There is nothing more frustrating than taking the time to create a birth plan, for the health benefit of you and your baby, only to have it ignored or disregarded. In the book Natural Childbirth The Bradley Way, Susan McCutcheon-Rosegg offers the following tips, found in chapter four “How to Choose Your Doctor”:
Make a detailed list in the order that is important to you. If there is more than one doctor in a practice, try to see a different doctor and review your plan with each of them. Memorize your list. Have the doctor write your requests on your chart – the doctor is more likely to remember when they play an active role in getting your requests down. On later visits, ask the doctor to read what was previously written on your chart. This confirms previous agreements and gets the new doctor actively involved in seeing that your birth turns out the way you want. About three weeks prior to delivery, hand over your written list and see that it is attached to your chart. Take copies with you to the birth in case your requests are “misplacedâ€. Bring a supportive person, in addition to your coach, with you to the hospital when the big day comes. This person’s function is not so much to intercede on your behalf as to simply be there for moral support as you deal with any situations that may come up. Even if your plan is conveyed clearly, still be ready to decline any procedure that is objectionable to you.
Remember: Being judicious when choosing your OBGYN, and seeking out one who understands the importance of a natural birth in the first place, will greatly increase the chances of having your requests met. This way, your natural birth will not come only as the result of winning an uphill battle with your doctor during labor and delivery.
An OBGYN who shares your same philosophy will not accidentally begin an unnecessary medical intervention because it would not be habit for them to do so routinely. Choose a doctor who will be on the same page and things will go much smoother for everyone in the delivery room.