Birth Plan Template

genesisaisha

For those of you considering creating a birth plan, here is a template that I found to be very thorough.  I altered it (to make it shorter), but I thought it covered the different areas in which we, the mother, may have to make choices throughout delivery.

I hope you find it helpful!

https://assets.babycenter.com/ims/Content/birthplan_pdf.pdf 

RoadToFertility

Thanks for sharing!

WildRumpus

That's a good starting point, but IMO, it's WAY too long. Keep it to a page, with normal sized font, or no one is going to take the time to read it. They just aren't.

LokiLahve

Jill9288:

That's a good starting point, but IMO, it's WAY too long. Keep it to a page, with normal sized font, or no one is going to take the time to read it. They just aren't.

I have to agree, it's too long. I plan to make a single page 2 sided. 1 side for LD and the other side for after delivery care and preferences for the baby since that will be 2 different sets of nurses.

genesisaisha

Jill9288:

That's a good starting point, but IMO, it's WAY too long. Keep it to a page, with normal sized font, or no one is going to take the time to read it. They just aren't.

Jill...my thoughts exactly.  I used this as a guide and typed one up that was 1 page long.  I am also concerned about coming across as "too needy" or "high maintenance" to the nursing staff.  I can imagine them rolling their eyes behind the nursing station at a 5 page birth plan.  :-)

WildRumpus

Haha, definitely! When I showed ours to my OB, she thanked me! "Oh my gosh, look! One page! AND you used size 12 font!"

wifemomnurse

genesisaisha:

Jill9288:

That's a good starting point, but IMO, it's WAY too long. Keep it to a page, with normal sized font, or no one is going to take the time to read it. They just aren't.

Jill...my thoughts exactly.  I used this as a guide and typed one up that was 1 page long.  I am also concerned about coming across as "too needy" or "high maintenance" to the nursing staff.  I can imagine them rolling their eyes behind the nursing station at a 5 page birth plan.  :-)

I can guarantee that a copy would be passed around for laughing purposes. Not trying to be rude or ugly but just like with a resume, less is more. Anything more than 1 page will not be taken seriously.

Missuskeekers

I used that as a template too but oh my god is it filled with some ridiculous bs. Why do you need to put some of that info in. Why does the nurse give a crap if you are listening to music or if your dh is going to give you a shoulder rub. It's not like they are going to see him giving you a massage and say "whoa back the eff off"

mommabmb

You can and should simplify to 10 bullet points or less... Or you may be with the wrong provider.

tokenhoser

mommabmb:

You can and should simplify to 10 bullet points or less... Or you may be with the wrong provider.

Eh, mine is 14 and my doctor is perfectly happy with it.

It fits on a page, goes chronologically, and I can shorten it for the hospital (knock off some things that are more for my doctor and I to refer to, especially since my doc is taking a vacation for week 39 of my pregnancy and I need to talk to a back-up). 

You should include what really matters to you that the staff may have influence over. You should leave out anything that doesn't really matter or that they don't influence. Stick to the important stuff.