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By week 19 of your pregnancy, it’s time to start thinking about your birth preferences. Thinking about and writing down your preferences can be a good way to feel empowered and in control of your birth experience. It can help your care team know exactly what your wishes are for your labor and birth.
Remember that you can change your mind at any time and for any reason. Your birth preferences are just a guide for your labor and birth experience.
Once you’ve completed your preferences worksheet, it will be added to your electronic health record. Be sure to bring it to your next appointment with your clinician.
Your care team will do everything possible to stick to your preferences, but births are unpredictable. Their main priority is keeping you and your baby safe.
At Kaiser Permanente, our labor care includes:
- Who will be in the delivery room with you.
- If there are any cultural or family traditions you’d like to observe.
- At which hospital or KP facility you plan on giving birth.
- Which clinicians you’d like to help you.
- What tools, like birthing chairs or squatting bars, you prefer.
- How you’ll manage pain.
- What you’d like to eat or drink.
- If you’d like to breastfeed your baby.
Your birth preferences also include what you want to happen immediately after giving birth, such as bonding time with your infant.
Be sure to list anything else you can think of so that your care team knows your preferences. You can also let them know if you have any concerns or fears. That way they can help you be as relaxed, supported and prepared as possible before you give birth.