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Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

Birth Plans..........

15 replies

Natzer · 08/03/2011 20:24

Hey ladies Smile

I am 34+1 and would like to start writing my birth plan as I am trying really hard to be organised so that when I leave work on Friday I really can sit back and relax.

I wanted to know if there is a set format for birth plans, will I get given a form by the midwife at any point, will the NCT lady give me a form, Confused or do I just get it written with bullet points making it clear concise and not too wordy.

Please help......

Thanks in advance x

OP posts:
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Hadria · 08/03/2011 20:26

Just do it however you want to. Just make the key ponts clear so its easy for the midwife to scan if in a rush, you never know how quick that baby will arrive Grin

notnowbernard · 08/03/2011 20:27

I've never done one

I don't know anyone who has, tbh

But if you are writing one I reckon bullet points would do

ecuse · 08/03/2011 20:28

I've written mine in a table with headings in the left column "induction", "pain relief", "vitamin k" etc and a line or two in the right column about what I want. Anything particularly important is in bold (e.g. "I am hoping not to have an epidural but am not ruling one out"). Showed it to the midwife today and she liked it, said it was v. clear. I reckon the key thing is not to go over 1 page otherwise they won't read it.

specialmagiclady · 08/03/2011 20:28

Agreed - and be prepared to throw it out of the window if things change. Your birth will not be as you plan it, but you have no way of knowing how it will be different.

Why don't they call it a "birth preference list" or something. So much more realistic.

pozzled · 08/03/2011 20:32

"just get it written with bullet points making it clear concise and not too wordy."

Yes, just do it like this. I wrote one for DD1 and the mws did look at it and discussed things with me. I do think it's worth putting down a few things that are important to you.

Make sure you share and discuss it fully with your birth partner, so if the mws don't look at it your partner is confident to support you.

del1 · 08/03/2011 20:36

I didnt write a birth plan, all I knew was that I wanted my partner to cut the cord, and tell me the sex of the baby.
I did however, spend days making a play list on my ipod.
saved all the harry Hill TV burp episodes to watch during early labour.
Bought loads of nice smelly candles to have around the bath.
But .......... I didnt get time to do any of that, as soon as I got out of bed, I started getting bad cramps.
Didnt even have time to finish my bacon butty, as I went to hospital and started pushing. No time for any pain releif or anything, as the baby was born within the hour!!!

For my second, I wanted my partner to do the same with the baby, but I planned to try some gas and air, just to take the edge of the late stage contractions.
But ....I didnt get time again!! This time I just made it to a observation room, and the baby was born within 10/15 minutes.

I am pregnant with number 3, and I have decided that I will have not expectations, I will just go with the flow.
Because I've leart from my personal experience, that a plan was a waste of time for me!!
I did feel a bit cheated out of the relaxing, waiting stage that most people get before contractions start.

I think you're midwife should explain how to 'present' your plan to the hospital?
But just bare in mind, you might not get what you want?

Eglu · 08/03/2011 20:39

I didn't write one with DS1, but made sure DH knew what I felt strongly about.

With DS2 I was having a home birth and I had about 4 bullet points of things that were really important to me. Mws were happy enough with that.

notnowbernard · 08/03/2011 20:42

My rationale for not having one was that you just can't plan a labour

I didn't want to get disappointed by things that may or may not have tallied with the plan, IYSWIM

loopy11 · 08/03/2011 20:45

There are some headings in your pregnancy notes which I found really useful when writing mine. Showed it to the mid-wife and she was happy with it.

edeluna · 08/03/2011 21:15

I wrote mine a few weeks ago and MW seemed fine with it. I focused on the important stuff (not music and lighting), with headings such as:

"Birth Partner" - With my husband's name/details and making it clear to defer with him if I'm unable to communicate my wishes for any reason.

"Medical Conditions" - A short summary of any health issues that are particularly relevant to my pregnancy. Thought this would be good in case things happen very quickly -- MW can see important things at a glance.

"Pre-Labour" - My preferences regarding how to handle delayed labour, induction, etc

"Labour" - Summary of preferred labour experience (active, water, etc); also clarified my position on having students present.

"Pain Relief" - Summary of options I prefer.

"Delivery & Initial Baby Care" ? Addressed preferences regarding c-section, skin-to-skin contact, vit K, meds, breastfeeding, etc.

"Dietary Requirements" - I'm vegetarian, so wanted this to be clear.

"Important phone numbers" - Mostly for my own reference (family, friends, taxi services)

I also made it clear that these were preferences but that I am willing to be flexible if, for example, an emergency situation were to arise or I decide I really need/want an epidural.

Hopefully, the birth plan will give the attending MW a good understanding of my general approach and we can take it from there, adapting to the reality of labour as required. :)

Natzer · 08/03/2011 21:16

Lovely, thanks for your help. I think I kind of expected some kind of tick sheet or something.

I know that labour never goes as planned, it was more things like skin to skin contact straight after birth, DH letting me know the sex etc etc. And will keep it short! lol

Will get my thinking hat on, thanks for your help Grin

OP posts:
BlueRuby · 08/03/2011 23:35

Here is a good one you can fill out on line then just print it off birth plan

DitaVonCheese · 09/03/2011 00:07

You've just inspired me to dig out mine from last time round Grin I think I copied most of it from the hypnobirthing course I'd just done, so it sounds a bit worthy and mad Blush and might not be completely relevant to you.

Nobody actually read it - I barked highlights of it at the MW when we arrived at hospital, inbetween demanding an epidural Grin (which I didn't have) - but I do think it's worth doing just so that you have a proper think about all the options and your preferences.

Incidentally, the only bit the MW really balked at was the physiological third stage bit - she said it would take at least an hour to deliver the placenta without the injection, so we compromised on me having the injection if it became necessary. In fact, the placenta was delivered within 12 minutes, with one push. Pshaw.

Anyway, here was my plan - feel free to plagiarise or, more likely, completely disregard it Grin:

"Birth Plan/Preferences: DVC

I understand that my birth plan is only an expression of my wishes in an ideal situation and am happy to follow guidance given by medical staff should intervention become clinically necessary to ensure the wellbeing of myself and my baby. Should intervention not be clinically necessary, we are planning a HypnoBirthing birth based on having as natural and relaxing a birth as possible using breathing and relaxation techniques and would be very grateful if the midwives could support us in having the most natural birth possible.

My birthing companion is my husband, MrVonCheese. I would like him to be present as long as he is comfortable to be.

I do not want to be induced unless clinically necessary. In the event of labour being slow to start or stalling, we would like the opportunity to use natural methods to stimulate labour, unless medical intervention is required.

I would like to labour at home for as long as possible and would prefer to give birth at home if possible. I would be grateful if the midwives who attend were supportive of home births and hypnobirthing techniques.

My preferred method of pain relief is breathing and relaxation techniques including self-hypnosis. I would like the birth to be as natural and drug-free as possible, with a birthing pool, tens machine and gas and air to be used as and when necessary. I am open to other methods of pain relief being used but would prefer that we ask for these rather than having them offered. I understand that options for pain relief are limited at a home birth.

I would like to remain free to move about as much as possible during labour to find most comfortable positions as long as the midwife is happy with this, with monitoring only if required. I would like to labour in water, with the possibility of giving birth in the pool.

I would like my baby to be delivered straight onto my tummy for immediate skin-to-skin contact. I am hoping to breastfeed immediately after the birth. I would like my husband and I to be able to hold our baby for at least half an hour after birth.

I would prefer a physiological third stage of labour. I would like the cord to finish pulsating before being cut. My husband would like the option of cutting the cord. I would like the placenta to be delivered naturally unless an injection is clinically required. I wish to breastfeed immediately after birth in order to assist with placental delivery.

We would like vitamin K to be administered to the baby orally if the birth has been normal and free from intervention. If the birth has involved intervention or been traumatic, we will follow medical advice on whether vitamin K by injection is more appropriate.

If a C-section is required, I would like to remain awake with my husband attending. My husband will hold the baby after C-section delivery and initiate bonding between the three of us."

(Having re-read it, I am now sniggering at the look on DH's face when he was actually given the option of cutting the cord Grin)

DitaVonCheese · 09/03/2011 00:08

PS Forgot to say that in my maternity notes there is a checklist thingy - might be worth checking whether there is one in yours?

Bedtime now Blush

Joolyjoolyjoo · 09/03/2011 00:15

My notes had a checklist too. I wrote a slightly tongue-in-cheek one (eg. "who do you want to attend the birth as your birthing partner?"-I said DH, but if he wasn't available, George Clooney)

It was tongue in cheek because I realised that not everything will go to plan, but it worked in my favour because all the midwives knew me as "the girl with the funny birth plan", which meant when I went into labour, I was never short of attendants- they all wanted to see if George had turned up Grin

It's good to have a plan, but keep a sense of humour about it and accept that things can change. In my second birth plan I noted that they might find me a far nicer person after G+A, which meant I got it when I became cranky!

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