Planning Ahead
There were so many things on your mind, and so many things you needed to do during your long, nine months of pregnancy. Of course, you had to figure out that perfect nursery décor, buy furniture, register for your baby shower, put together all of the gifts, wash the baby's clothes, and probably a thousand other things I don't have room here to mention. And then, one day, you wake up and realize that you are less than a week away from your due date, and although you took the prenatal classes and paid very close attention, the actual labor and delivery of your baby was the last thing on your mind. Now, reality has set in and you realize that there are a thousand other things that you need to be worrying about. This is when a birthing plan comes in very handy.
Take some time out, very soon, and think of all those little things you are unsure about, or those things you want to make sure go a certain way, and write them down. You can also use the following suggestions concerning plans for a natural birth and questions or concerns regarding the baby immediately after birth.
If you are planning to have a natural birth, pay close attention to the next two suggestions. If you think there might be even the slightest chance that you may decide to have an epidural, make sure you let your doctor know this. There are tons of consent forms which you must sign in order to have the epidural, and signing them ahead of time is the best choice. Trust me, you do not want to be signing papers in the middle of painful contractions. Another thing to put on your list is questions about your options during labor. A lot of women do not realize that some doctors do not allow their patients to sit or stand once their water has broken. Be sure that you know how your doctor feels about this issue. Sitting, standing, and walking is a tremendous help in taking pressure off of your body from contractions, so not being able to do this may make you rethink your game plan. Also, make sure your doctor and the staff at the hospital will be aware that you are trying for a natural birth, so that you will receive plenty of encouragement during your labor.
Another big issue to think about is your wishes for the baby after his birth. Are you going to breastfeed? Do you want him to have a pacifier? Do you want him to be given a bottle of sugar water (as some hospitals still do this to calm a crying infant)? Do you want to give him his bath or would you rather the nursing staff do this? Do you want him placed on your chest/stomach once he is born or immediately whisked away to be checked out, cleaned, weighed, and measured? These and other concerns regarding the baby are best addressed beforehand so that you are not left disappointed or upset about an issue later on.