When Birth Doesn't Go To Plan

One of the many services we offer is help writing a Birth Plan. We love going through all of the options and watching as women imagine and plan out their dream birth. I think this is such an important part of preparing for birth as it gives our clients a chance to really, truly learn about the stages of birth, interventions, different coping techniques and to fully submerge themselves into the mindset of birth.

I am always ecstatic when I have the honour of watching the plan unfold beautifully from A-to-Z.

Here's the kicker... Birth very rarely goes exactly to plan. It has a mind of it's own, and it's impossible to control it. Even with the very best of intentions, and all the support in the world birth tends to run off into the wild and emerge from the woods with it's own plans.

So, what's a Mother to do? Is the "Birth Plan" setting you up to fail? I have encountered my share of doctors who have scoffed at the idea of planning a birth, but, I disagree.

Part of my job is to make sure family's have access to all the information. I help them to navigate through the sea of "What to do when you're expecting" and help them to find the best unbiased, evidence-based information. We have long discussions about their hopes, and their fears. We plan out the most outrageous, fantasy-based birth plans (birthing in the sea while dolphins and whales sing in the cove) just to let them dream, we play "worst-case-scenario" to let them voice those fears out loud so they can finally let them go. Then when all of that is over, we get down to brass tax. Birth Plans aren't elaborate. They are made from an informed, educated and honest place. Our clients are very aware of the fact that birth is "un-plannable", but, how they are treated through their labour is 100% in their control. Informed Consent is not something to be scoffed at. Empowered women, regardless of how they birthed their babies, is an incredible sight to see.

Sometimes a home-birth becomes a cesarean. It's not ideal, but it happens. But, with informed decisions and a birth plan that reflects that, you can be prepared for all of the outcomes and be confident in your choices. Your entire plan doesn't have to go out the window. You will know how to modify and adapt without sacrificing your ideals.

So, write your plan. Trust your instincts. Educate yourself, and be prepared for the chance that birth will give you a run for your money.

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