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Planning for the Big Day
Birth Plans for Multiples
By Teri Brown
Archambault believes it is the loss of control that affects the parents of multiples the most. "Many families have used assisted technology to conceive these precious babies, adding to their stress," Archambault says. "The dream of the entire process happening naturally versus the reality of all the technologies that may have been necessary to create healthy babies for healthy mothers may disillusion some families about having any control or plan."
A flexible birth plan can help parents feel a sense of control while still reminding them that anything can happen. It's important to write down and make known the things that are most important for them to experience, such as being able to hold their babies soon after birth, for Dad to cut the cord or to be able to put their babies to breast as soon as is able.
"Families feel a loss of control when they do not have options or are not part of the decision-making process," Archambault says. "Medical circumstances may supercede the family's wishes and plans."
Bowers agrees. "Remember that a birth plan is a tool, not a contract," she says. "If you lock yourself in to one hard and fast mindset or you don't understand the high-risk nature of multiple birth, you are likely to be disappointed if and when your plans don't match the outcome. I encourage expectant parents to develop a plan with realistic options, rather than a fantasy birth scenario."
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