Birth plans - worth it?

[whatsoever]

I have been chatting about birth plans with DH and we are both a bit skeptical about them but I wanted to gauge the opinions of those of you who have actually written them or thought about it and decided not to.

Did you write a birth plan? Was it worth it? Did midwives/doctors etc have the time or take the time to read it and try and follow it?

FWIW mine wouldn't be terribly specific if I do write one - would like to manage on gas and air as long as possible and keep moving - don't want to be flat on my back as I think I might go mental. But if things go wrong or I scream like a banshee they can do what they like to get junior out/knock me out!

I am only 10+5 so have lots of time to think about it and really welcome your opinions.

There was a form with various questions on in my maternity notes and that was my 'birth plan'. All I remember about it was that I said I would like to try with gas and air for as long as possible, and I didn't want pethidine as a friend who'd had a baby recently found it very unpleasant. Can't do any harm doing one as long as you know it'll probably all go very differently in the end.

I think one of the great (if not the main) benefit of birth plans isn't actually trying to follow it on the day. It's the preparation beforehand - considering the things that might go wrong and what you would like to have happen, or the choices you can make. So when something happens you'd rather didn't, you already know what it means and you don't have to think hard about a decision whilst screaming in agony as you've already thought it through and learned the consequences of whatever you choose (or decline). You'll feel a lot more empowered and probably have fewer regrets too.

I see them as a structured way to "revise" for the "exam" of birth!

Agree with Sparklies

Writing your birth plan makes you think about these things. Especially the 'if things go wrong' parts. And it also gives your partner a clear indication of how you would like things done (just make sure he realises it isn't set in stone!)

For example ventouse vs forceps, pethidine yes or no (when you're in pain you might just take whatever they offer!)

In my first labour they read the birth plan. I said in it that I was happy for midwifery students to observe but not medical students. When 3 boys came knocking wanting to watch (they looked so young!) the midwife said 'it said on your birth pan that you don't want medical students so should I say no?'

I was relieved because it meant she had read it!

Second birth was so quick they only saw it afterwards!

I've never written one when I had my daughter - as it was simply "Number of babies I have delivered - zero - number of babies you have delivered - considerably more than zero - just help me to get it out as safely as possible". No regrets.

This time I'm having an ELCS and have discussed everything in detail when it was booked, so don't see a reason to write a plan.

I didn't bother with one. I had all the ideas in my head about what would happen (water birth, gas and air, definitely no pethidine) but figured I'd play it by ear when it happened. And then it turned out gas and air didn't work for me at all and I couldn't get comfy in the pool so I ended up in the delivery room begging the mw for pethidine (not half as scary as NCT classes would have you believe, in the end - I loved it and would have it again!) Then DS presented with shoulder dystocia so my fond visions of just me, DH, my Mum and one midwife there to bring him into the world evaporated as I had a roomful of people holding my legs over my head to help get him out. And you know what? I don't care - I had a healthy baby and we were both fine and that's all that matters. I think most of what goes into a birth plan is standard practice in labour wards - they routinely start you off on just gas and air to see how you go before they offer you the harder stuff (and if you want an epidural you can just ask for one, you don't have to have it written down in advance). They will consult with you before they do anything, and they routinely do skin to skin, encourage you to keep moving etc. If it helps you to write one, do it - but don't think you'll have an inferior labour if you don't!

I agree. It's excellent preparation. You can learn so much that it will inform you as to what you want to do for both good and not so ideal outcomes on the day.
My first birth plan was very short, it was 5 short bullet points in caps printed and attached to the notes on the front page. I gave birth in hospital and they did not read the 5 points instead I kept having to yelp "reminders" in between feeling awful. My second birth (last week) was wonderful. I did a page of bullet points on one side for what would be preferences if all is well, on the reverse I did short bullet points in case birth became less than ideal, then I laminated it into one sheet and fixed it to the front of my notes. The midwives read it fully and respected all the preferences. Don't worry if you've put a preference which on the day you decide to change your mind on, each birth is different. I had the most wonderful relaxed homebirth (ok still painful but was able to face it and get on with the work of birthing due to my surroundings). Feeling prepared with an idea of the various procedures, policies and most importantly how your body knows how to birth, what to do if it needs help.
Hope all that makes sense and helps, forgive me if it doesn't my brain is addled with newborn induced lack of sleep.....

Yes, I think you have to start with the best case scenario.

It helps your birthing partner.

Your midwife will read it. She's not a mind reader so it gives her an indication of your expectations.

It helps you work through things in your own head.

But don't be disappointed if you stray from it.

There's nothing to lose by doing one.

Good luck.

Agree with others - worth doing, at least in a big part because it means you and your DH will have thought through the various choices you have before the day itself (eg active vs physiological third stage, pain relief options etc etc). And even a brief birth plan is useful to a midwife (eg she'll knows that you don't have very strong options about things).

My midwife definitely read mine (which was fairly brief).

Haha! Well, I'm sure they are useful for some people. Mine was pointless! I suspected as much before writing it but the MW insisted on one. I don't think we stuck to a single point on it

One side of A4 - bullet points

I had it like this

Birth partner His name is XXX

Pain relief I would prefer to se G&A and would like to etc ec

so if they scanned it quickly the key points were highlighted

Also mentioned that I was a vegetarian in cases they wanted to give me a ham sandwich instead of tea & toast after

(On that point, isn't the tea and toast you get after the birth the best you've ever tasted!!)

The midwives I have seen at my 34/36/38 week checks have all asked about birth plan and looked over it carefully, so I think you will be encouraged to do one. As all the other posters have said, it seems to have multiple uses for you, birth partners, midwives etc, and it's really only a few bullet points - you don't have to write a massive booklet covering all eventualities at all.

I didn't with 1 and 2 but will be doing with this one, as my last one was an EMCS and I am trying for a VBAC so there are a couple of things I want in my plan.

Thanks for all the advice. Sounds like I have nothing to lose by writing something brief and making sure DH and I are singing from the same hymn sheet at least

As someone whose birth plan went completely out the window (I had an EMCS - DD only found to be breech when I went to hospital in labour) I would also make sure you consider what you would like to happen in that instance. For example, on my birth plan I had stated that if I was to have an EMCS I would want my husband to attend with me, and for him to reveal the baby's sex. I don't know if they even read it, but because I had thought about it in advance, I piped up saying "Can he tell me the sex?". So I'm glad we still got what we wanted there.

I wrote a very detailed one, all the staff had clearly read it once I got past triage and it was followed to the letter.

It did make us consider the worst case and what our preferences were so worth doing purely for that aspect.

I would def do a very short one (bullet points.) There is a sheet at the back of your hospital notes in the first section. Consider things like - who will cut the cord, do you want your baby to have the Vitamin K injection. However I don't think the midwives read mine because they kept asking me questions. I was in so much pain and just wanted to shout 'JUST READ MY BLOODY BIRTHPLAN!' x

Mine was bullet points, starting with details of my allergies and SPD etc, included a line of 'Things I really don't care about' and as advised 'hope to avoid stitches but if really necessary I want them done by an expert!', which led to my ending up with apparently the neatest stitches any doc or MW had ever seen, and recovered really rapidly.

Dead handy for making me think about stuff, and for staff to see while their boss was reading my notes so they had some idea.