01 Introduction
Description
This article is from the Birth Planning FAQ, by wnymph@FensEnde.com (Sabrina Cuddy) with numerous contributions by others.
01 Introduction
I would like to begin with a disclaimer that I teach the Bradley(r)
method of natural childbirth - I do not have any training in the
Lamaze method, so I can't say if there are things in this that
are not applicable to that or any other method... I personally
believe that most of the Bradley(r) method is very common sense,
and that this will be useful to anyone writing a birth plan.
I do know that some MDs believe that Bradley(r) parents are too
aggressive in asking for what they want - there is a fine line
between being a good consumer and not letting your practitioner
make critical decisions! I try to get good communication skills
across to my students so that they will not close down the lines
when they are talking to their medical team about their wishes!
I would also like to point out that some practitioners believe
that birth plans are useless, or worse, that they are a directive
to the practitioner, so they resent the interference! I prefer
to think that they are a wish list to remind people of what you
would like, in a perfect world. Try to get across to your
practitioner and the hospital/birth center staff that you are
flexible and that you understand that in an emergency they will
have to make some decisions for you - that's why you picked
this team/birth place, and you trust them to keep you and the
baby healthy and safe! (If you don't trust them, see if you
can find another practitioner/place to give birth - how can you
have a good birth if you spend the whole labor in fear?)
-Sabrina <swnymph@remarque.berkeley.edu>
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