Being black and pregnant can be scary considering the amount of black women dying at higher rates. However, you can still exercise what you can control and put a birth plan in place.

First, what is a birth plan? A birth plan is a plan a mother sets in place for her healthcare providers to honor under normal circumstances when it comes time to deliver her baby. Even if you are planning to have a C-section, you can still have a plan of action in place.  Your birth plan can include how you'd like to deliver, what meds you do or don't want and your skin-to-skin preference.

"Birth plans are so important for black birthing parents because it creates an outline of every desired outcome they have, allowing midwives, doulas, nurses, obstetricians, and other birth support persons to be on the same page. It allows birthing parents to hold institutions accountable for individual needs while making space for when things have to change. Birth workers are better able to serve people in the birthing process when they know what they need and want. It is a safety net," says Keidera Monet who is a doula, sex educator, and reproductive justice worker who focuses on supporting black and queer folks through birth or other reproductive needs.

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When you first find out that you are pregnant, we all have a moment where we fantasize about how our birth process will be. Sometimes, through no fault of our own, we don't experience the perfect birth and with the high maternal mortality rate among black women and birth plans seem out of reach.

When I found out I was pregnant, I had so many concerns and trust issues with medical professionals. Before going to my first doctor's appointment, I researched my doctor thoroughly and walked in with a lot of questions. My doctor surprised me by offering me a midwife who took the time out to examine me and answer all the questions I had because I was a first-time mom. My midwife was the one who encouraged that I breastfeed and gave me reading materials on the early signs of preeclampsia. When I wasn't talking to my midwife I was talking to birthing doulas who offered me advice on how to navigate as a black pregnant patient with doctors. They told me how to talk to doctors and gave me information on what is and isn't normal regarding my symptoms and my growing baby. Even though I had a C-section, the birthing plan I had in place still went smoothly.

SELF has created a series called Black Maternal Mortality, which are articles that showcase the epidemic of black women dying during and shortly after giving birth. Their latest article discusses birthing plans and it made me realize how many black mothers, myself included were so ill-prepared on how much agency we have when it comes to our bodies especially while we are pregnant. Even with all the preparation in the world, the problem of black mothers dying is still out of our hands and it's up to the health care institutions to remedy.

“People don’t generally learn about their health in school or anywhere else. Trying to go from zero health literacy to everything you need to know about pregnancy is a big lift. Part of the point of a prenatal visit is for us to talk with you about what you should be expecting, from, ‘You might see some spotting—here’s how much is normal and what to do,’ all the way to, ‘These are the signs of labor.’ But I actually suggest seeking out group prenatal care if possible. When you’re just with me, I’m only talking to you for 15 or 20 minutes. In a group, you have a cohort of people who are doing the same thing, so you can have a more robust conversation. Instead of me giving you some directives and maybe a sheet of paper with some signs and symptoms, it becomes a bigger conversation, which I think is better for absorbing the information.” —Joia Crear-Perry, M.D., fellow of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, founder and president of the National Birth Equity Collaborative told SELF.

What can black mothers do? What is in our control? We can control who we go to for services and we can build our emotional, physical and emotional support system to help us through our journey. We can interview doctors and find services that will accommodate our needs. Don't be afraid to speak up for you and your baby.

Contact a doula.

"I believe black women should come armed with a plan. We need to make our expectations clear from the beginning. Those plans turn into researchable topics for us to dive in and go over. It turns into knowledge. Make a plan and research everything in that plan and all alternatives," says Diamond Hill, co-founder of Mammissi Birth Services who is a certified doula trainer, advanced holistic doula and birth worker.

I truly believe a critical part of my successful pregnancy journey was due to having access to doulas and lactation nurses who built my confidence to advocate for myself when it came to dealing with doctors. I was able to ask questions I wanted to ask my doctor without feeling like I was being dismissed. I was able to ask questions comfortably and they were able to help me understand what was happening to my body and what I should expect. They also help me put into context what I should be asking my doctor.

"In the US, Black birthing women are dying at an alarming rate, about 3 to 4 times higher than white women, which is higher than any other race. Having a doula as a black woman can make a huge difference in the overall outcome of their birth. Doulas hold space for you, help to support and guide you throughout your pregnancy and entire birthing period, and help you to navigate a system that is otherwise known for its racial disparities and cultural biases. A doula can help you come up with a birthing plan - what you're wanting your birthing experience to be like - but also allowing you to go into your birth well informed and armed with knowledge. That's incredibly important," says Kendra Dufour, Birth and Postpartum Doula, Certified Lactation Counselor (CLC) and founder of Inner Wisdom Doula Services.

I was able to have skin-to-skin after the surgery and my doctor and nurses supported my decision to exclusively breastfeed. They even scheduled lactation nurses during and post-pregnancy. However, I know my birthing experience isn't typical of black mothers, which is unfortunately sad. Even with a birth plan in place, things can happen but it is better to be prepared than to not have a plan at all. Think of your birth plan as a wish list for your doctor. I continued to let my doctor know exactly what I wanted and had them add my request to my medical notes. I talked about my birth plan with my family and to partner. I made sure that everyone understood what my birth plan was and my doctor ensured he will do everything he can to honor my birth plan.

Don't forget to follow-up with your post-partum checkups. If you have a successful birth it's important to keep a close eye on your health after birth, too. Don't just see your doctor once after you give birth, see them again the following year. Black women are prone to fibroids and a lot of fibroids become apparent when a woman is pregnant. Fibroids post-partum can be an issue as well so it's important to stay on top of your reproductive health. So make that birth plan and make sure everyone around you honors it to the best of their abilities.

NEXT: Heartbreaking Study Finds African American Babies Are More Likely To Be Stillborn