Why a Birth Plan?

Creating a birth plan is a crucial step in preparing for your baby with a prenatal diagnosis.  A birth plan will allow for streamlined communication on your wishes and expectations between you and your care team for palliative care or full intervention.  It is helpful for your care team to know your wishes and expectations throughout your appointments as this will guide them on determining the frequency of your appointments and considerations for an early induction.  When you are in the hospital for delivery,  your care team will read over your birth plan at every shift change and be on the same page as you.  It also helps alleviate additional stress of having to repeat yourself during an already emotional experience where you may not have a clear mindset.  

A birth plan does not "lock you in place" and you have the freedom to change your mind whenever you feel it is necessary.  There is no right or wrong answer in the route of care you choose for you and your baby.  Be gentle with yourself.  We understand how difficult it is to prepare for the worst and hope/pray for the best.  Every decision you make is out of pure love.

It is helpful to provide a copy of your birth plan to all [medical] professionals involved in the care for you and your baby.  This may include your maternal fetal medicine clinic, social worker, primary doctor, or therapist.  You can never have too many copies, so stash one in your purse, car, and hospital bag; you never know when you may need it. 

I have attached a copy of Abigail's birth plan for you to use as a template if you choose.  Brian and I spent a lot of time going back-and-forth between palliative care and full-intervention.  Ultimately, we created one birth plan with both routes of care and decided to let Abigail lead us.  (Within Abigail's birth plan, you will notice I have added "after-thoughts" in red text.  These are events or changes that were made during our hospital stay.)  

** We received guidance from many parents within the trisomy community.  With their help and willingness to share their birth plan, we developed the following for Abigail.  To these wonderful parents, we thank you for sharing your birth plan with us.