What is the birth plan and how can the woman help when I leave?

What is the birth plan and how can the woman help when I leave?


Document recommended by those who ensure that mother’s preferences are respected in labor, birth and child care

Have you heard of the birth plan? It is a document in which the pregnant woman records her choices and preferences on the time to give birth and immediate care after birth. It works as a communication tool between mother, family and health team. It can help reduce anxiety and strengthen women’s right to actively participate in decisions.




Although it does not replace medical conduct in emergency cases, the plan offers a base for dialogue, leaving the desires of the mother Chiari and promoting a more humanized experience. Recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO), it has been increasingly adopted in maternity hospitals for its educational value and the contribution to strengthen female autonomy.

What to include in the delivery plan

The document should bring essential information, such as the name of the mother and the child, the expected birth date and basic data. You should also indicate the chosen partner, who can be the partner, a family member or a double. Among the decisions to register are:

  • During labor: Freedom to move and choose positions, a more welcoming environment with low light or music, use of massages and bathrooms as pain breeding methods and authorization or not for procedures such as oxytocin or the artificial violation of the stock exchange;
  • At the time of birth: Preference for the delivery position, decision on episiotomy and ambient temperature control;
  • After birth: Contact the skin of the immediate skin, permanence of the child with the mother to the spontaneous and spontaneous expulsion of the placenta and definition of those who will cut the umbilical cord;
  • Baby care: Guidelines on the first bathroom, the preference of breastfeeding and the restriction on the use of formulas or pacifiers, except in the medical indication.

Emergency situations

It is important to remember that the delivery plan acts as a guideline, not as an absolute rule. In case of complications, the medical team has the responsibility to adopt the safest procedures for mother and child. If a Cesarea section, for example, becomes indispensable, professionals should clearly explain the reasons and benefits of the intervention, based on scientific evidence.

More than a preference record, the delivery plan is an educational tool. It helps pregnant women to understand what can expect from birth, contributes to more aware decisions and reduces the chances of frustration if unexpected events occur. In addition, it promotes dialogue with the health team and offers greater tranquility and safety.

How to elaborate the delivery plan

The document is held together with the doctor or prenatal team, I clarify the doubts and ensuring the adequacy of the plan under the conditions of the hospital or maternity chosen. After being ready, it should be printed and delivered to Maperternity on delivery: some institutions already archive the document in advance. Even more important, the text is clear, objective and reflects the true desires of the mother, ensuring that it is the protagonist of this moment.

Source: Terra

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