AMANI Birth: Blessed Start: Birth Plan Tips

Blessed Start

birth plan tips

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Blessed Start birth plan tips

E M O C WEL

Selamat datang

‫أه ًال وسه ًال خوش آمدید‬

Congratulations on your pregnancy!

AlhamduliLlah (all praise is due to Allah), we are thrilled and honored that you have chosen AMANI Birth to play a part in your birth education journey.

Preparing for your birth can be an exciting as well as daunting experience. Insha’Allah (if Allah wills) this booklet can help you start writing and designing your birth plan so that it can be e ective as well as e cient on your big day.

We hope these tips can bene t you as you prepare to give your baby (or babies!) a gentle and loving entrance into this world bi’ithniLlah (by the permission of Allah).

Best wishes for your birth!

The AMANI Birth Team

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Blessed Start birth plan tips

1. Keep it short and focused.

Bullet points or a numbered list might be easiest for your birth team to read, or consider making a visual birth plan using icons, symbols, and colors to indicate your priorities and preferences.

2. Don’t cut and paste.

Birth plans

MY E UNIQU H T IR B PLAN

Don’t just cut and paste from someone else’s birth plan. Your plan should be unique to you, but feel free to look at other people’s birth plans or search birth plans on the Internet to get some ideas.

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Blessed Start birth plan tips

3. Be clear and know what you’re talking about.

Simply stating a list of “don’t wants” because your childbirth instructor mentioned them is not e ective. If you want to avoid something you should rst nd out if it’s even an issue.

There’s no point, for example, stating, “I don’t want to be shaved,” if that isn’t even a common protocol at your birth place. Additionally, you need to have researched the point and know why you don’t want it.

4. Avoid vague language.

“Keep to a minimum”

”Only if necessary”

Remember everyone has a di erent perspective on what’s “minimum” or “necessary.” Realize too that the birth team only does things they think are necessary; even if it’s an unimportant routine, it’s still considered “necessary” to them.

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Blessed Start birth plan tips

5. Be assertive yet positive. ✔ “I am planning…” ❌ “If it’s okay…” ✔ ”It’s really important to me that… “ ❌ ”I prefer…“ ✔ “I request your support with…”

Be assertive, yet positive in asking for support of your wishes. Use statements like, “I am planning…” or “It’s really important to me that…” or “I request your support with…” rather than, “If it’s okay…” or “I prefer…”

6. Be flexible.

“If complications arise, I would like to be informed and have the opportunity to discuss my options—unless it is a life or death emergency.”

Be exible in case of complications. Consider including statements that request information and discussion of options for complications but also acknowledge that in a lifeor-death situation you trust your care team to take the appropriate course of action.

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Blessed Start birth plan tips

7. Use it for dialogue.

Use your birth plan as a stimulus for your own research and an opening to dialogue with your care provider. Pay attention to their reactions, listen to their feedback, and consider their suggestions. A demeaning or condescending response is a huge red ag that you’re not done shopping around!

Finally, and most importantly Trust that Allah has already planned everything that will happen, and Allah is the best of planners.

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Blessed Start birth plan tips

Looking for more support?

For more information or to nd an AMANI Birth certi ed teacher or doula near you, visit:

www.amanibirth.com www.amanibirth.com

Available Now! Get immediate access to our comprehensive, evidence-based, and Islamic faith-based online childbirth education course at:

amanibirth.online/blessedstart

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