As the time grows near for a birthmother to deliver her baby, she may in some cases experience some anxiety about the birth. Even with counseling and birthing classes, fear of the unknown is inevitable and can cause undue worry even in a pregnancy that has been otherwise uneventful. An adoption birth plan can help alleviate some of those fears by giving you a plan for you, the hospital staff, and the adoptive parents to adhere to. Below are some things to keep in mind as you create your birth plan.
Who is Where?
One of the first things you will need to decide is who you want to have present in the delivery room when you are giving birth. You may want to have some people present as you’re laboring, but only one or two present when you actually give birth. You may want giving birth to be a very private moment for you, or you may want a parent, significant other, friend, or even the adoptive parents to be present in the room. Labor and delivery nurses are great about enforcing your wishes, so just let them know ahead of time who you want in the room. Keep in mind that some hospitals have a limit on how many people can be in the room with you — often a limit of 2 — but they may be willing to bend those rules a bit if you explain that you want someone with you for emotional support as well as the adoptive parents.
You will also want to plan out when you will be willing to accept visitors after the birth. You may want some alone time, with or without the baby, or you may be willing to see people almost immediately. Letting people know this information ahead of time can help avoid confusion and hurt feelings on the big day.
Medication and Interventions
Take some time to do your research on any medications or interventions you might be offered during labor and delivery. Some can only be used up until a certain point, while others might have unpleasant side effects you might want to avoid. Try to know going in what kind of birth experience you’re aiming to have — for example, will you want an epidural? Talk to your doctor about possible interventions, how they can be avoided, and when they might decide a c-section is necessary. Note that if a c-section does become necessary, you may need to reevaluate who will be in the room with you according to your hospital’s regulations.
Flexibility is your Friend
While you’re creating your adoption birth plan, keep in mind that babies tend to have a mind of their own when it comes to labor and delivery. Things can and will deviate from the plan, so it’s important to go into your delivery knowing that you will need to be a little flexible; stressing out about sticking to your plan can cause more stress than it’s worth. They’re guidelines, not rules, and you can change the plan as you see fit to make your birthing experience as pleasant and stress-free as possible.
