outcomes for you, your baby, and your partner. By taking the time to understand your options, you empower yourself to make informed choices—choices that can still be adapted in the moment, but are grounded in evidence and your personal values.
At New Moon Baby, we’re here to make this process easier. You can purchase our Birth Preferences and Birth Partner Action Plan Template on our Etsy shop. This three-page, editable document includes everything you need to confidently communicate your birth preferences and empower your partner to support you through every stage of labour.
Want to learn even more? Our Hypnobirthing courses cover all of this information and much more. We teach you the science behind why hypnobirthing works, equip you with practical tools for labour, and provide ongoing support as you prepare for your positive birth experience.
1. Labour: Setting the Stage for the Birth You Want
Creating a Calm, Supportive Environment
Your birth environment significantly impacts how relaxed and in control you feel during labour. A quiet, dimly lit space can help you stay calm and focused, especially when combined with hypnobirthing techniques like visualisation and controlled breathing. Include preferences in your birth plan for lighting, music, aromatherapy, or other tools that support relaxation.
Protecting Your Privacy
Feeling safe and undisturbed is key to a positive birth experience. Your birth plan can outline who you want present during labour, as well as your wishes for minimal interruptions or monitoring. Discussing these preferences in advance allows your birth partner to advocate for your emotional and physical needs.
Pain Management Choices
One of the most important aspects of your birth plan is how you want to manage pain. From natural methods like water immersion, massage, and hypnobirthing breathing to medical options such as an epidural, every choice has its pros and cons. By researching these methods ahead of time, you’ll know what aligns with your preferences and can make confident decisions—even if you change your mind during labour.
Interventions: Understanding the Possibilities
Interventions, such as induction or assisted delivery with forceps or vacuum, may be suggested to you for medical reasons. However, understanding your options allows you to consider alternatives and make informed decisions. For example, you might prefer to try natural methods like changing positions or using a birthing ball before agreeing to induction. Researching evidence-based information on interventions, such as Why Induction Matters by Rachel Reed, ensures you’re prepared for these conversations.
2. Preparing for the Unexpected: Staying Flexible
Caesarean Birth Preferences
While most people hope to avoid a C-section, planning for this possibility is an important part of being prepared. Research shows that even in an unplanned C-section, many preferences—such as immediate skin-to-skin contact, optimal cord clamping, or gentle caesarean practices—can still be honoured. Including these preferences in your birth plan helps you feel in control, no matter the circumstances.
Other Interventions
The same goes for other potential interventions, such as induction or continuous foetal monitoring. Many interventions are offered routinely, but not all are evidence-based or necessary. By thoroughly researching these procedures, you can identify which ones you’re comfortable with and which you’d prefer to avoid unless medically required. Without this knowledge, decisions may be made on your behalf that could alter the course of your birth. The Aims Guide to Induction of Labour is an essential read.
3. Postpartum Decisions: Setting the Tone for Recovery and Bonding
The Golden Hour
The first hour after birth, often called the "golden hour," is crucial for bonding and recovery. Research shows that immediate skin-to-skin contact stabilises your baby’s temperature, heart rate, and breathing while promoting early breastfeeding success. Make sure your birth plan prioritises uninterrupted time with your baby—even after a C-section.
Optimal Cord Clamping
Delaying cord clamping until the cord has stopped pulsating allows your baby to receive a full transfusion of blood from the placenta, rich in iron and oxygen. This practice reduces the risk of anaemia and boosts your baby’s iron stores. Many parents assume that healthcare providers will naturally wait for the cord to stop pulsating, but this isn’t always the case. Include specific instructions in your birth plan for optimal cord clamping—which is based on physiology rather than a fixed timeframe.
Newborn Care Choices
From delaying the first bath to deciding on vitamin K injections or breastfeeding preferences, your birth plan should outline how you want your baby to be cared for immediately after birth. These early decisions play a key role in shaping your postpartum recovery and your baby’s health.
The Birth Partner Action Plan: A Game-Changer for Teamwork
Your birth partner plays a vital role in supporting you during labour, and the Birth Partner Action Plan ensures they’re equipped to do so. This editable two-page document breaks labour into clear stages, outlining what your partner can do to keep you calm, focused, and supported.
Early Labour (0-4 cm): Practical tasks like timing contractions, ensuring hydration, and setting up the birth space.
Established Labour (4-10 cm): Hands-on support with massage, breathing techniques, and advocating for your preferences.
Second Stage (Breathing the Baby Down): Helping you stay relaxed and focused as you work with your body to bring your baby into the world.
After Birth: Ensuring postpartum preferences—like skin-to-skin contact and delayed cord clamping—are respected.
Your Next Steps
Take control of your birth experience by combining the Birth Preferences Template and Birth Partner Action Plan from New Moon Baby. You can purchase these easy-to-use tools from our Etsy shop today.
For those looking to dive deeper, our Hypnobirthing courses will equip you with all the knowledge, tools, and confidence you need to navigate pregnancy, labour, and birth. Together, we’ll ensure you’re fully prepared for a calm, empowered, and positive birth experience.
Start your journey now—because the more informed you are, the more empowered you’ll feel.
Comentarios