Birth Preparation Handbook: Checklists, Important Numbers, Inner Work Prompts, Birth Plan // DIGITAL DOWNLOAD

Regardless of where you plan to give birth or who you plan to attend you, there's going to be some basic things to make sure you have prepared before baby comes. Depending on where you're giving birth such as home versus the hospital, you may need more items on hand. And regardless of your planned birth location, you should always have a hospital bag packed for the birthing parent + baby just in case of a hospital transfer.

<< WHAT'S INCLUDED >>

1) In the 16-page BIRTH PREP document there are checklists covering what the Birthing Parent needs for each birth location [hospital, birth center, and homebirth] and what needs to be prepared at home for the immediate postpartum.

2) There is also a separate "Postpartum Preparation" checklist that dives deeper into a holistic model of preparing for the postpartum.

3) Additionally there is a single page of "Important Numbers" to print out and have on hand to put on your fridge for you to add important phone numbers to call (and NOT call) when you go into labor and to have in the postpartum.

4) There is a two-page section of the document on our standard BIRTH PLAN TEMPLATE most suitable for hospital or birth center births, and good to have on hand even if you are planning a homebirth.

5) In the last 9-page bonus section BIRTH PREPARATION: INNER WORK of the document you'll find open-ended, thought-provoking questions and prompts for you to journal on your own or (preferably) discuss with your parenting partner, if you have one, to help prepare mentally/emotionally for bringing baby home and entering Parenthood~

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This Birth Preparation Checklist has enough information throughout that you can gain so much from it regardless of where you plan to give birth. Though the Birth Plan Template is most suitable to hospital births and hospital birth center or free-standing birth center births, even if you're planning a homebirth it's a good idea to have copies on hand in your hospital go-bag~ print out at least two copies to have with you and go over your birth preferences with your provider in pregnancy whether OBGYN or midwife.

NOTE: There is NO guarantee that your birth team will adhere to your Birth Plan -- it is meant as a guide, a starting place for helping your birth go as smoothly as planned, and to help you to advocate for yourself and your birth.

This Birth Prep Checklists + Birth Plan Template handbook is LGBTQ+ friendly using inclusive language, and has considerations such as for your preferred pronouns and whether or not you want your baby's gender to be announced or not at the birth, etc.~

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We recommend researching each of the individual labor, delivery, and newborn options (such as vaginal checks in labor, intermittent versus continuous fetal monitoring, epidural versus no epidural, doulas as labor and pain management support, and routine newborn medications/procedures) before choosing whether you want to have or decline a certain procedure.

This also prepares you to be able to advocate for yourself in labor in case your support team offers, recommends, or pushes for a certain procedure. Many procedures are typically unnecessary but considered "routine" in most hospitals and you have the right to decline them, and others may be reserved for emergency situations when discussing options or potential risks in the moment oftentimes may not be possible.

There is also the ability to choose multiple options if you have a preference but are open to alternatives. For example, your preference may be for a medication-free labor, and you may not want an epidural at all, but you may be open to discussing pharmaceutical pain management options if desired.

It is recommended to go over this Birth Plan and any questions you may have about particular procedures or 'standard protocols' at your chosen hospital or with a particular provider at a prenatal visit, and to go over your Birth Preferences with your birth team when you arrive at the hospital or birth center. And lastly, know your rights and always advocate for yourself!

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>> PRINTING INSTRUCTIONS <<

The Birth Prep Handbook (and Birth Plan Template) is formatted for standard 8.5 x 11 inch printer paper.

Step 1: After you download and open your file, select Print and open up your printing settings.

Step 2: Select either All or "Pages - Custom - [specific page numbers]" to avoid printing the informational/instructional pages.

Step 3: Select the number of Copies you want to print (recommended to have at least two copies of Important Numbers and Birth Plan, after a test print, which can be printed individually separately from the rest of the handbook)

Step 4: Then make sure your print Scale is set to either "fit to paper", "fit to printable area", or Custom -- select % // whichever printing scale that best suits your home printer without cutting off any areas of the template-- not all of them will print within the same space depending on your printer, so you may need to do a test print. For best quality, print in full color if possible.

Step 5: Fill out your birth plan copies, being sure to research any procedures you may be unsure of or need more information on before deciding on whether you would like it or not, and check-off your checklists as you prepare for birth. Hang your Important Numbers page on the fridge! And spend time going over the Inner Work prompts alone and/or with your partner.

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Design & Template Copyright 2022 Aileen Peterson // Bear Woman Wisdom: Wellness & Birthwork

Do not copy, redistribute, or sell. For personal use only.

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Interested in one-on-one prenatal wellness coaching, autonomous birth consulting, postpartum preparation and traditional holistic postpartum care, and integrative lactation support? Book a session at our website http://bearwomanwisdom.com ~ or e-mail us as bearwomanwisdom@pm.me