How to Create Your Adoption Hospital or Birth Plan

By Erin Jones

Once you’ve committed to adoption in Florida, one of the most important steps is to create a hospital or birth plan. Your hospital/birth plan consists of any preferences related to your hospital stay at the time of your child’s birth. You can create your hospital/birth plan at any point in the adoption process, but Adoption Choices of Florida recommends sooner rather than later. The last thing you’ll want to do a week before your due date is create a last-minute plan. All of your attention needs to be focused on having a safe delivery!

A Few Things to Consider When Creating Your Hospital or Birth Plan…

1. Do you want someone in the room with you before, during, and after your baby is born?

It’s very common for a birth mother to request someone she trusts be in the room at the time birth. This person can be anyone you’d like. Some examples are a family member, a close friend, or one or both of the adoptive parents. You don’t have to have anyone in the room with you — aside from doctors and nurses. However, most birth mothers find it helpful to have someone they know with them for moral support. The birthing process, much like the adoption process, is not one that is meant to be taken alone!  

2. Do you want to hold your baby and/or spend some time alone with him/her?

Not all birth mothers wish to hold their baby and/or spend time with him or her after the delivery. However, some do and that’s OK! Allowing yourself some time alone with your baby gives you the perfect opportunity to celebrate the miracle of life. But sometimes, seeing and holding your baby is too difficult, which is totally understandable. It’s completely up to you, but whatever you decide, be sure to include it in your hospital or birth plan.   

3. Do you want photos or videos taken of you and your baby, you and the adoptive family, etc.?

To commemorate the birth of your baby, you may want photos or videos of you and your baby, of you and the adoptive family, and/or of you and other members of your support system. But if you don’t, don’t worry! Some birth mothers prefer their privacy, so you certainly don’t have to have any photos or videos taken. But be sure to make note of these preferences when creating your hospital or birth plan.  

4. Do you want to keep any hospital mementos for yourself, i.e. your baby’s hospital bracelet, baby blanket, stuffed animals, etc.?

Some birth mothers request to keep hospital mementoes from the day of their baby’s birth to remembering the special day. Before including which hospital items or mementoes you’d like to keep, be sure to talk to your baby’s adoptive family. The day of the birth is just as important to them, so they’ll likely want to keep mementos as well. If you’ve opted for a semi-open or closed adoption and do not wish to communicate with your baby’s adoptive family, reach out to your adoption agency and have them talk to the adoptive family for you.  

5. Do you have any other hospital or birth-related preferences you want to include in your hospital or birth plan?

The items in this list are just a few ideas of things to include in your hospital or birth plan! You might also want to consider preferences related to the actual delivery process. For example, whether or not you’d like to give birth naturally, have an epidural injection, or have an elective C-section.

Your Plan and COVID-19…

You need to note that your hospital and birth plan(s) are subject to change due to your hospital’s COVID-19 restrictions. Even with new vaccines being distributed, hospital staff still needs to follow strict guidelines to ensure the health of all of their patients. This means that on the day of your child’s birth, your doctors may not be able to accommodate all of your preferences.

If you have concerns about your hospital/birth plan(s) or your hospital’s COVID-19 guidelines, don’t hesitate to reach out to your agency or your hospital to ask questions. Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, both adoption agencies and hospitals have become very accustomed to assisting with COVID-19-related questions and concerns! 

If you are a pregnant woman in Florida considering adoption, and have any questions or concerns about the adoption process, please don’t hesitate to reach out. For more information on adoption, visit us at Adoption Choices of Florida or call us at: (833) 352-3678