Do you have to write a birth plan? I am 41weeks & 2 days.

[salsa]

I was just reading another thread and they were discussing birth plans. Do you have to write one? I haven't discussed it with my midwife. I am nine days late at present and having a few niggles today.

This is baby number three. DS is 6 and DD 5 so it was a while ago that I went through this.

[belgo]

you don't have to have a birth plan but it is sometimes useful to give an indication of whether or not you would like a water birth, epidural, or whatever.

[chocolatemummy]

dont have too, and in my experience most go out of the window anyway its important if you KNOW you defdont want certina things like epidural pethedine etc but sometimes you cant avoid it

[salsa]

Quick and pain free would be nice.

[belgo]

oh yes that's what we all what Hope it goes well for you

[salsa]

chocolatemummy, that is what happened before. I just don't want the midwife moaning at me.

[salsa]

Thanks Belgo

[susue]

A birth plan would let everyone concerned know if you wanted things like the baby putting straight on to your skin or if you didn't want the baby wiped down before you got to hold it etc. You may want to see what sex the baby is yourself when it's born instead of the midwife telling you what you've had and it also helps to have some plan as to what pain relief you would or wouldn't like. You must have been happy with your last two births though if you hadn't thought of making a plan, not that you always get what you plan for anyway,

[chocolatemummy]

if midwife moans at you, tell her to shut up, its quite simple you just want a safe, healthy, quick delivery if you want pain relief beyond gas and air say so if you don't make that clear too and make sure you give yourself plenty of time to get where every you want to be to have the baby because there is nothing more scary than labouring in the car and paniking

[salsa]

I am going to write something now.
Last two births DS - 47 hours DD - 12 hours.

I hope I have time to get the children to mums etc and get to the hospital in time. Its more to worry about the 2nd/3rd time.

[hana]

i think birth plans are more for the mother-to-be than anyone else, kind of clearing things in their head and getting it all straight. I wrote one first time around, and didn't bother 2nd or 3rd. I told the midwife exactly what I wanted or didnt (for example skin to skin right away, no bath, etc etc, avoid episiotomy and only if necessary that sort of thing)
It wasn't a problem.

[callmeovercautious]

Having gone that far over perhaps it should read - have baby sometime this year

I found it useful as I had put that I wanted Midwife led Unit and when Midwife read that they moved me and attitude changed (I was being a bit of a wimp when she first saw me and I think she assumed I would want full intervention!).

[oxocube]

I did 1st time round - ds born at home - but never used it. Once the midwife turned up, I think I forgot all about it, but because I was at home, everything was v low key anyway, with minimal intervention. Didn't bother with dc 2 or 3.

[Nemo2007]

I have never wrote a birth plan yet for all 3 dc. Dont see the point as always felt if I wrote one out the opposite would happen!!!
We knew stuff like Dh wanted to cut cord if possible, didnt get to with ds but did with dd1, I did dd2.s!!Dh wanted to say sex of baby etc.

[Mintpurple]

Salsa - you dont have to write anything, and the midwife is not going to care one way or the other

Youre probably going to spend a bit of time with her so talk to her about what you would like or dont want etc.

[amidaiwish]

i never had a birth plan for either of mine. but there are a few questions you need to have thought about in advance

1. pain relief options (e.g. for me i didn't want pethidine)
   
2. does your dh want to cut the cord?
   
3. do you want to be told the sex or do you want to find out yourself?
   
4. do you want to try bf immediately?
   
5. do you want a managed 3rd stage (injection for placenta) or not?
   
6. do you want the baby to have vitamin K injection? (not 100% sure it is vitK, but some injection they have straight away iirc)
   
   think that's it really! i just discussed these things as we went along. also do have an opinion on a caesarian - i was very much, if you think it's a good idea, let's do it! (had 2 natural births btw) but my nightmare scenario was 3 days of labour then emergency c-section.

[expatinscotland]

I never did.

I've never been a planner type.

I winged it both times.

[3andnomore]

you don't have to do one, but sometimes it can be a useful tool, to give a person that doesn't know you an idea of what your wishes are...esepcially if, when you are in labour and pain and maybe intmidated by your environment, you don't feel strong enough to talk about your wishes...