Birth plans

[KLBROMLEY]

Hallo

Im 26 weeks pregnant with twins and wondering whether I should be writing a birth plan. I did for the birth of my son but not sure if its the same thing with twins?! Also, any tips on what to include?!

Thank you

Kathy

I wouldn't bother. With my triplets, I just went with the flow.

Well I would say definitely yes, but I think it depends on your attitude to the birth and the kind of person you are. I did, and hadn't done one for my previous births (at home, which is telling about me and my attitude to births).

If you want to do one, do one for all the different possible scenarios. I think I had one for t1 (natural birth), one for t2 (natural birth), and then another for a CS scenario. I think I also had a plan for if they were premature and needed to go to SCBU.

I talked them through with the consultant (I had a senior midwife with me for support) and got them signed off.

If you decide to do one, you could use some by Karen Gromada (google her, she has a website), as your base. They provoke you to think through all the different angles and choices, even though they are from a US perspective.

I would, if only to get yourself prepared for all possible scenarios and discover the hospital's policies re twin birth. 'double trouble' By Emma Maloney has some good advice on birth plans. I used hers as a template and adapted it to suit me. I ended up with forceps delivery and emergency c but was much happier with the outcome as having researched it all so much I was able to discuss every decision with the consulltant as it came up. Not the natural birth I'd hoped for but beautiful and relatively calm all the same.