Your Birth Plan - by Megan Davidson (Paperback)

About the Book

Expectant parents often discover that little in their lives has prepared them to make the decisions and plans needed as they approach birth. In Your Birth Plan, Megan Davidson, PhD, dispels the myth that there's one right way or best way to give birth, helping readers navigate...

Book Synopsis

There is no right way or best way to give birth, but if you're pregnant, you're likely already hearing advice and stories about what you should do, how you should feel, and what you should want from your birth experience. Your Birth Plan is an intervention: it's a birth book that equally honors all paths and all pregnant people, guiding and empowering you to make informed decisions, without judgment or prescription, for your own positive birth experience.

Long on information, short on opinions, Your Birth Plan is a how-to guide filled with practical descriptions, insights, stories and tips to make it easier for you to pick where, with whom, and in what way you would like to give birth. Your Birth Plan is comprehensive and free from judgment and prescriptions. It offers unbiased information about all birthing options, including birthing in a hospital, at home, or in a birthing center; having an epidural or an unmedicated birth; induction of labor; vaginal or Cesarean birth; and more. This is a new, inspiring, inclusive, and much-needed guide to help you plan for a birth where you are empowered to make your own choices and to have your needs met, whatever they are.

Review Quotes

"A must-read for birthing people who want to be informed and confident in their choices. Easy and enjoyable to read, Your Birth Plan empowers you to have the best birth for you and your baby. Megan Davidson weaves together birth stories, research, and practical tips so that even the most experienced birth worker will be entertained and educated.

Your Birth Plan is not about any one "right" way to birth, but about discovering your own desires and goals by deeply considering all options and learning how to advocate for your needs." --Becky Alford, Lead Educator, Doula Trainings International

"Megan's book marks a paradigm shift in how we think about, talk about, and plan for childbirth. In this non-judgmental, easily accessible guide to navigating pregnancy and childbirth, Megan interweaves her personal narrative, years of experience as a doula, clients' stories, and concrete resources to give expectant families the tools they need to empower themselves in their birth process. Much like parenting, so much of childbirth is beyond our control. This book moves the conversation away from a focus on getting the birth that you plan and towards having a birth that you feel good about. It makes room for the broad spectrum of experiences and actively de-shames the decisions that we each inevitably make as our babies are being born. Truly, it is a work of social justice that supports women and their families and honors their feelings and experiences. As a psychotherapist and a mother of two, I would wholeheartedly recommend this much-needed resource to clients and friends alike." --Jessica Slatus, LCSW

"Megan was my doula for the birth of my son almost 9 years ago and I'll always be grateful for that! After an idyllic pregnancy, his birth was complicated and took many unexpected turns. The combination of Megan's vast knowledge, warmth, and openness made it possible for me to make myriad decisions and leave what might have been a devastating experience feeling like I had the tools to go forward in a way that was right for me. When I became pregnant with my daughter she was the first person outside my family that I called. I credit her vast knowledge and non-judgmental approach with helping me achieve the circumstances that I wanted for my second birth. I think every woman could benefit from Megan's clear-eyed, generous, evidence-based information as they navigate the emotionally fraught period of pregnancy and the exuberant expectations that accompany childbirth. This is a book I'll give to every friend who tells me she's pregnant!" --Annie Parisse, actor, Law and Order, The Following, Vinyl, Friends From College

"Your Birth Plan provides a nonjudgmental voice that guides parents to discovering their own priorities as they navigate the decisions they'll have to make in the childbearing year. Davidson strives to outline options while including diverse stories of parents actively making those choices.

Control, choice and consent are themes that appear repeatedly in Davidson's book, Your Birth Plan. Through stories and clear, nonjudgmental language parents are guided through the many decisions they'll need to make. Rather than being an inventory and checklist, Davidson reminds people to take into account their values, past medical experiences, and feelings about their bodies and empowerment when making choices. Her supportive voice is clear and consistent throughout the text.

Ironically, Your Birth Plan says very little about the piece of paper being submitted to the hospital. Instead it focuses on parent's journey of self-discovery. Who am I? What is important to me? What should I take into account in making these decisions? YBP encourages puts parents to put themselves in the center of their birth experience, rather than yielding to social or medical pressure to have their birth a particular way." --Amy L. Gilliland, DONA Approved Doula Trainer; Doula Research Fellow, UW Madison Center for Child and Family Well Being

About the Author

Megan Davidson, PhD, is a labor and postpartum doula, childbirth educator, and chest/breastfeeding counselor who supports pregnant people and their families without judgment or prescription. She is one of the most experienced doulas in the US, having attended 600 births and supported 1200 families postpartum. Megan has also published essays on the value of doula support, size bias in prenatal care, and body positive pregnancy. She lives and works in Clinton Hill, Brooklyn, NY with her husband and two kids.