Birth Plans

There are choices you need to make before you have a baby such as whether to use a birth center or hospital and whether to use a mid-wife, doula or doctor.  Making these plans in advance can reduce your stress and make having a baby a better experience.

A birth plan is a listing of what you would ideally like for the labor and delivery -- it is a list of pregnancy and delivery related preferences. A birth plan will help you to realize what is most important to you in the birth of your baby.

Deciding who will be present during your baby's birth, e.g., family, friend, or a doula, and whether you will give birth in a hospital or birth center are among the decisions you can make.

Selecting a doctor  or midwife for your baby, whether to deliver in a hospital or in a birth center, setting, and deciding who will be present during your baby's birth (family, friends, a doula) are among the more challenging decisions you'll need to make.

A doula is a professional trained in childbirth who provides emotional, physical and informational support to the woman who is expecting, in labor or has recently given birth. The doula's role is help women have a safe, memorable and empowering birthing experience.