A key factor in the couple’s decisiveness during pregnancy is the creation of a child birth plan. The expectant woman and her partner should think of important aspects in the plan which they need to look into or consider. Through a child birth plan, a couple can see things through the whole pregnancy period.
A very important key to this plan will be the choice of setting and birth attendant. The pregnant woman and her partner should also consider other issues, such as the extent of family participation they should welcome during labor, specific labor procedures, birth positions, medication options, plans for the immediate post-birth period and baby care, and the postpartum stay, and family visitation. Some suggestions that a pregnant woman and her partner should consider in setting these specific childbirth can be find in various websites.
The setting for birth that a couple should choose will depend on the pregnant woman’s health and that of the fetus. It would also depend much on the couple’s choice on the method used for birth and how much supervision they want along the way. Choosing a birth attendant is also important as it is crucial for a couple to be satisfied and comfortable with the kind of service offered to them during child birth.
Birth planning should always be part of the curriculum for childbirth preparation and education. A couple should be able to plan every move they make throughout the pregnancy period so they can feel more confident about the whole process. Couples should be compelled to make decisions about these subjects before the day of birth, or else decisions could be classified by agency policies or the circumstances of the moment without the couple’s understanding.
If a couple has a strong desire of having a successful childbirth, planning ahead will allow them to communicate this so their wish can be met as possible. Couples have to be sure that they understand their situation. They should also make sure that the birth plan is flexible because a slight complication may lead to a change in plans. For example, in the event of the complication of labor or birth that requires an emergency cesarean birth, a preference to have a baby without anesthesia would have to be changed.
