Contents
The birth plan, a personal reflection
The birth plan is not just a piece of paper that we write, it is above all a personal reflection, for himself, on pregnancy and the arrival of the baby. ” The project is a material for questioning and informing oneself. You can start writing it early in pregnancy. It will evolve or not », Explains Sophie Gamelin. ” It is an intimate journey, an idea that evolves towards concrete wishes or refusals.
Prepare your birth plan
For a birth plan to be well constructed, it is important to think about it upstream. Throughout pregnancy, we ask ourselves all kinds of questions (which practitioner will follow me? In which establishment will I give birth?…), And the answers will become clearer little by little. For this, it is preferable to get information from health professionals, to meet a midwife, to take advantage of the 4th month visit to clarify a particular point. For Sophie Gamelin, “ the important thing is to find the right professional for us ».
What to put in his birth plan?
There is not ONE birth plan as there is neither ONE pregnancy nor ONE childbirth. It’s up to you to build it, to write it so that the birth of our baby is as much as possible in our image. However, the fact of obtaining information upstream will “generate essential questions” that most women ask themselves. Sophie Gamelin identifies four: “ Who will monitor my pregnancy? Where is the right place for me to give birth? What possible birth conditions? What reception conditions for my baby? “. By answering these questions, mothers-to-be can identify the important points that will appear in their birth plan. The epidural, monitoring, episiotomy, infusion, reception of the baby… are the aspects generally approached in the plans of birth.
Write your birth plan
« The fact of putting things in writing allows take a step back and build a project that looks like us », Emphasizes Sophie Gamelin. Hence the interest in “putting black and white” his birth plan. But beware, ” it is not a question of positioning oneself only as a demanding consumer, it is necessary to communicate on a cordial and respectful basis. If patients have rights, so do practitioners », Specifies the perinatal consultant. During visits, it is advisable to discuss your project with the practitioner to find out if he is in agreement, if such and such thing seems feasible to him. Sophie Gamelin even speaks of “negotiation” between the future mother and the health professional. Another important point: you don’t have to write everything down, you can also ask for things on the day of delivery, such as changing your position …
Who should you trust with your birth plan?
Midwife, obstetrician-gynecologist … The birth plan is handed over to the practitioner who follows you. However, it may happen that he is not present on the day of delivery. This is why it is recommended to add a copy to the medical file and to have one in your bag as well.
Birth project, what value?
The birth plan has no legal value. However, if the future mother refuses a medical act and she reiterates her refusal orally, the doctor must respect her decision. What is important is what is said on the day of delivery. The future mother can therefore at any time change one’s mind. Remember that in order not to be disappointed on D-Day, it is advisable to get as much information as possible upstream to find out what is or is not possible and to contact the right people. And then, you have to keep in mind that giving birth is always an adventure and that you cannot foresee everything in advance.