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Deciding what kind of birth experience you want is like deciding what gender baby you hope for. You can have your hopes and dreams and do what you can to obtain it, but the outcome is unpredictable.
Like trying to plan lovemaking according to whether male or female sperm live longer, planning your birth experience requires the same acceptance that what you want may not be what you get. At the same time, being as informed as possible and making the best decisions possible you increase your chances of being satisfied with the birth of your baby.
Who you have chosen as your health care provider will be a large determining factor of how the birth of your baby goes. If you have chosen an obstetrician, your labor and delivery are likely to be managed in a more medical manner, with more interventions. You aren't likely to be able to deliver in any position that feels best and are apt to be in the traditional position of lying on your back with feet in the stirrups for the convenience of your practitioner. Many doctors are also more particular about not having food during labor in case you need an emergency cesarean and risk aspiration of food during general anesthetic.
If you have a midwife or another alternative health care provider you will have more freedom to make your own choices and most especially if you deliver at home with minimal intervention. You will probably have more freedom on your movement during labor, more options for positions during pushing and more flexibility in what you eat before your baby is born.
So with those factors in mind, think ahead about how you want your birth to be and keep in mind you may want to change providers if your ideals are in conflict with your provider's requirements of birth.
Being able to move around during labor is helpful to the birthing process. Your body will let you know what feels best and not having any restrictions on this will enable a better outcome. If your provider wishes you to remain immobile in bed during labor and delivery so they can monitor the baby with an electronic fetal monitor, consider whether they will alter their requirements or if you should choose another provider.
If you want to have no assistance with Pitocin or vacuum extraction as well as no episiotomy or IV, then tell this to your care provider and include it in your birth plan so there won't be any dispute when you do go into labor.
Be certain to let your provider know what your desires are and how any difficulties or emergencies will be handled. Even when things do not go as expected, you can have a good birth experience if you are prepared in advance. Of particular concern is the need for a cesarean. Know ahead of time what scenarios would necessitate surgical delivery and how it would be handled. More knowledge is better when going through such an important experience as childbirth.
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