The Sociological Effects of Birth Plans and Outcomes on Families

The development of a formal birth plan traces back to the 1980s as a way to foster women’s engagement with healthcare providers to express their birth experience needs. The general information in a birth plan includes a woman’s desired environment to deliver, who to attend to them, and the medical intervention plans and pain relief procedures to be used. The choices and control of women influence birth experiences, and the overall birth experiences may be affected by an alteration of the initial birth plan established by women. Furthermore, women’s reliance on several resources when developing a birth plan affects their recollection of the birth experience. Feelings and application of choice and control highly influence the positive and negative recollections of women’s birth experiences rather than specific details of their birth experiences (Whittington and Burke, 2020). In childbirth preparations, women consciously or unconsciously develop a birth plan. This paper is imperative in revealing insight into the sociological effects of birth plans and outcomes on families.

The development of a birth plan has expanded and fostered communication in the healthcare sector, and this link has promoted knowledge to women prior to giving birth. The social outcome of birth plans developed the birth plan from the traditional midwifery to hospitals resulting in increased medicalization of childbirth. Increased interventions during labor have thus contributed to the enhanced communication in the society in the healthcare sector. In addition, birth plans have contributed to adopting beneficial care procedures in society.

Education attainment has also been achieved through the development of birth plans. Women have acquired education to formulate ways of ensuring relief and satisfaction, and their contribution has fostered enhanced Medicare. Furthermore, their male partners have attained education as a result of the direct effects of birth plans on women’s lives. Young men have gained more freedom in financial planning and fatherly commitments, which has enhanced their education.

The development of birth plans by women has fostered economic stability. Through women’s educational experience, their understanding of the formulation of birth plans has motivated them to successfully pursue higher degrees of levels of educational attainment and stay in professional careers towards achieving economic stability for themselves and their families (Sánchez-García). Moreover, the concerns and desires presented by women in a birth plan have been reviewed and used in promoting effective healthcare in the economy.

Planning the birth of a child has played a vital role in contributing to a family’s strengthened economic stability. Women’s preference for medical intervention plans and relief procedures has enhanced their earning potential by enabling them to invest in education and attain essential early experience of work before meeting ultimate household duties. The sociological impacts of birth plans and outcomes on families are linked to romantic relations in people’s lives. Childbirth preparedness and familial relations – carefully timing and planning a child’s birth allows people to prepare themselves for parenthood. The preparations involved in childbirth comprise the maintenance of preconception and prenatal health and the adoption of healthy practices. Women prior to delivery would take folic acid supplements, manage severe health conditions such as diabetes, quit smoking, and get proper vaccinations.

Family and women undertake restorative procedures prior to childbirth to maintain their child’s health before delivery and later as infants. Birth plans instill satisfaction in women and is a beneficial experience for their engagement in Medicare. However, some childbirths do not go as planned.

References

Sánchez-García, M. J., Martínez-Rojo, F., Galdo-Castiñeiras, J. A., Echevarría-Pérez, P., and Morales-Moreno, I. (2021). Social perceptions and bioethical implications of birth plans: A qualitative study. Clinical Ethics, 16(3), 196-204.

Whittington, J. R., Rumpel, J. A., Shnaekel, K. L., Peeples, S. E., Magann, E. F., and Burke, B. L. (2020). Alternative Birth Plans and Unintended Maternal and Neonatal Consequences: A Review of the Literature. Obstetrical & Gynecological Survey, 75(12), 766-778.