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A different way to approach birth plans
We see it all. the. time.
A family walks into the hospital wanting to have a low-intervention birth and they hand the nurse a birth plan with some version of these bullet points:
Limited cervical checks
Freedom to move around
No IV
Intermittent monitoring
There's nothing wrong with this plan, per se. But what happens when we need to pivot?
Say there's an unexpected change that comes up. Maybe labor slows and you decide with your care team to add Pitocin to get a more regular contraction pattern. Adding Pitocin means you'll need an IV and continuous monitoring, which then limits your ability to move.
That wasn't in your plan. Yet here you are, in the moment, having to make decisions that go against what you've been envisioning for months (maybe years).
Because the reality is, hospital births often come with intervention by default. They were designed that way. (Maternity care is a business - built on efficiency, liability, and risk management).
Interventions themselves are not bad, but if you haven't thought about the deeper reasons that you do/do not want each item on your birth plan checklist, then you really haven't done the work of "birth planning."
Because as soon as that checklist item gets crossed off when you have to make a different choice, it can feel like you've failed, or that the "whole plan is out the window."
There is no shame in accepting interventions, changing your mind, or pivoting when life/birth throws you curve balls. The goal of birth planning isn't to make your birth go a certain way - but rather to learn about the options available to you, consider what is most in alignment with your goals and values, and communicate that effectively to your care team.
How to communicate Birth VIBES, not checklists...
There's a new book on the market written by Jen Hamilton, a labor and delivery nurse. It's called Birth Vibes, and we love the reframe she's sharing about creating a birth plan - especially if you're planning to give birth in the hospital.
In Birth Vibes, Jen talks about how to create a plan that goes beyond checklists of "do's" and "don'ts" or "wants" and "don't wants" to better communicate the way you want to feel during your birth.
Because if you really boil it down, most of us create a birth plan because we want to accomplish a feeling during our birth. Whether that's empowerment, safety, calm, etc. And deviating from "the plan" would make us feel things we don't want (like fear, unmanageable pain, or even trauma).
By making a plan that prioritizes how you want to feel rather than focusing on a rigid outcome (or set of preferences), you set yourself up for a much more satisfying experience, even if your birth requires more intervention than you were hoping for.
Jen talks about these 6 "vibes" to consider when creating your plan:
Communication: Understanding how you want information delivered and how to voice your needs.
Support: Defining your inner circle and setting strict boundaries on who is allowed in the delivery room.
Adaptability: Developing the mindset needed to pivot calmly if unexpected medical situations arise.
Environment: Managing the physical room setup, lighting, and "vibe" to enhance emotional safety.
Compassion: Extending grace to yourself and your body throughout the labor process.
We recommend Birth Vibes to anyone wanting the best of both worlds - coming into their hospital birth well informed and prepared, while also leaving space for nuance and flexibility - with the ultimate goal of having a birth experience that is empowering, regardless of the circumstances.
We also talk in depth about specific interventions and different options available to you in Module 4 of our Birth Alchemy Course. While having a plan based on "vibes" is a great idea, we also know that learning about your options as far as interventions, and the risks and benefits of each before labor starts is a great way for you to be more prepared to make informed decisions, if and when interventions are put on the table.
Beyond birth planning
Birth planning is just one small piece the puzzle when preparing for a low-intervention birth in the hospital. We have a lot of clients and students (especially those who live in Nebraska), who dream of having a home birth, but don't have much (or any) options for a qualified midwife to attend. And while we're so glad that hospitals and life-saving care exist, the hospital system is not set up to support low intervention birth by default.
That's exactly why we created the Birth Alchemy Course - for families who want a low intervention birth within the hospital system. We cover all of the basic "childbirth education" things you need to know - like physiology, comfort measures, interventions, and how to create a birth plan - but we also go much deeper.
Our course starts with a brief (but fascinating) history of birth in our culture, and why understanding that history matters for moms wanting a low intervention birth in the hospital. We also dive deep into what we call "personal development meets birth".
Birth is a huge personal, spiritual, physical, emotional rite of passage and identity transformation. That's why our course not only includes the surface level information and preparation you need, but also the deeper levels of preparation like self-discovery (what's most important to you?), befriending your fears (we all have them), and above all, learning to trust yourself to navigate this process within a system that doesn't trust mothers.
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