Birth Plan??

[Michellebrookeandbump]

Hi I'm new to this site.. My name is Michelle i have a beautiful little girl Brooke who is 18 months and a baby girl on the way, due October.
Anyway - i am looking for a little advise on my birth plan i did one for brooke which i was really happy with but i cant find it this time round and could do with a litle help as what to put in it.. if anyone could help that would be great xxx

[Wedgie]

Hi Michelle, I remember there was a whole page to fill in in my pregnancy notes, is there nothing in yours to give you some guidance?

Mine included pain relief, positions for labour, who you wanted to tell you the sex of the baby, and I remember writing in there 'do NOT show me the placenta'!!. I'm sorry, there was loads of different sections but I can't remember the other ones. Oh, and did you want your baby to be handed to you immediately or a quick clean up first.

[Michellebrookeandbump]

See i thought that last time but there isnt one in there this time thanks though

[scratchet]

Hi Michelle, congratulations! Just a few idea's for your birth plan:-

Who will be with you?
What support methods can they use?
Where to labour/give birth?
Pain relief?
Positions in labour/birth?
Thoughts on episiotomy? (not routine in england)
Monitoring the baby's heart rate?
Skin to skin?
Method of feeding?
Active management or physiological 3rd stage?
Vitamin K for baby?

What i would do is look at the options available to yourself and research the literature surrounding each choice. This will help you to make an informed decision. I would also be prepared to deviate from the birth plan if required x

[Michellebrookeandbump]

i deviated away from it last time but it was nice to have it there.. as a comfort more than anything that someone knew what i wanted right down to pain relief
In fact they probably didnt even get to look at it - i stayed at home a little longer than your meant to i think and i was ready to push before i got to the hospital!
lol thanks for this though lots of help x

[Gromit78]

I have recently written mine. I explained the three major things that concern me about labour and how I intend to deal with these issues and what help I may need to deal with these issues.

I have mentioned the order of pain relief I want to receive and what I would like after the birth.

My MW said at our antenatal class it is not worth mentioning which preference you want for an assisted delivery eg ventrose over forcepts, because at that stage the docs will use whichever device will be the safest to use to bring your baby into the world. The same goes for episiotomy, the docs will do whatever they must to keep you and the baby safe.

[GinaFordAteMyBaby]

Hi Gromit

Of course you need to be prepared to deviate from your plan if there is some kind of problem, but there are good reasons for having a birth plan and setting out what you would ideally like. My midwife wanted to give me an epistiotomy last time, I didn't think there was a need, didn't have one and didn't tear. There are also things like the third stage to consider and if, for example, you wanted a physiological third stage but didn't request this then I doubt very much that you would have a chance to discuss this while you were in labour or that it would be offered but they would just proceed with what is routine.

Your midwife can make out that you have no choice but they do need your informed consent to carry out any procedure.

I found the birth plan in my notes was really geared towards the hospital's way of doing things and in some areas seemed to direct you a certain way. I found some really good examles of plans online, but I'm at work at the moment and don't have the link - will post tonight.

[GinaFordAteMyBaby]

Sorry - I read these messages in the wrong order. Anyway, will post the link tonight and maybe there will be something in there you can use Michelle.

[GinaFordAteMyBaby]

Here you go - I think it might have been here. Geared towards homebirth, but still might be something in there that you find helpful or give you things to think about.