Creating a Birthing Plan for a Birthing Center Experience
A birthing plan is an empowering tool that outlines your preferences for labor, delivery, and postpartum care. It ensures you, your partner and your care team are all on the same page, creating a supportive, stress-free environment.
At Our Birthing Center, we value the power of preparation, especially for those seeking a natural birth experience near Jersey City and surrounding areas. Here are our tips, based on many birth experiences.
Benefits of A Birthing Plan
Birthing plans emerged in the 1980s when families began advocating for individualized care during labor. Today, they provide a clear roadmap, giving moms and partners confidence in their journey and helping care teams deliver personalized support.
Birthing plans give mothers an opportunity to prepare and express their desires for their ideal birthing experience ahead of intense, highly personal and life-changing moments of labor and delivery. During these moments, you would rather not have regrets or feel your birthing was rushed or not according to your wishes.
For Moms: A birthing plan helps you feel in control by setting expectations and ensuring your comfort and wishes are respected.
For Partners: It clarifies roles and responsibilities, enabling active involvement and emotional support.
For Babies: A birthing plan often encourages bonding, such as immediate skin-to-skin contact, and supports practices like delayed cord clamping.
Four Birthing Plan Examples
To help you start your beautiful natural birth plan, here are some suggestions to inspire you.
1. A Natural Water Birth Plan
Labor Preferences: Labor in a birthing tub, with the option to deliver in water.
Pain Management: Utilize hydrotherapy, guided breathing, and nitrous oxide if needed.
Support: Partner and doula provide emotional support, with soft lighting and calming music.
Post-Birth Care: Immediate skin-to-skin contact and breastfeeding initiation in the tub.
This plan is ideal for moms seeking a soothing, low-intervention environment. Water’s buoyancy eases pressure, promotes relaxation, and aids pain relief.
2. A Partner-Focused Birth Plan
Labor Preferences: Encourage active participation by the partner, including assisting with breathing and position changes.
Pain Management: Massage and counterpressure techniques guided by the partner.
Support: Midwives at Our Birthing Center offer advice while respecting the couple’s autonomy.
Post-Birth Care: Partner cuts the umbilical cord and helps with the baby’s first bath.
This plan strengthens emotional bonds and gives partners a hands-on role in the birthing process.
3. A Minimal-Intervention Birth Plan
Labor Preferences: Minimal monitoring and interventions, with freedom to move and choose birthing positions.
Pain Management: Use a birthing ball, warm compresses, and aromatherapy.
Support: One-on-one guidance from midwives, ensuring safety while honoring natural rhythms.
Post-Birth Care: Delayed cord clamping and rooming-in with the baby.
This approach suits moms who trust their bodies and prefer an unhurried, natural process.
4. A Family-Inclusive Birth Plan
Labor Preferences: Include older siblings or additional family members in the room.
Pain Management: Breathing techniques demonstrated to family members for shared support.
Support: A dedicated support person manages the presence of children to ensure a calm environment.
Post-Birth Care: Family participates in welcoming and bonding with the baby.
This plan celebrates the family’s role, creating a welcoming environment for the new addition.
Not sure which direction to take? Our partner midwives credentialed at OBC can help you create your ideal natural birth plan and enjoy a blissful birth at one of our birthing centers serving Jersey City and surrounding areas in NJ. All of these options are available at Our Birthing Center. Contact us today for more information.
