Making a Birth-Plan

Many of the mothers I work with wrote down a Birth-Plan early on in their pregnancy. This plan describes their preferences on how they envisioned the birth should go. While it is tough to predict any birth this plan helps many mothers to think early on about the actual process. 

These are some of the questions a new mother to be should consider:

• What kind of birth are you hoping for?
• Who would you like to be in attendance?
• Where do you plan on birthing?
• Interventions you’d like to avoid.
• Interventions you’d like to utilize.
• Pain relief options.
• How would you like to deliver?
• What would you like to happen in the event of a cesarean birth?

While these questions are difficult to answer due to the unpredictability of any birth,  the new mother must be well informed.

Making a Postpartum Plan

Additionally, I suggest to my clients go one step further and think about what their Postpartum Care-Plan wishes are so that we can start this conversation early on.

– Who is going to be there when I come home? My partner, family member, or postpartum doula?

– Are all baby areas set up and ready (e.g., changing table, baby monitor, clothing washed and ready)?

– Self-Care items on hand:

• Epsom Salt Sitz Bath. After you have a baby, you’re going to have a sore pelvic floor. – Postpartum Sitz Bath Salt with Natural Frankincense, Lavender, Geranium, Chamomile and Lemon Essential Oils Plus Vitamin C
•  Medicated Cooling Pads – Tucks Medicated Cooling Pads
• Preferred Tea –  Traditional Medicinals Organic Mother’s Milk Women’s Tea, Promotes Healthy Lactation or Birds & Bees Teas – Organic Lactation Tea
• Nipple Cream – Bamboobies Women’s All Purpose Balm, White, Organic Cream for Stretching Skin
• Mama and Baby Shampoo/Body Wash – Weleda Mama and Baby Essentials 3-Piece Set: 2in1 Calendula Shampoo and Body Wash, Calendula Body Lotion, and Skin Food
• Cooling Pads and Foam – FridaBaby Mom Postpartum Recovery Essentials Kit | Disposable Underwear, Ice Maxi Absorbency Pads, Cooling Witch Hazel Medicated Pad Liners, Perineal Medicated Healing Foam
• Nursing Pads – Bamboobies Women’s Nursing Pads, Reusable and Washable, Multi-Color, 3 Regular Pairs and 1 Overnight Pair, Leak-Proof Pads for Breastfeeding
• Nipple Shields – Nipple Shields for Nursing Newborn and Nippleshield and Breast Shell Kit 
• Bottom Spray – Herbal Perineal Spray by Earth Mama 
• Donut Pillow – Donut Pillow Tailbone Seat Cushion

– Is the refrigerator and freezer stocked with healthy food choices?

– Is baby-formula in-house in case breastfeeding difficulties arise in the first few days?

– If bottle-feeding, Dr. Browns Bottles with 4 nipple sizes are needed. (NB, 1, 2, 3) – Dr. Brown’s Options+ Slow Flow Bottle Set for Breastfed Baby

NB – Dr. Brown’s Original Nipple, Preemie (0m+)

1 – Dr. Brown’s Original Nipple, Level 1 (0m+)

2 – Dr. Brown’s Original Nipple, Level 2 (3m+)

3 – Dr. Brown’s Original Nipple, Level 3 (6m+)

– Is the preferred breast pump set-up?

– Have baby wipes? – WaterWipes Baby Wipes, Sensitive and Newborn Skin

– Have a diaper pail to manage the smell? – Munchkin Diaper Pail Baby Registry Starter Set, Powered by Arm and Hammer

These are just a few examples of a long list of things new families need to think about before bringing their newborn baby home. It will relieve the homecoming stress and allow the mother to focus on baby care and you’re her self-care in the first few days after delivery.          

For more information on Postpartum Doula Care please visit: Doula2Talk