Cómo crear un plan de parto

¿Qué es un plan de parto?

A birth plan is a way for you to communicate what kind of trabajo de parto and birth you would like, as well as what you would like to happen after el parto. Crear un plan de parto no es esencial, pero puede ayudarte a pensar en lo que deseas, en lo que te sientes cómodo y en lo que te gustaría evitar. Esto puede hacer que te sientas más segura y garantizar que el personal de salud que te atiende conozca tus sentimientos y preferencias.

Your midwife can help you form your birth plan depending on your priorities, your medical history, your circumstances and what is available at your servicio de maternidad service. It's also important to discuss your plan with your compañero de parto, para que puedan defenderte mientras estás en trabajo de parto.

You can change your plan at any time - so if you decide you want a different kind of pain relief than you originally thought, that is fine. Research has shown that being flexible is key when forming a birth plan, to avoid feelings of disappointment or failure if things change during labour. For example, if an unplanned cesárea is necessary. This can contribute to how you retrospectively feel about the birth experience and whether it was positive or not.

What to include in your birth plan

Your birth plan includes a range of information.

It can also include how many people you are happy with in your birth environment, whether you want dim lighting and the facilities you would like, such as a birthing pool.

Your birth plan can include information for after the birth too, such as whether you would like skin-to-skin time or how you would like to alimentar. También puede incluir cualquier costumbre religiosa que desee que se observe.

Entrega de la placenta

Un plan de parto también puede incluir cómo te gustaría que se entregue la placenta después del nacimiento. La entrega de la placenta es la 'tercera' etapa del parto y puede ser gestionada activamente para acelerar el proceso y reducir el riesgo de hemorragia abundante.

Durante la tercera etapa de manejo activo, recibirás una inyección para reducir el tamaño de tu útero, tu partera sujetará y cortará el cordón umbilical y expulsarás la placenta con o sin la ayuda de tu partera.

Retraso en el pinzamiento del cordón

You can also outline whether you want delayed cord clamping. This entails the midwife waiting at least one minute before cutting the umbilical cord after the baby is born to improve their salud.

Atención a la salud mental

If you are receiving specialist care - for example, through a perinatal salud mental service - your healthcare provider will be able to help you form a plan specific to your needs. This could include, for example, signs that you may be struggling with your salud mental after birth, or any support you may want.

Vitamina K

Después de que nazca tu bebé, se te ofrecerá una inyección de vitamina K para tu bebé. Esto ayuda a prevenir un trastorno raro llamado hemorragia por deficiencia de vitamina K. Si prefieres que tu bebé no reciba una inyección, puede tomar vitamina K por vía oral, pero necesitará dosis adicionales. Puedes incluir esta preferencia en tu plan de parto.

What to include in a caesarean (C-section) birth plan

If you have planned to have a cesárea, there are other elements you can include in your birth plan. You can ask your midwife whether photos can be taken, whether you want a screen or not, and if you want skin-to-skin contact with your baby in theatre.

Cuándo crear un plan de parto

You can form a birth plan at any point during your pregnancy, but it is usually done around 6 months in - third trimester - when you're likely to be thinking more about the upcoming birth. You can note down your preferences or ideas over time, as you may think of new things you would like to include throughout your pregnancy.

Why it's important to be flexible

It's usual to feel ansioso or nervous about the lack of control over childbirth, and creating a birth plan can help you feel more assured. However, it's important to be flexible because things don't always go to plan during pregnancy or labour. Facilities may not be available on the day, you may need an unplanned cesárea or you may change your mind about what you want.