Q: The birth of your baby is often one of the most joyful and life-changing experiences of your life. The prospect of childbirth can scare many women and may cause some uncertainty. Thinking about and composing a flexible birth plan can help you and your health care providers develop your natural childbirth in the hospital. Your plan should be about one page and include:  Preferences for the birth such as place and positions you’d like to use Your fears and expectations, which you can discuss with your healthcare provider Feelings about pain relief, including if and what type of pain relief you will accept Expectations on fetal monitoring, including what type of fetal monitoring is and isn’t acceptable to you Opinion on episiotomy, including if you will accept it and under what conditions Hydration techniques such as IV, sips of water, or ice chips Clothes you want to wear Media such as music or videos you want to watch as a distraction People you want present Ideally, you want your birth to progress naturally without any problems, but there are sometimes unexpected situations that may require medical intervention to safely deliver your baby and protect your health. Make sure to include your plans for complications. You might want to include:  Special wishes if you need a cesarean section Wishes if your baby is breech Feelings about forceps or vacuum-assisted delivery Position on accepting an IV if you are dehydrated or antibiotic IVs if the doctor discovers infection in your amniotic fluid Most healthcare providers will try to support a woman who wants to have a natural birth, even in a hospital; however, some may have concerns about certain aspects of your birth plan or be unable to accommodate the natural birth in a hospital. Talk to your doctor and any other healthcare providers such as doulas and midwives about your plan, which can help you formulate a more realistic plan or make alternative plans if necessary.  Share your birth plan with your healthcare providers and express your desire to have a natural birth in a hospital if possible. Discuss any concerns you may have. Ask for suggestions on your plan and discuss your options so that everyone involved has a clear and realistic idea for your natural birth in the hospital. Find a healthy balance of keeping your plan and respecting your doctor or healthcare provider’s expertise. Consider using a midwife or doula during delivery. Studies have shown that constant support from a trained and experienced woman can make for a easier and more natural delivery. Your doctor may be able to suggest a registered nurse, midwife, or doula with whom she works. If you’ve discussed or chosen a healthcare professional based on their support for your natural delivery, ask them at which hospitals they allowed to attend deliveries. This ensures that your providers can attend the birth and navigate interactions with other hospital staff while accommodating your wishes as much as possible.  Ask your doctor to suggest hospitals that offer birth centers or a natural setting and in which your doctor and any other healthcare providers are allowed to practice. Visit different facilities to see what resources they offer.  Look for tubs or jacuzzi tubs and birthing balls. Ask whether women are allowed to walk around during labor and what their policy is on being allowed to eat while in labor. Make notes on each so that you can remember while making your final decision on where to deliver. Let the hospital know about the birth plan you’ve written and see how they can accommodate you. Ask the staff at each facility questions about their resources and policies. For instance, you may be interested in doing a water birth, but this may not be allowed or accommodated at your delivery hospital. Make sure you ask the staff about water birth or any other methods you may be interested in. Once you’ve had a chance to tour a few different hospitals, make a final decision on where you’d like to deliver your baby. Consult your notes from the tours, your feelings, and any advice your doctor may have given you. Some of the factors you may want to consider are:  The atmosphere. Did it make you feel relaxed, warm, and comfortable? The option to return home shortly after the birth The staff. Are there obstetricians, nurse-midwives, doulas, or direct-entry midwives available? The hospital’s construction. Is there a birth center and are the rooms set up to be as comfortable as your home? The resources. Are facilities available if you decide you want pain medication or there is an emergency? You may want to change your birth plan after you’ve chosen a hospital and as you get closer to delivery. This can help ensure that you take advantage of any resources your hospital offers and may prevent unexpected surprises.  Attend any prenatal or childbirth education programs your hospital offers.  Consider using bathtubs or trying natural birth methods such as Bradley, Lamaze, water delivery (if allowed), or the Alexander Technique.
A: Write a birth plan. Include contingencies for complications to make your wishes clear. Consult with your healthcare providers to discuss your plans. Tour potential hospitals to choose where you want to give birth. Decide on your birth facility. Revise your birth plan if you want to make changes.

Q: Avoid melting or damaging your work surface with the heat from the iron by placing the sandwich onto a baking sheet. Put 1-2 pot holders underneath the baking sheet to keep it from slipping if needed. Instead of a baking sheet, use a heat-resistant cutting board. These are typically made out of stone or wood and can be purchased in the kitchen section of your local department store or online with major retailers. Make sure to place the hot iron back onto a heat-resistant surface to avoid damaging your work surface. Allow the iron to cool off completely before storing it. Be careful as you unwrap the sandwich, as the steam trapped within the foil will be hot. Place your grilled cheese sandwich onto a serving plate, and enjoy!  Use your butter knife to cut the sandwich in half to make it easier to eat. Repeat the cooking process as needed for any additional sandwiches. As long as the foil does not have any holes in it, reuse the same piece of foil to make multiple sandwiches.
A:
Set the wrapped sandwich onto a baking sheet to protect your work surface. Remove the iron and turn it off when your sandwich is finished cooking. Let the sandwich rest for 1-2 minutes before unwrapping and serving it.