What nurses need to know about birth plans

What’s in a birth plan?
A well-thought-out birth plan will often reflect the overwhelming number of choices that mothers are faced with during this important experience. A birth plan can be a tool for nurses to help their patients feel grounded and confident about delivery day.

So what’s in a birth plan? Here are some key elements, according to Rodriguez:

• Where will the mother deliver—birth center, hospital or at home?
• Who will attend—doctor or midwife?
• What type of meds—prescribed pharmaceuticals or herbal remedies?
• Pain management—relaxation techniques, environment/ambiance or epidural?
• Surgical intervention—caesarean or episiotomy?
• Information on whether the mother is low- or high-risk
• The support team—doula, Dad, significant other, family and friends, etc.
• Creation of a baby-friendly birth environment—plans for the baby’s initial examination, immediate skin-to-skin contact and breastfeeding decisions
• Recovery—necessary support in dealing with regular postpartum delivery issues and intervention options
• Contingency plans—sometimes babies are sick, disabled or, even sadder, can die. Having a support team in place is imperative. A mother must know her rights to her child in health, in sickness and in death. The family must also know their rights to grieve and say goodbye.

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