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Pregnancy

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

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Original poster

Do you not make a birth plan when you are pregnant with your second?

35 replies

Maydream · 01/02/2016 20:03

Currently 31 weeks pregnant with my second baby and nobody has mentioned anything about a birth plan. Last time around, I was 27/28 weeks when I filled the forms in.

Obviously, I know that things don't always go the way you want them to, and I didn't go into too much detail last time (mainly just put see at the time for most things) around as I'm aware that there are a lot of things that can change.

However, last time I ended up having a water birth. This was purely coincidental, as the pool room was the only room available at the time. I was sceptical at first, but I loved the experience and it definitely helped with the pain.

Ideally, I would like to specify that I would like a water birth this time around if it is possible to do so. How would I go about this if it turns out that I don't end up making a birth plan?

Thanks

OP posts:

Sleepingbunnies · 01/02/2016 20:07

I didn't because I realised how stupid I was with the first :)
The only thing I did was write all over my notes NO PETHIDINE just to make sure it couldn't possibly be overlooked.

You normally don't make your birth plan with your midwife until 36 weeks? I know mine asked me last week if I had written it and I just laughed :)

Bejeena · 01/02/2016 20:10

I didn't do one first time so no chance, I really don't see how it would have helped either

AbbeyRoadCrossing · 01/02/2016 20:12

I didn't do one the first time as never made it to the 36 week appointment, and it wouldn't have made a difference as EMCS. Made a very realistic one at the 36 week appointment the second time. I think it's usually at that appointment because then they have most of the facts e.g. breech

mrschatty · 01/02/2016 20:14

I never did one with my (only) dd. My mw said in could do it if I liked and went into labour at 38w having not done it as I was very much thinking let's see what happens.
Mw in labour room just asked me the relevant questions- what pain relief? Are you giving vit k to baby? Injection for placenta? I wouldn't bother next time either Tbh. Congratulations on baby!!

Junosmum · 01/02/2016 20:21

You can make one if you like. I didn't bother with my first, partially because I ran out of time but also partially because I know they aren't worth the paper they are written on!

ZenNudist · 01/02/2016 20:21

I did a 2 sides of a4 with dc1 (my community midwife read it but as I nearly had ds1 at home then it was unnecessary on the big day).

I did 8 lines note on my phone with dc2.

It was more just to remind me of the things I wanted to mention to the midwife when she visited me to organise my home birth.

Mrscog · 01/02/2016 20:24

I had one in my head which was 'use pool' as I really fancied it. As it happened I got to hospital in transition after just 2 hours of established labour and there wasn't even time to get to a proper delivery room and I nearly didn't get my trousers off let alone fill a pool!

So although not all 2nd births are quicker, whatever you want bear in mind it could be way way quicker.

PunkrockerGirl · 01/02/2016 20:28

Didn't do one the first time. No way will I set myself up to fail.

Original poster

Maydream · 01/02/2016 20:30

I know most aren't worth the paper they're written on, it's more specifying that I'd like to use the pool room I'm bothered about. It was soooo much easier to manage the pain.

Everything else, I'm not fussed about. Whatever happens, happens.

OP posts:

Original poster

Maydream · 01/02/2016 20:31

Obviously I'm aware it might not be possible anyway, but if I can, then I'd like to.

OP posts:

goodnightdarthvader1 · 01/02/2016 20:43

If you call it Birth Preferences, there's no harm whatsoever in outlining the type of birth you'd like to have.

Lj8893 · 01/02/2016 20:48

You could just say you would like to use the pool when you get onto the unit?

LittleGreyCatwithapinkcollar · 01/02/2016 20:49

Mine was 4 bullet points on a post it I stuck on my notes. My midwife never mentioned it though, so don't know if/when it was 'meant' to be done!

drasticfantastic · 01/02/2016 20:50

My notes have a blank page designated for writing down birth preferences. I put a few things down v recently (37 wks) eg no pethidine, I plan to breastfeed, I want skin to skin immediately after birth. If you have the same in yours if write down that you'd ideally like to use the pool if poss.

That said, with my first I didn't get round to writing anything and all went fine.

BananaPie · 01/02/2016 20:51

I didn't do one for either of mine. The midwife just said to ask for the pool on arrival if i wanted it - it's pretty much first come first served I think.

Original poster

Maydream · 01/02/2016 20:53

Lj- this would be the logical thing to do, but last time around, I was told you had to specify beforehand if you'd like a waterbirth and let the unit know beforehand. The only reason I was in the room last time was because they were full and it was the last room available.

That being said, things might have changed. I'll mention it to the midwife at my next appointment and see whether she could mention it in my notes

OP posts:

Missingcaffeine · 01/02/2016 20:54

If you want to use the pool, I'd recommend calling your proposed place of birth when labour starts to let them know you'd really like a water birth - especially if there is a shortage of pools, as if they're not too busy they can try to keep a room with a pool available for you. Then call again when you're on your way in to let them know the same. I wrote a birth plan with my first (did it independently as my pre-natal midwife wasn't interested) and I'm glad I did it. I was so focused on the contractions when I arrived, I was struggling to chat about things and it was nice knowing my midwife knew what I wanted. I clipped it to the front of my notes so it was the first thing she saw. She started running the pool the moment I arrived etc. I will be doing the same again this time.

Lj8893 · 01/02/2016 20:56

How bizarre.

A midwife wouldn't look at your birth plan (and therefore take note of your pool preference) till you arrived on the unit anyway so that doesn't make sense.

Maybe when you phone the unit and they say to come in you could tell them then. I'm assuming they need to know so they can fill the pool.

JassyRadlett · 01/02/2016 20:58

There was space in my notes for mine - the main bit for me was writing 'I do not consent to the use of forceps without the written consent of me or my husband at the time, and under no circumstances do I consent to the use of Kiellands forceps'. In really big writing.

Think we discussed it at the 32 week appointment. After not feeling listened to at all with DS1, I was more forthright with DS2's.

Lj8893 · 01/02/2016 21:02

Generally a birth plan would be discussed at the 36 week appointment but it really depends on the midwife, some may not mention it at all. Unless prompted.

I think they are a brilliant tool for things that may be "not the norm" or explicit things like the use of forceps like a pp said.
They are also good for your midwife to refer to if you are swept away concentrating on your labour, so they don't have to disturb you.

But it's probably better to mention things like using the pool rather than relying on the midwife reading it in your birth plan when you get on the unit. By the time she's read it, it may be too late to get you there or it may be in use.

ICJump · 01/02/2016 21:07

I did. Mine was much more detailed second time round but less went to the midwife. So my "support team" new what I wanted in everything from a standard birth to a ga c section followed by maternal coma.

It was good I did that as at 42 weeks I had an induction and it meant we'd talked through all that.

I had an amazing joyous empowering induction and a lot of that was down to my confidence in myself and my family.

Tfoot75 · 01/02/2016 21:18

I did one at 36 weeks using nhs template, not much you can dictate ahead by way of pain relief, true, but I still had my preferences on vit k, delayed cord clamping and managed 3rd stage on mine which were followed to the letter without me needing to be questioned at a time when I had more important things on my mind. So I'm definitely an advocate!

Wrote it for 36 week appointment, if you go into labour preterm then choices on the above go out the window really for the welfare of the baby (and you obviously wouldn't be having a water birth).

stargirl1701 · 01/02/2016 21:24

I wrote a plan both times. It was followed by the midwives both times. I found it useful.

NickyEds · 01/02/2016 21:43

I wrote a lengthy one for ds (my first)and none for dd. I did however write "I refuse an induction drip without an epidural" on my notes and dp was well versed in that sentence! Dd was a nice quick birth but I would have like to have a water birth- I ended up having her on a trolley in a closed induction suite as they wouldn't admit me as I "wasn't in labour"- a birth plan would have made no difference.

whatsoever · 01/02/2016 22:57

I'm 40 weeks with Dc2 now. I brought it up with my MW (well the random one I happened to get that day, there is no 'my' MW) at 30 weeks & she said write it & discuss it at the next one, which we did so it's a handwritten scrall on the back of my iron blood test results in my notes folder!

Says what conditions I have that might make labour tricky eg SPD; things that didn't go great last time & things I'd prefer to do differently this time. Just a few bullets so they know why I saying them eg diamorphine made me feel so sick I stopped eating & drinking last time; ended up severely dehydrated etc etc so I'd rather avoid it; pool didn't help so I won't bother this time; if I can't weight bear on my legs, I'd like an epidural as I'll be lying down anyway.

I could probably rattle it off in a minute when I get there but I might not be in a fit state & it clarified my thinking to write it down more than anything.

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