Tuesday, August 14, 2007

The fantasy of "ideal childbirth": The Birth Plan

Creating a birth plan can be an empowering and clarifying process. Knowing your wants and expectations can help demystify the childbirth experience, and sharing your birth plan with your obstetrician is a great way to facilitate discussion and direct communication.

The reasons for having a birth plan run the gamut. Some women have the perception that a hospital birth is "over-medicalized," and a birth plan is often seen as a way to ensure a "natural" experience during labor. This may mean saying "no" to medication, an epidural or even a possible cesarean section. The other extreme may be a woman who wants an early epidural or a c-section on demand.

Every obstetrician wants one thing--flexibility on the part of the patient. While making out a birth plan can help alleviate anxiety and clarify expectations, an overly rigid birth plan can cause a great deal of misery for all involved--the patient, the patient's family and the obstetrician.

One of the most common birth plan requests that my husband receives is that no epidural be administered during labor. While some patients are able to tough out the pain, it's not uncommon for a laboring patient to request the epidural when it's too late to administer it. In one case, the laboring patient devolved into the Godzilla of patients--cursing medical staff and family, kicking wildly, and even biting her beleaguered husband, who had been trying to coach her through the pain.

Often, patients become all-consumed by the idea of the "perfect" childbirth, and to deviate from a birth plan can be perceived as a failure. However, it may be good to know that your obstetrician is also obsessed with the "perfect" childbirth though her definition may differ from yours.

The overriding goal for a physician is always the well-being of the patient and baby. While a physician will try hard to adhere to a patient's expectations, sometimes the unexpected occurs. For instance, a baby's heartbeat may dip repeatedly to the point that a physician decides a c-section is necessary.

The perfect birth plan is having both mom and baby healthy and safe, and that is one plan that both patient and doctor can agree upon.

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

Well, I just hate the birth plan. It seems that everyone who has a birth plan has the delivery from hell!!

Anonymous said...

Prescription Drug Rehab Addiction Treatment in NYC, Heroin Addiction Treatment in NYC
Food Addiction/Eating Disorder Treatment in NYC
Drug Rehabilitation Center in NYC
Addiction Treatment Center in NYC
Drug Treatment in New York City, Alcohol Treatment in New York City
Chemical Dependence in NYC, Chemical Dependence in New York City

Unknown said...

This is Hannah Bevills, I am an editor with Hospital.com. We are a medical publication whose focus is geared towards promoting awareness on hospitals, including information, news, and reviews on them. Given the relevance of what you are offering from your site and what our mission is, I feel we may be able to collaborate in some way or another, I look forward to your response regarding the matter. Thanks!

Hannah Bevills
hannah.bevills@gmail.com
Hospital.com

Unknown said...

http://www.miramarlagunabeach.com

The best drug rehab center is one that ensures you long term drug recovery. You must be aware of the fact that drug addiction is a resilient disease therefore, drug abuse victims should definitely consider help from drug rehab centers because these centers are mainly meant to change the lives of the people addicted to drugs. The day you start trusting yourself will be the right day for you to recover and join a drug rehab center. It is very essential for the drug abuse victims to take help from drug rehab centers if they really want to live a healthy and peaceful life.

drug rehab