When you're in labor and the contractions are coming every 5 minutes or so, the last thing you would like to do is enter a discussion with the nurses of even the doctor what the risks of an epidural or the benefits of cord blood banking are. These are some of the issues you should have thought about, researched on and made a decision way before you entered the delivery room.

And this is why for some women, it is important to have a birth plan, and discuss it with the medical staff who will attend to the delivery of their baby. A birth plan is where you list down the details of your preferences and instructions regarding the events related to your delivery. How do you plan to spend the initial stages of labor - do you wan to be lying on a hospital bed, attached to monitoring equipment, or would you rather be allowed to move about? What about pain management? How do you feel about your bag of waters being artificially ruptured to induce labor? After delivery, would you or your partner want to cut the cord? Have you made arrangements for cord blood banking or donation? Do you plant to breastfeed? These are just some of the things you should consider, decide on and discuss with your doctor or midwife prior to the D-day.

Why not write your birth plan now? Fill in your preferences, save it, print it out and give copies to your doc or midwife.

Bear in mind that sometimes, things don't go according to plan 100% to a T, such as in cases where there are unforeseen medical emergencies that pose risks to you, the mother, or to the baby. In such cases, trust that while your preferences have been considered, the priority is your and your baby's health and safety.