Everyone's birth preferences are different and VALID! It is impossible to know what your birth is going to look like and can be dangerous to not understand your options in the moment. Sometimes the fast pace and serious nature of labor doesn't allow for slowing down to explain and allow options to be given and thought about. You ALWAYS have an option in labor and the ability to say NO (as a complete sentence!) but it can save time in an emergency situation to know the right questions to ask and for the doctors to know where your hard limits are. Taking a childbirth class and having a doula present at your birth can help to know your options and build your preferences. It is also important to have your support person or spouse help you build the preference list. Not only does that person also deserve some say in what might happen with you and your baby but they also need to know how to help advocate for your preferences. It also gives them an opportunity to learn what things are so they can be informed in the delivery/labor room. Seconds matter in the delivery room so you and your partner being knowledgeable will make you feel more comfortable and confident in an emergency situation
When building preferences list you want to keep it short and sweet. Your nurse while wanting to give you all of her attention and time does have other patients so it can be hard to sit down and read a 5-page document. You want the most important things outlined not every detail.
Remember also that your birth preferences list is just that... PREFERENCES! As much as the doctor, nurses, doula and midwife hope and pray that you have the birth that you have always dreamed of birth is unpredictable. Babies and bodies do what they want to so make sure to be flexible and understanding that not everything you put on your birth preferences list will happen.
You can download my birth preferences sheet below; the first page is for your birth preferences sheet. Check out my childbirth classes before filling out your birth preferences and let's talk through your options! Page four is a wonderful way to get into the right mindset for completing your birth preferences and I recommend writing a little bit before you fill out your birth preferences.
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