 Leanna Mae is an author, women’s health educator, and birth doula. Her degree is in health sciences. She is passionate about patient education. Leanna loves to write and share helpful information. She loves to teach! She's also passionate about patient rights and healthcare ethics. Leanna became a birth doula in 2008, a certified breastfeeding specialist in 2014, and graduated college in 2018. After graduating, she started teaching classes. She now offers online classes and in-person classes in western Ohio as well as birth doula services in the greater Dayton/Springfield area. Hi! I’m Leanna Mae. I’m a birth educator that teaches a class on birth plans. Let’s talk about why I set up my birth plan template the way I do with 8 categories. #1 – Overall goals Give me an introduction to what your overall goals are. What kind of birth experience do you want? You don’t have to fill up the whole box. This could be one sentence or a few. I think this is a good starting point to open communication about the kind of maternity care you want and the kind of birth experience you are hoping for. #2 – What I want most I always want to know what things are the most important to you. Is there anything you want to emphasize? Any special moments you want to have photographed? I also ask clients/students what they are most excited about. What’s important to you is important to me. If I’m your doula, I’m going to do my best to support you in having your best birth experience. #3 – What I am okay with This is your box of yeses. What routine practices and interventions are you okay with having? Do you have a preference on method, if applicable, such as induction? You can bullet point this if you want. You don’t have to go into a lot of detail. #4 – What I don’t want This is your no thank you box. If there are any routine practices or common interventions you do not want, make a note here. You can say no to anything. You can ask for more information about anything. It’s also okay to decide as you go along. Don’t hesitate to ask questions. #5 – Fears and concerns This may seem like an odd section to include, but I’ve found that it tells me a lot about what kind of education and support they need. It’s okay to tell your OB/midwife and nurses what you’re worried about. They can walk you through it. This is something that I ask about in the beginning of doula support at our first prenatal appointment, and I encourage parents to feel comfortable mentioning fears or concerns to their OB or midwife as well. #6 – Anything noteworthy Is this a rainbow baby? Previous birth trauma? VBAC goals? Military family? Is there anything you’d like us to know about you and/or your birth? It can be things about mom too such as FYI I’m on the spectrum and get overstimulated etc. It can also be things like history of substance abuse and this patient is in recovery. It’s okay if you don’t have anything to put in this box. If there are special circumstances, this is the section to put it in. #7 – For my support This section is to give a 101 on the kind of support you anticipate needing. You can have a more detailed plan with your doula on support supplies and methods you plan to use. Is there anything you want the staff to know about supporting you? You don’t have to have it all planned out. You never really know what you’re going to need until you’re going through it. This is a simple section to draft support plans. #8 – Environment preferences What are your thoughts on how you want the environment? Sometimes birth goes quickly and there’s not time to set up the room. If you have time, how do you want the environment to be for you to feel safe and calm and be able to labor best? This can be things like dim lighting, soft voices, intentionally calm, quiet, etc.
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