What is a birth plan and do I need one?
A birth plan is a contract describing how you would like your birth to be. There are different opinions in lay and professional groups regarding the value of these. Some believe they actually hinder the progress of labor because it reflects that a woman is trying to “control” her labor. Labor is unpredictable and you need to have an open attitude regarding the various options which are available to you. For example, you might be planning a labor epidural, but once you go into labor you might find that walking, Jacuzzi, sitting on the birth ball are all that you need to do to have your baby. It is however important to talk to your provider regarding their philosophy of birth and to communicate with them before you have your baby any strong feelings you have about how you want the birth to be. Some questions women ask are: Are you allowed to walk during labor, do they perform routine episiotomy, do they induce at a certain point, how often they like you to be monitored, what position wil
