Birth is a magical time filled with wonder, joy and hope. At the same time, it can also be filled with exhaustion, pain, and lack of control. For many birthers, the prospect of giving birth is slightly terrifying. Birth plans are a tool that seems to take away or at least redirect some of that anxiety. By planning for the situation in advance we can get ourselves to thinking that things have to go as planned. Unfortunately, sometimes they do not. It is crucial that everybody understands the benefits and limitations of birth plans.
Birth plans are a wonderful tool to communicate your wishes to your healthcare provider. They also can serve to remind all members of your support team of your wishes at a time when you might not be able to voice them clearly yourself. Also, by choosing different options from a list of choices a pregnant person can clarify for themselves, often with the help of a doula or midwife, what kind of birth she desires.
But the most important thing to remember about birth plans is that you must remind flexible. Things in labor may not go as anticipated. Sometimes the provider must deviate from the birth plan to provide the best care for the pregnant person and the baby. Moreover, the wishes of the pregnant person can often change when faced with the reality of labor. Someone who was set on having a natural childbirth may suddenly desire the epidural. Thus, it is critical that the birther remains flexible with herself and with her healthcare provider and yes, sometimes that means abandoning the birth plan altogether.
Considering the need to remain very flexible, someone might wonder whether it is worth creating a birth plan at all. I believe it depends on the person. For many, a birth plan can be a wonderful tool to crystallize your own wishes and share them with others. Additionally, a birth plan can help the birther remain positive in her thinking and look forward to the beautiful birth she wishes to have. In and of itself, that is a good reason for creating a birth plan. `