There’s a very common saying, “You can make a plan, and the universe will laugh.”
Even the best-made plans can suddenly be disrupted, and no one knows this fact more than mothers who are due during the recent COVID-19 pandemic. For many moms, creating a birth plan is how they prepare and foreshadow how their personal parenting experience will be. For example, if they construct a magnificent plan, with Plan A’s, Plan B’s, and every box checked, their plan will signify their success as a parent. This is not true.
Who you are every day determines what kind of parent you are. Just because a plan fails, doesn’t foreshadow or predetermine your success or failure as a parent.
Placing pressure on a plan that will change isn’t a good indication of your value as a parent, especially during a pandemic. For many moms, birth plans they had less than 4 months ago are not completely derailed due to Coronavirus. Nothing about COVID-19 is familiar for anyone; least of all to-be moms, doulas, obstetricians, and midwives. No matter the type of birth you may have planned, it is important to understand how your birthing plan will be affected by COVID-19.
What is a Birth Plan?
A birth plan is an outline of the preferences you have during your labor and delivery. For a birth plan, you will have to focus on these 5 important areas:
No matter how you plan to give birth, a birth plan can be a great tool to help you feel prepared before welcoming a new baby. While birth plans can be a great asset for new parents, it is important to remember that none of your plans are set in stone.
While COVID-19 has been extremely disruptive for life on a global scale, it is very clear that birthing plans will have to be adjusted. Experts in birthing hospitals have seen changes to birth plans, specifically where the deliveries are taking place. While some moms had hoped for a hospital birth, concern over contamination, supply shortages, overcrowding, and visitor restrictions, have made some parents rethink their initial birth plan.
By changing where you want to deliver your baby, you might notice much of your delivery options will change; such as your labor preferences, your birthing team, and your options for pain management. Many moms have chosen to move their delivery from a hospital bed to their home. While at-home births are becoming increasingly common amid virus concerns, it is also important to remember that complicated deliveries, births of multiples, and even surgical procedures may need to be done in the hospital. So while some moms opt for changing their delivery plan, some pregnant moms might not be good candidates for at-home births.
In light of the pandemic, moms are still entitled to ask certain questions while in labor. A birth plan is an excellent place to collect all your questions to ensure that you remember each one. By knowing what questions to ask, you may find that your birthing experience can be more tailored to your specific wishes. For example, you have the right to ask to have certain music played, or a warm blanket placed over you, or any specific phrases you would like said while in the act of giving birth. Ultimately, it is your birth, so while COVID-19 can affect the method of delivery, the attendants in the waiting room, and even how the medical staff will be dressed, you still have a lot of control over your delivery experience.
For More Information About the Changes in Birth Plans in America, See the Following Articles:
Articles about Changing Birth Plans:
https://www.vogue.com/article/reconsidering-my-birth-plan-because-of-the-coronavirus
https://www.theatlantic.com/family/archive/2020/03/giving-birth-during-coronavirus-pandemic/608320/
https://abc7news.com/health/possible-restrictions-on-birth-plans-due-to-covid-19/6058588/
For Detailed Questions to Ask During Labor, See Our Two Articles Below:
https://www.motherlove.com/blogs/all/selecting-your-birth-team?_pos=4&_sid=5b7651ab9&_ss=
