Pregnancy: Having a birth plan in place.

​Are you nearing the third trimester of pregnancy? Time is winding up and soon enough, your beautiful baby will make his or her debut into the world. Thinking about the birth may be giving you some anxiety. You can make things easier on yourself by having a birth plan in place.

Make sure you talk to your doctor and find out everything you can about the delivery process. Being informed can relieve a lot of the stress you may be experiencing.

Grab a journal and start answering the following questions:

1. Who do you want in the birthing room with you (I believe most places allow up to two visitors)?
2. Will you have an epidural?
3. Do you want skin-to-skin contact after the baby is born?
4. Do you want a home birth?
5. Do you want a water birth?
6. Do you have a doula?
7. If you are not having an epidural, will you be using alternatives to deal with pain (i.e. visualization aids, music, meditation, yoga ball, etc)?
8. Are you willing to have an episiotomy (it's a surgical incision in the lady parts to help make room for the baby to go through. Your OB can provide more information about the procedure).
9. Will you be breastfeeding after the birth of your baby?

Definitely discuss any plans for the birth with your doctor. Your doctor may have some ideas or concerns. Let him or her know if you want to utilize the services of a doula or midwife. Let them know if you wish to have a home birth, water birth, etc. Let your doctor know if you do not want your son circumcised. Address your concerns about c-sections. There is no such thing as a stupid question. This is you and your baby's special day.

Below, I have provided a template that you can use in order to make the birth planning easier.

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