Intermountain Health Hospitals Offer a Patient Choice Birth Plan for Pregnant Patients

Intermountain hospitals offer a variety of options for pregnant patients for labor and delivery and postpartum care. Pregnant patients can opt to see an OB/Gyn or certified nurse midwife, and they may see a maternal fetal medicine specialist if their pregnancy is high risk.

Pregnant patients may have varying preferences about the environment and care surrounding their baby’s birth. Intermountain has a Patient’s Choice Birth Plan for expectant parents to fill out their birth plan options such as if they prefer a non-medicated or low-intervention childbirth, or if they prefer various pain relief options such as nitrous oxide or an epidural. Patients can also specify their desires for their birth experience to aid in their comfort during labor and birth.

“It’s important to have a general idea of your birth plan and options. But sometimes things don’t go as planned and we have to adapt. Our number one goal is a healthy mom and healthy baby,” said Erin Packer, RN, a nurse and certified childbirth educator at Intermountain Layton Hospital.

The Patient’s Choice Birth Plan for Intermountain patients, enables parents to identify preferences in the following areas:

• Comfort and relaxation, measures – breathing techniques, tub, shower, massage, cold packs, music, aromatherapy, hypnosis for birth techniques etc.
• Visitors and environment during labor, birth and postpartum – visitors, children, still photography, medical students or residents in training.
• Hydration options – ice chips, popsicles, slushies, clear liquids, IV fluids.
• Labor positions to support physiologic birth – semi-sit, squat bar, birth ball, bedside chair, etc.
• Monitoring of baby and contractions – intermittent, cordless, continuous.
• Stimulation of labor – breaking of water, or Pitocin to assist labor.
• Pain-relief options during labor, delivery or postpartum care – non-narcotic, IV medications,  nitrous oxide, epidural, etc.
• Pushing preferences – rest and descend, breathe baby down, use of mirror etc.
• Cord cutting – partner may perform it if desired and as clinical condition allows.
• Early skin to skin contact with baby as soon as it’s medically safe.
• Newborn procedures, screenings and circumcision – where performed and who is present.
• Feeding the baby – breastfeeding, lactation consultant, pumping, formula feeding.
• Length of hospital stay within medical safety guidelines.

All Intermountain hospitals offer moms the opportunity to indicate birth plan options.

Women can talk to their doctor or midwife about their upcoming birth experience and also call their local hospital or visit their website for a virtual or in-person labor and delivery tour or to find out about childbirth education classes that are offered in-person or online. For more information visit: https://intermountainhealthcare.org/services/womens-health/.

About Intermountain Health

Headquartered in Utah with locations in six states and additional operations across the western U.S., Intermountain Health is a nonprofit system of 34 hospitals, 400 clinics, medical groups with some 4,600 employed physicians and advanced care providers, a health plans division called Select Health with more than one million members, and other health services. Helping people live the healthiest lives possible, Intermountain is committed to improving community health and is widely recognized as a leader in transforming healthcare by using evidence-based best practices to consistently deliver high-quality outcomes at sustainable costs. For more information or updates, see https://intermountainhealthcare.org/news.