FTM Birth Plan

[Dorisday13]

My husband and I have started to jot down some ideas for a birth plan basically home water birth with minimal interventions, I'm just thinking maybe I shouldn't write one and just go with the flow..? As we're first timers. Any experiences of how medical staff took plans, or are they just expected?

You sound sensible

I imagine (but don't know so don't quote me!) that unless you are very tired and/or distressed/not coping, or baby is showing signs of distress, then there is no need to panic if things take a while.

They often do in first time labours - usually in the early stages, and at that point, you may not be attended by a MW at any rate, especially as you have a doula.

I helped a friend in labour a few years ago, and her labour was stop/start from Tuesday afternoon to Thursday evening. She was TIRED, but fine and all was well with her baby, so she stayed at home.

Once labour picked up on Thursday evening (7.30pm-ish), baby was born at 12.30am at home, in water. Mum was KNACKERED, but home was absolutely the best place for her.

Yes, your doula will help you work out when best to call the midwife. Talk your concerns about being 'on teh clock' through with her. They are very used to it and our doula (with DD2) had great suggestions.

Also, minimising internals can help with the clock pressure - if they don't know how much more you have (or haven't!) dilated it is much harder to put pressure on you of the 'if in two hours x then y' variety.

Ah I see, thanks, that's all useful to know!

Having planned a home birth first time round that didn't go to plan I would suggest 2 things... 1st that you check this out. I think it's a good idea to research the many possibilities of childbirth and decide how you feel about your options. It will soon become clear whether you have an opinion about something (in which case put it in your birth plan) or not (in which case leave it out)

secondly I would suggest looking into the possible reasons you might be 'encouraged' to transfer - for me it was that baby's heart rate was too high, ironically I eventually had to have an instrumental delivery as his heart rate was too low... I am seeing a birth councellor this week to find out if anything could have been done differently to avoid being taken in/interventions because I really didn't want them. I suspect there was an element of 'not progressing' (2 hours of pushing is all they'll 'allow' in hospital) as well as both of us being knackered due to all the directed pushing (something you might want to research - sometimes known as 'purple pushing')

I think if you do some research you'll feel more confident about' standing your ground' about things you might feel passionately about

best of luck with your labour, I hope it goes as much as planned as possible

I forgot to say I am planning a home birth for DC2. I previously thought I was silly for having a 3 page birth plan 1st time around and thought this time it would basically say "give birth" but actually I've done even more research and feel more passionately about having a 'natural' birth - my ideal situation is me in a room on my own in the dark!