Birth Plan?
Practically all pregnant women have heard of the birth plan. It is a document that tells your healthcare provider what you want during and after your labor and delivery. Most healthcare professionals do not like this “plan” because it puts in writing what most women want, but cannot have certain times. Making the woman all the more upset.
Gone are those days of the dredded birth plan. My own hospital (yes I am giving birth..hopefully…in a hospital) tells the mothers during the tour that a birth plan is great to bring along, and that it helps the nurses provide adequate care.
I know that it is possible that the birth plan will be changed if anything goes wrong during my labor, but I feel better knowing that I have thought everything through, and it helps me to stand my ground on what I want. One other thing that I added is that my coach be a decision maker if I am not able to. My novice advice is to get a stong person to know fully what your wishes are. Sometimes certain family members will do everything they can to help you in the moment, even if it is against your long term wishes.
Finally, here are some places that you can find birth plans to fill out.
http://birthplan.com
http://www.babyzone.com/pregnancy/interactive/birthplan.asp
http://www.babycenter.com/calculators/birthplan
http://www.childbirth.org/interactive/ibirthplan.html