The birth plan is a piece of writing that the expectant mother sends to the maternity ward in order to express her wishes for her childbirth. What exactly does it contain? When to write it? And above all, how to enforce it? Gaelle Mahec, midwife in Valence, gives us her ideas to make it a real communication tool.
What is a birth plan?
Delivery in a physiological room, pain management via the epidural, anatomical position for the final push, episiotomy … There are a thousand and one ways of giving birth, and every woman has the right to express her choices when giving birth. life. This is the goal of the birth plan, a written text that lists the needs of the mother-to-be, and which is sent to the maternity ward from the 4th month of pregnancy. " It must be assumed that everything is required: labor room placed in the dark, limitation of the number of people in the room, music in the delivery room, taking a photo of the infant at his first cry, spouse who wishes to cut the cord or not, skin to skin with baby, breastfeeding advice, first aid support … », Illustrates Gaelle Mahec. Note that it is advisable to bring a duplicate of the birth plan on D-day. A mission to entrust to your other half!
What is it used for ?
" The birth plan must foster trust between the team and the future parents », Explains the midwife. As a rule, a woman who gives birth in the hospital has not previously met the staff who will accompany her during the birth of her baby on D-day, since apart from a scheduled cesarean section, no delivery is is predictable, so it is not clear which team members will be on call.
This document thus serves as a common thread for the teams who meet the future parents on the day of delivery. " The birth plan aims to enable women to have the maximum childbirth they want. And it is important not that they restrict themselves when they write it. On D-Day, it must allow the spouse to have the wishes of the future mother respected in order to lighten her mental load. To give birth, a woman must be able to stay in her body, in her bubble. Giving birth is above all an act of love. You shouldn't annoy the mom every minute by asking her if she accepts this or that thing. This is precisely the role of the birth plan », Hammers the midwife. For example, a woman may be more likely to risk a tear than to have an episiotomy.
How to write a birth plan?
For our expert, the birth plan must answer essential questions such as: when I am afraid or when I feel tired, what do I need? For example, you may need someone to hold your hand at all times. To better understand your expectations, you can consult the WHO recommendations around childbirth, which may help you better identify what is important and not important to you.
Gaelle Mahec adds that she strongly advises against copying and pasting a birth plan from the internet. The birth plan must be eminently personal. Preparation for childbirth should therefore not be neglected. " I compare childbirth to a long trip. Before leaving, we list what we would dream of visiting in a new country. But like any trip, there are always unforeseen events. Giving birth is not a question of will, it is above all a matter of laissez-faire. So I also encourage women to ask themselves what they want if things don't go as planned. For example, take the case of a woman who wants a natural birth: what will she want to preserve if the medical team has to perform an emergency Caesarean section? », Continues the midwife.
To help you prepare for your birth plan
Birth differently – choose your birth plan – Sophie Gamelin-Lavois
€ 7.70 at Cultura
We can choose anywhere: in the restaurant, in the supermarket, on television … Everywhere, except in the maternity ward to give birth!
Why should women not have an opinion on this important event in life?
In this book, the author invites you to think about current or systematic medical practices and to inform yourself in advance to decide conscientiously.
Sophie Gamelin-Lavois campaigns for less medical deliveries and offers alternative methods to prepare for childbirth.
This book is a personal reflection tool allowing couples to reclaim the birth of their child and to design, by dialoguing with the medical profession, a real birth project that really takes into account their desire to experience this event according to their wishes.
With simple and precise explanations, this book presents all the resources available to both mother and child and many addresses of associations committed to supporting parents' efforts.
Your birth plan – Catherine Piraud-Rouet
€ 5.61 at Amazon
Interactive logbook to think it, write it and negotiate it. Make childbirth one of the happiest days in a woman's life: this is the ambition of this notebook. Here is a shock tool, very simple but unfortunately still unknown: the birth project. Reception in the birthing room, progress of the delivery? It is possible to leave nothing to chance, so that the maximum of wishes are respected, on this special day. This book, built in the form of a guide to be completed, allows you to better determine your choices by providing the necessary information.
Am I sure that my birth plan will be respected?
In a large number of maternity hospitals, the medical team strives to respect the couple's birth plan as much as possible, within their means and above all by ensuring the health and safety of mother and baby. " The great majority of midwives are very happy to have this document, because they want as much as possible that the birth remains a moment of joy for the parents. Sometimes, some maternities do not necessarily have the possibility to do everything, such as an outpatient epidural during labor or the possibility of taking a bath during labor, but a lot can be discussed. », Emphasizes the midwife.
However, if during your first talks with the motherhood you feel absolutely out of phase – for example, you want a physiological childbirth and the motherhood is not at all receptive – do not hesitate to knock on the door. another establishment. "Giving birth is like leaving your child with the nanny. Trust must be total and mistrust has no place. Likewise, if during childbirth you feel uncomfortable with a midwife, do not hesitate to ask him or her to hand over to your colleague. Very often, this also relieves the professional », Advises Gaelle Mahec. To conclude, the midwife reiterates the importance for every mother-to-be to feel respected in her project, whether she wants a natural or medical birth. Essential questions that deserve time!
Some examples of birth plans
A very visual birth plan
A very detailed birth plan
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