What’s Your Birth Plan?

Your bags are packed and you’re ready to go ✈️… don’t forget some comfy socks, hair ties, chapstick, contact lenses, deodorant, and your toothbrush. But wait, are you actually ready for labor? Packing your bag for a birth center or hospital trip is an important step, but there are other needs to consider. ❣️

 What are these, you ask? First, think about what you need in times of stress and/or pain. What makes you feel better? What makes you feel strong? What makes you feel safe? To tap into the five senses on a deeper level, check out my birth planning tool here (It’s free and super helpful!) ◀️

It’s important to think of all five senses because when it comes time to labor and birth, you want your team to know what you need and to know so in advance. While your body contracts, using your focus and attention, you may not have the energy, time, or want to share your needs in active labor😓. So anything you can work through in advance will take away any uncertainty. 💯

For example, having a non-verbal cue allows for silent understanding. Take a deep breath at the beginning of each contraction. 🔋 Then when it winds down, take another deep breath followed by a sip of water. 🌊 Not only will this keep your lungs open and your body hydrated, but it also signals to your team that your contraction is over. They will know that they can ask you questions, check in, etc. 👍 

By sorting through all five senses, you will also find areas to practice. And especially touch and comfort techniques. 

✨Do you like to be touched when sad, happy, aggravated, in pain, etc?

✨ If yes, what does that look and feel like? 

✨Tell your birthing support team. 

✨And PRACTICE. 

Yup, make believe is for adults too! You want to test it all out well before the moment so you don’t have to be responsible for reminding your partner that they need to use a deeper touch, or not to touch your face, etc. mid-contraction. 

And don’t overlook rehearsing comfort techniques. Yes, they are awkward and kinda weird so get all of that out now. Sway together in the labor dance, 💃 have your hips pushed together, and practice some “pushing.” ☮️ Believe it or not, your uterus actually does all of the pushing and you just need to practice relaxing your pelvic floor muscles. 🤯

Next, consider your environment and what smells, sounds, and tastes bring your comfort, care, and love. You do not want to forget these three and they are crucial to your wellness too! 💯

Then, make decisions for yourself and your babe. What interventions and medications are you ok with? And in what order? For the babe? 

When I was 37.6 weeks pregnant with my second, they insisted on doing ultrasounds to check the size of my baby (story for another time). At the end of week 38, they called me in to labor and delivery to discuss what they found. I was prepared for them to tell me that the baby was big - this was a no-brainer as I was fully aware of how big this baby was living inside of me. But that’s not what they wanted to discuss. My amniotic fluid was too high. They didn’t want me to go to 40 weeks because they were worried about a cord prolapse - that my water would break and the cord would get pressed and harm that baby. I was not prepared for this change in course. I fed into the panic. I did not ask about the stats and reality of how likely it was to happen. Or even how high above my levels were than normal. Instead, I said ok, let’s get him out. 

The lesson here is not that you need to know and prepare for everything…because you can’t. ❌ But you can have a plan A, B, and C. 📜 We chose an induction because we wanted to stay the course for a vaginal delivery. We decided when and how fast to go. We decided what the next steps would be, and we ultimately decided when it was too much and to go with our plan C. When it came time to make decisions, after the initial jump, we were ready. Every decision to us was a possibility because they always were. We also looked at interventions as resources rather than necessities - When “X” happened, we had resources to choose from. And we’d choose. 

So that’s the final tip…make a plan A, B, and C. And consider the tools available along the way. You always get to decide. Even when they tell you it can’t wait - you still get to decide. And don’t be like me…ask for the numbers, the details, and all of the above. “We all want a healthy baby” won in my birth story. I want yours to be a fight for a healthy birthing person and baby because both are needed for birth. 🦄