Actually, all of our patients (from all the practices) are encouraged to 
fill out our generic birth plan that we provide (or their own if they 
prefer).

I don't think it is unreasonable for parents to state their preferences. 
Actually, as an ex childbirth educator, supplying my couples with birth 
plans is done to get them thinking about the type of birth THEY want. 
That's the whole point. That's where accountability comes in.

When we talk about NORMAL, that is a loaded question. What is normal to 
one of us may NOT be what someone else considers okay and normal for 
them.Is it right or ethical for us to impose our views on someone else?

Birth plans help me (as the labor nurse) to do all I can to help the 
laboring couple have the type of birth they want. For instance, if my 
mother wants an epidural I want to know that so I can help her along, 
knowing what her goal happens to be. Maybe she wants to completely skip 
over IV meds in favor of an epidural. Another may say that she does NOT 
want an epidural but wants IV meds instead. Another may say that she knows 
all her medication and non-medication options and she will ask if she 
wants something. That only makes my job easier to know where she is coming 
from. If she wants to change her plan, so be it.

A birth plan can be a very positive thing because it helps all of us labor 
nurses to help the mom have the best experience possible.

Birth plans make people think......that's the point.

The tough birth plans are the ones that tell all about what the mother 
does NOT want. They are often rigid. Those are the ladies (I am sorry to 
say) who usually end up not progressing and needing every intervention 
that they had hoped to avoid. It's cases lke this that assure me that the 
mind is an extremely powerful thing. The mind can completely stop a labor.

These same rigid mothers are also ones who often have trouble with 
breastfeeding. That's just anecdotal.

Betsy Riedel RNC, IBCLC

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