On the Blog: Birth Plans Change. Your Pelvic Floor Deserves a Backup Plan.
Birth rarely goes exactly to plan. But just because your plan changes, doesn’t mean your pelvic floor has to suffer. Preparing for the unknown is one of the most powerful things you can do.
The Problem with Rigid Birth Plans
When we only prepare for one type of birth, or we only list our preferences and things we do want in birth, we often feel overwhelmed or unprepared if plans change—especially if interventions become necessary. This can lead to panic, or fear-based decisions that impact recovery.
Pelvic Floor Education = Flexibility
When you understand your pelvic floor, know your breathing and pushing strategies, and have practiced different labour positions, you’re more equipped to:
Adapt to interventions calmly
Minimise injury
Advocate for your needs
Birth Mapping
A birth map is a birth plan that has different options for different scenarios, and has all of your informed choices made prior to birth.
Labour doesn't start naturally? You know what to do and how long you want to wait before an induction is suggested, and you know what type of induction method you want to choose if you do choose one.
Labour not progressing or stalling? You know what methods you want to augment labour and in what order.
Baby's heart rate needs monitoring? You know what the different options are and how these will affect your pelvic floor so you know what to pick when you come into hospital, or when your midwife arrives at home.
Pain increasing and not manageable? You know what pain relief methods to try next, and how those methods will impact your pelvic floor and birth experience, and what to escalate to if pain is worsening.
Pushing not going the way you'd hoped? Baby's head not descending enough? You know what positions to switch to, your partner knows to keep an eye on the clock if your hospital has a time limit on pushing, and you know what to ask for to help with your pushing phase that will have the least impact on your pelvic floor. You know when to decline an intervention like forceps, and what you could trial instead. You also know when a forceps could be the best option of your delivery, and if you would like an episiotomy with that.
Need for assistance arises? You know what that assistance will entail, and know who you want to perform that assistance. You know it's always possible to ask for a second opinion, or a more senior/qualified medical professional, and there usually is time for this if you get your partner to ask your treating team early on. You know this isn’t being difficult, it’s getting the best care for you and bub.
All of this seem overwhelming for you or your partner? Having the same midwife throughout your pregnancy and birth is helpful, and being on the same page regarding your values with your healthcare team around birth, and discussing this with them prior to birth is key. This is what informed consent looks like. Not the first time you are ever hearing about the risks of forceps being in the depths of labour.
If you can't have the same midwife during pregnancy at your birth which is so so common, consider hiring a trained doula or private midwife to support you in your decision making during birth. Or consider bringing another support person who knows how to advocate for you.
Like to be in control? Does all of this sound like something you need?
Give your pelvic floor a backup plan. My course Pelvic Floor Prep for Birth empowers you to prepare your mind, body, and muscles for any type of birth.
