The Positive Birth Book Visual Birth Plan Cards

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Natural Birth/Unmedicated Birth: Natural birth is widely accepted to mean birth without an epidural or C-section. And for some, it means without any medical interventions (100% all-natural pain management strategies) There is also a difference between a template, a generator and a visual birth plan. What is a Visual Birth Plan?

Good for:Those looking for a free visual, natural birth planning template. March of dimesPrintable Birth Plan Beyond basic benefits are the more nuanced benefits of allowing for uninterrupted time and connection. By asserting a pause after birth through delayed cord clamping, you set the tone for that Golden Hour of bonding and pure bliss between you and your baby. Internal examinations - As well as feeling your stomach to find out which way round your baby is, your midwife will ask your permission to do an internal (vaginal examination). If you don't want this, say so. This will mean you won't know how many centimetres your cervix has dilated, but a skilled midwife will still be able to tell you roughly how far advanced your labour is. These are positive statements about the expecting or laboring mom, their baby and their birthing process and, through repetition, they can turn any negative thought that you may have about giving birth into a positive one. This will reduce any stress and anxiety, and boost your self-esteem and self-confidence. As a consequence, your body will follow by relaxing and birthing more easily, thus dramatically reducing any labor pain.Sugar water is often given to babies during a circumcision to calm them down. However, if you prefer for your baby not to have it, you can opt for just a pacifier to soothe them. FREE Natural Birth Plan Template Up to you if you want to give it a try or not. But, if you do (and you don’t have your own one), make sure that the medical staff knows in advance so that they can source one for you. Some midwives travel with one, but not all of them. It’s a chance for you to reflect on what you think you want, and what you think you definitely don’t want. The first few days of breastfeeding are essential in establishing a strong immune system through colostrum. Colostrum is super concentrated, high in nutrients, and full of antibodies - basically liquid gold! Did you notice that I highlighted simply above? I did this on purpose. The entire format of a birth plan is to provide the item in birth, delivery, and newborn care, which is most important to you as the parents.

The maternity team who care for you during labour will discuss it with you so they know what you want. Please note that the icons are for your private use only and may not be shared, sold or reproduced without written permission from Pinter & Martin. A birth plan is a summary of your preferences when it comes to giving birth to your baby. While this is labeled “a plan,” there’s a mutual understanding that your preferences may change as you go along, and that your doctor or midwife may have to make calls to ensure a safe delivery. How do I write a Birth Plan? Please note that the icons are for your private use only and may not be shared, sold or reproduced without written permission from the publisher Pinter & Martin.

New icons for 2023

When it comes to creating a birth plan, the rule of thumb is to keep it simple. Do you really need a birth plan?

For me, this gives the message that you know what you want, but you have realistic expectations and understand that flexibilityis important. (A rigid plan can be a recipe for regret and disappointment.) After a vaginal delivery, the baby is usually placed on you and covered with a warm blanket. You can let your provider know if you prefer to hold your baby skin-to-skin immediately after delivery or if want your baby dried off first. This is probably implied in the point above, but better make it very clear that you don’t want anything to happen to your baby until you’ve successfully bonded with them and nursed them for the first time. A birth plan is a way for mom to organize her own wishes and preferences and to communicate them with her partner and healthcare providers. Looking at birth plan examples can also open the conversation between you and your doctor or midwife about the options that are available. When do I bring up my birth plan with my doctor, nurses, or midwives?Both the forceps and vacuum methods work by guiding baby out of the birth canal during delivery, and they have the main advantage of trying an operative vaginal delivery instead of ending up having a c-section. That said, there are several possible risks associated with them, such as: increased chances of tearing, short-term urinary incontinence and increased blood loss for the mother; or facial injuries, bleeding and skull fracture for baby. Make sure your partner (whether husband, wife, or other birth partner) is also aware of your birth preferences, so they can advocate for you. You need to be flexible and prepared to do things differently from your birth plan if complications arise with you or your baby, or if facilities such as a birth pool aren't available. Working with your body to help encourage and support the natural induction of the birthing process can be very effective while also lowering the risk for future interventions. With a medical induction, your doctor or midwife will stimulate uterine contractions before labor begins on its own. There are various methods in which this can be done: either by giving you medicines (by mouth, vaginally or intravenously), by separating the amniotic sac from the wall of the uterus (stripping or sweeping of the membranes), or by breaking your waters.

This birth plan, that can be personalized with your details and unique preferences, is the perfect tool to make communicating your birth wishes and advocating for yourself easy. If you are very scared of the pain and don’t know if you are going to tolerate it, I strongly encourage you to look into hypnobirthing. The philosophy behind it is mind blowing and will totally make sense to you when you start reading about it. I had the most amazing birth thanks to it, and you can read my birth story here.This is for the same reason as to why no one should wipe baby down straight after delivery. The World Health Organization (WHO) actually recommends waiting at least six hours but, if you can go a full 24 hours, even better. Extra stores of iron and red blood cells help babies oxygenate more effectively and prepare for life without the constant support of the placenta. Once you are admitted to hospital, it can help to share some key information, and then bring up that everything is summarized in a birth plan if they’d like to see it. Your baby’s stem cells can be used in the treatment of family members who have a disease - parents having a 100%, siblings having a 75% and grandparents having a 25% likelihood of being compatible.