Birth Plan

Writing a birth plan takes a little more than writing your thoughts down on a piece of paper, but this is a good place to start. Try to write your birth plan well in advance of your due date, as it will give you time to think about what you and your birth partner really want out of your birth experience. As you are probably aware, most babies do not come on their assigned due date - unfortunately for you, they usually come when they are ready, and so you need to be well prepared for the big event should your baby come when you least expect it.

Get Clued Up

Before you begin your birth plan, you really need to get knowledgeable on all the important aspects of late pregnancy, childbirth and after the little one arrives. We don’t mean reading every last inch of research, or even your pregnancy manual from cover to cover - there are much more fun ways to find out about the important bits that could effect you and your baby.

• Talk to other pregnant mums that have had children before, or talk to anyone who is willing about their own birth experiences, particularly if they have recently given birth where you plan to have your baby.

• Get to those antenatal classes advertised in your antenatal clinic - not only will you be guided through all the important bits by a friendly midwife eager to share her knowledge, but you will also meet other parents who will be desperate to ‘compare notes‘!

• If you plan to give birth in hospital, ring up and ask if they provide tours to expectant parents, these are usually taken by an experienced tour-guide, who will be able to answer your questions along the way.

• Most of all communicate with your birth partner/s - they will be acting as your advocate during your labour and afterwards, and you both need to be straight on what you do and do not want.

Get Friendly

Your regular midwife will be the best person to run your birth plan by, as she will be able to advise you on any aspects that are most relevant to where you give birth. Remember that your birth plan is a guide for your caregivers, and your plans could change if it means protecting the safety of you and your baby. Nothing will be done without your consent, and there is usually time for discussion on the best form of action if things do not go according to plan if an emergency should arise, or if you decide not to follow certain points of your birth plan.

Get Organised

Your birth plan need not be on posh paper or even typed up, nor should it be a huge essay. Caring for you in labour should be the most important job your midwife does on the big day, and you can be sure your wishes will be met if your midwife is given a concise birth plan that is easily read - if you have any strong wishes, it would be worthwhile highlighting them, so that your midwife is aware of your most important requirements.

• You may want to include an introduction about yourself and your birth partner/s at the beginning of your birth plan such as:

“My name is Joanne Johnson, this is my first baby and I will be accompanied by my friend Anna and my mum Julie. We hope that this birth plan will enable you to guide us through my labour and afterwards, yet we also understand that things can change, and will be happy to take your advice should the well-being of me or my baby be compromised.”

• Write about any personal cultural or religious needs next, such as any important rituals following the birth, and ensure you include special information about important dietary requirements. Be sure to include any special needs you may have.

• Once you are certain of your wishes of how you want to be cared for, organise them under headings, and write a brief explanation of each so that your midwife can easily read and absorb your plans. Think about the following topics and write down your wishes accordingly:

Who do I want to be with me? Do you want your partners to be there all the time, or would you prefer them to leave the room during vaginal examinations, or if you require an assisted delivery?

Do I mind students being present? Most hospitals and birth centres will have a programme of education in place for student midwives and doctors, who could assist in your care, closely supervised by a qualified professional - do you mind this?

How do I want my baby’s heartbeat to be monitored? If you are having a normal labour, and have had an uncomplicated pregnancy, it is better for you to have your baby’s heartbeat monitored every fifteen minutes by a handheld monitor, rather than being connected to a machine that monitors your baby continually.

What position do I want to be in for labour and birth? Do you want to be upright and moving around during labour? During the birth, what position do you want to be in - kneeling, squatting, standing up or lying on the bed?

What pain relief do I want to use? Do you want to try non-medicated forms of pain relief first, and then progress to alternative forms of medicated pain relief? Would you prefer an epidural straight away?

How do I want the delivery of my placenta to be managed? Do you want to have the injection that speeds up the delivery of the afterbirth? Would you prefer a natural third stage of labour?

How do I feel about skin-to-skin? Do you want you baby to be delivered straight onto your chest for a cuddle? Would you prefer her to be wrapped up first?

How do I want to feed my baby? Do you want to breastfeed? Do you want your breastfed baby to receive a bottle if you are unable to feed her due to an emergency?

Do I want time alone with my baby and partner before I am transferred to the postnatal ward?

Remember, keep your birth plan to one page if you can, and file it right at the front of your handheld pregnancy notes, ensuring you or your birth partner points it out to your caregivers as soon as they arrive, or when you reach the hospital.