BIRTH & POSTPARTUM PLANNING

Birth & Postpartum Planning

If you've researched birth plans online, you've probably noticed most of them focus on the "whats" of birth. "What interventions do I want?" "What interventions do I not want?" "What do I want in case of an induction or a C-section?" While this style of birth plan is a great starting point, it has some limitations. 1) We have limited control over whether a medical intervention will be in the best interest of ourselves and our baby. 2) We can get exactly what we wanted (for example, spontaneous onset of labor and a vaginal delivery), and still feel dissatisfied or even traumatized because of how we were treated and how we felt emotionally during or after birth.

My trauma-informed, strengths-based approach to birth and postpartum support planning (which I learned through a 12-week training with Resilient Birth) is different. It focuses on what we have much more control over: the "hows". In my 90-minute birth and postpartum support planning sessions, I help clients articulate their ideal birth or postpartum. We then dive deeper, exploring the feelings associated with their hoped-for experience, and how their support team can help them feel this way even if something unwanted becomes necessary. I also guide clients in reflecting on strengths and internal resources they've used during past challenges and ways they can draw on them as needed during the perinatal period.

Using my takeaways from these discussions, I draft individualized birth and postpartum plans addressed to specific members of the client's medical and support teams. These plans use non-violent communication to express what is most important to the birthing person and request simple, specific behaviors or accommodations. For example, your OB can't guarantee that you won't need a C-section, but they can agree to provide the reasoning behind their recommendation, give you time to process the information and make a decision, and validate your emotions about the deviation from your hoped-for birth. These types of behaviors help ensure the birthing person feels seen, heard, and in control. Feeling this way reduces the risk of birth or postpartum trauma, past-trauma activation, and perinatal mood disorders. It can also increase positive outcomes, such as a greater sense of confidence and resilience, improved parent/child bonding, a deepened connection between the birthing person and their partner, and more.

Packages & Pricing

Birth & Postpartum Support Planning are included in my New Client Birth Support Package. Updates to the client's previous Birth & Postpartum Support Plans are included in my Repeat Client Birth Support Package. I also provide Birth & Postpartum Support Planning as standalone services to those who aren't interested in having a doula, but want to experience less anxiety and more confidence in themselves and their support team.

STRENGTHS-BASED BIRTH SUPPORT PLANNING

Includes:

One face-to-face Birth Support Planning session (approximately 90 minutes).
Individualized, fully editable Birth Support Plan including up to five sections tailored to each member of your support/medical team (for example, partner, L&D nurse, and midwife or OB).
One virtual Birth Support Planning session (approximately 90 minutes) to discuss any questions you may have about your Birth Support Plan and make edits as necessary.
An optional virtual birth debrief session after the arrival of your baby.

FEE: $200

Ready to start planning for your positive birth?

STRENGTHS-BASED POSTPARTUM SUPPORT PLANNING

Includes:

One face-to-face Postpartum Support Planning session during pregnancy (approximately 90 minutes).
Individualized, fully editable Postpartum Support Plan including a postpartum community resources list, and up to five sections tailored to each member of your support/medical team (for example, partner, friend or family member, lactation consultant).
One virtual Postpartum Support Planning session during pregnancy (approximately 90 minutes) to discuss any questions you may have about your Postpartum Support Plan and make edits as necessary.
An optional virtual follow-up session after the arrival of your baby.

FEE: $200

Ready to start planning for your positive postpartum?

CONTACT ME!

Frequently Asked Questions

A generic "birth plan" or "birth preferences" will not have the same depth as a personalized Birth Support Plan we create collaboratively. You are a unique individual, with a unique history, hopes, and needs. Typical birth plans list what you want and don't want, but they rarely address the emotional side of birth. They also rarely provide guidance specific to the different individuals on your support team. You don't need the same things from your partner as you do for your OB, so why would you hand them the same piece of paper? By working with me, you will have the benefit of my knowledge gained through nearly nine years of helping clients have positive birth experiences. I also do the writing for you (a process that takes around two hours), providing you with a draft you can modify however you wish.

No. First, not all people with a history of trauma choose the label "survivor" for themselves, and that's perfectly okay! Second, while people with a history of trauma can particularly benefit from strength-based birth and postpartum support planning, all people deserve to feel seen, heard, and in control during the perinatal period. If you want to feel prepared and confident you can handle any birth or postpartum scenario you're faced with, this service is for you.

No. I'm not a therapist, and birth and postpartum support planning is not therapy. I will invite you to reflect on past challenges to uncover personal strengths you can draw on during birth and postpartum. Discussing potential triggers can help us document ways for your medical team to avoid those triggers, as well as the best ways to support you if your past trauma is activated. However, you are always in charge of how much you share with me and on your support plans.

Many parents report feeling unprepared for the challenges of postpartum. Postpartum brings significant hormonal shifts, as well as shifts in identity, schedules, family dynamics, and your connections to your wider community. Postpartum support planning involves considering potential challenges that may arise during the postpartum period and documenting the internal and external resources you can rely on for support during this time. Once your baby is here, you'll be caring for a newborn and healing from birth, all on limited sleep. Just like a birth support plan helps "stack the deck" for a positive birth experience, having a solid postpartum support plan in place before birth can help decrease overwhelm and ease the transition into parenthood.

CONTACT ME!

Birth & Postpartum Planning

Packages & Pricing

There are plenty of free birth plan templates online. Why should I invest in birth support planning with a doula?

Is this service just for trauma survivors?

Do I have to disclose my trauma history?

I've heard of birth plans, but why do I need a postpartum support plan?"