MUM WITH A PLAN!

You’ve got the buggy and sorted your maternity pay. Now you need to write a mum-to-be plan

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Let’s get the facts straight. You’ve got a baby inside you and it needs to come out. But do you really need a plan to achieve that? Isn’t it just a question of biology? And, even if you do embrace the concept of writing out your birth requests, won’t you still end up furiously shredding it during labour when nothing is going as you intended?

The answer is, probably. But that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t make one to help you process what you’re about to go through. Though birth plans are unheard of in India, and we cannot really control much in our hospitals, speaking to your doctor may help empower you. Many new age birthing centers also support and encourage you to choose your birthing style. “Writing a birth plan is great for helping you deal with your fears,” says UK-based Dr Anne Deans, and also author of Your New Pregnancy Bible. “It encourages you to research what happens and start to psychologically prepare for it.” All that, plus it helps your healthcare provider know your preferences if your birth partner gets freaked out.

WHEN TO WRITE IT