Birth Plan

[Zay04]

My midwife mentioned about a birth plan the other day, and said to go something like sma website and you can find one. I have found some online, but it just seems like a bit of faff and the q's are just not relevant (don't know what I was thinking it would be). Do you really have to have one, because i've asked about and some of my friends did not have any? and if needs be could I not just jot down the most important key things?

It's not compulsory. I just jotted down my main wishes ie: would like to manage on gas and air but am open to further pain relief if needed. Would like to try to avoid epidural of possible. Want skin so skin with baby once born.

It's just to give them a general idea of who you'd like things to go. Of course it's always best to be open minded as we beer really know exactly how it's got to go.

Not really sure what to say about the fact your midwife advised you to go to the SMA website of all places

I think this is what she meant. Agree that I can't believe she told you to go a formula company's website though! www.smanutrition.co.uk/know-how/labour/writing-a-birth-plan/information-1099.aspx?catid=14

You don't need a birth plan. I am not a huge fan of them for the main reason that most women put in things that are totally standard and don't need to be mentioned in the first place (skin to skin, no episiotomy unless absolutely necessary, etc.) I think they can be useful if you have some unusual requests, or some particular issue that the people caring for you need to know about (like SPD) but otherwise you will still have a voice in labour and will be able to talk about all your preferences with your midwife :)

I didn't have one for DS1 or DS2. Think there was a space towards back of my Notes where I just wrote wanted immediate skin to skin if possible. Didn't write anything else I don't think.
I was of the mind the midwives knew best and if I objected to anything, between us DH and I would be able to make ourselves clear!

I never bothered with one. I decided to go with the flow and proceed down the painkiller options if I needed to. I didn't have any strong feelings about what I wanted to happen and relied on the medical professionals to decide what I needed. As it turned out I had an easy labour without any complications.

If you write a birth plan be prepared for the unexpected and don't be disheartened if the plan goes out of the window. And don't make it too long or complicated or it will be ignored.

Thanks ladies, have had a read through the SMA website. I just think it is better to go with the flow as its my first I have no idea what to expect. I will just make birthing patner aware of what I feel strongly enough about not having.

I am that she gave the example of the sma website to find this info... there are plenty of other, non-formula sites where you could find similar info I am sure. If this were me I would be having a word about this, totally unacceptable.

Back onto the subject of birth plans, I think you sound very sensible in what you are thinking. I didn't make a birth plan, just told my DH what was important to me so he knew. When I went into hospital the mw asked me if I had a birth plan - I said no, just that I was so keen to bf successfully and wanted to do everything I could to help that i.e. skin to skin, no pethidine etc.