Subject: misc.kids.pregnancy Birth Planning FAQ (part 1 of 3)
Date: 12 Mar 1996 13:56:39 -0800
Summary: Guidelines for writing a Birth Plan according to the
. Bradley(r) Method.  Part 1 - Steps, Part 2 - Samples & net.wisdom
. Part 3 - More Samples, newer submissions. (More Submissions Welcome!)

Posting-Frequency: monthly
Last-Modified: 1995/10/06

I would like to begin with a disclaimer that I teach the Bradley(r)
method of natural childbirth - I do not have any training in the
Lamaze method, so I can't say if there are things in this that
are not applicable to that or any other method...  I personally
believe that most of the Bradley(r) method is very common sense,
and that this will be useful to anyone writing a birth plan.

I do know that some MDs believe that Bradley(r) parents are too
aggressive in asking for what they want - there is a fine line
between being a good consumer and not letting your practitioner
make critical decisions!  I try to get good communication skills
across to my students so that they will not close down the lines
when they are talking to their medical team about their wishes!

I would also like to point out that some practitioners believe
that birth plans are useless, or worse, that they are a directive
to the practitioner, so they resent the interference!  I prefer
to think that they are a wish list to remind people of what you
would like, in a perfect world.  Try to get across to your
practitioner and the hospital/birth center staff that you are 
flexible and that you understand that in an emergency they will
have to make some decisions for you - that's why you picked
this team/birth place, and you trust them to keep you and the
baby healthy and safe!  (If you don't trust them, see if you
can find another practitioner/place to give birth - how can you
have a good birth if you spend the whole labor in fear?)

-Sabrina <swnymph@remarque.berkeley.edu>
--------------------------------------------------

AAHCC Student workbook instructions for birth planning.
(reprinted with permission (per Robert 9/26/94) - copyright 1989 AAHCC)

Step 1. Know Your Options
.Include:  Where will your baby be born?
.When will you go to your birth place?
.Will you and your coach ever be separated?
.What prepping procedures will you go through?
.How will the baby be monitored in labor?
.Will you be free to move, walk, change positions at will?
.Will there be time limits on the length of your labor or pushing?
.What positions might you use to push?
.How will you push?
.Will you have an episiotomy?
.Will you take pictures?
.Will you breastfeed immediately?
.Who will cut the cord?  When will it be done?
.Will the baby ever be taken from the parents?
.When will you go home if you are in a hospital/birth center?
(you need to take some kind of class to know what the consequences of each of 
these is...)

Step 2. Examine your feelings
.Both mother and coach need to decide what things are important to 
.them and then discuss their feelings and make any necessary
.compromises.

Step 3. Consider your priorities
.List your shoices in order of priority - most important first.
.This is how most medical people think.

Step 4. Evaluate your situation
.Are your choices realistic?  Are most of your choices openly
.supported by your birth team?  If not, will you compromise
.or make other arrangements?

Step 5. Meet with your medical professsional
.Make an appointment for both mother and coach to sit and talk
.to your practitioner.  Make a brief list of options to discuss
.based on things you already know your MD or midwife supports.
.Be sure to stress that this is a scenario for a normal labor
.situation.  Let the person state feelings about your choices.
.Discuss emergency situations and find out how your provider
.would handle them.

Step 6. Prepare for a positive experience
.Be sure to phrase your final birth plan in a pleasant and
.polite tone - do not present this as a list of demands.  This
.can help everyone feel more confident and increase your chances
.of having the birth experience you want.  Be sure to include
.your flexibility should and unexpected situation arise!

Step 7. Be flexible
.A beautiful birth experience is important and will have a
.positive effect on the family which can last a lifetime.
.However, the health and safety of mother and baby come first.
.If an emergency does occur, crucial decisions effecting their
.lives and health must be made quickly, and will require
.cooperation, as you and your birth team work together.

The Cuddy birth plan for our first baby was a one page list of our
preferences for normal labor/postpartum and a second page for
complications.  This was prefaced with a statement that we wanted a
natural birth and had prepared using the Bradley method.  

-Sabrina
