Birth Plan

[Bellsx]

Hi ladies I have made a few notes for my birth plan, so far I have included
Who I want as my birth partner
Positions
Pain relief
Cutting the umbilical cord
Skin to skin
Feeding
Is there anything else I should add/am missing please?

[GoshHashana]

Such dreadful advice about not having a birth plan. It's so important that women are encouraged to demand better. A healthy baby is the very minimum you should expect from a birth. I'm quite surprised at how little say expectant mothers feel they can have.

[Wolfgirrl]

@GoshHashana what say do you think they should have?

[EleanorSaysFork]

Like a PP, I wrote a birth preference sheet and found it really helpful. It wasn’t intended as a plan that I expected my birth to follow but it helped set the ‘tone’ of the birth (e.g. following hypnobirthing techniques, requesting the midwives didn’t talk unnecessarily to me) and practical preferences around pain relief/delivery of the placenta etc. It included that I wanted to use breathing techniques as long as possible but also had an order of preferred pain relief (I had previously discussed with the midwife what my options were at the hospital) e.g. I would rather have had an epidural than pethidine. During labour it simplified my communication with the midwife. I felt the process of writing it helped me to be more informed in my decisions and made making decisions in labour more straightforward.

OP, your list sounds good. As midwives won’t always read it thoroughly, I suggest focusing on making sure it is brief, clear and easy to read.

[Keha]

My midwifes did read the plan and mentioned some aspects of it which showed they had taken it on board. For example I was quite keen to let the placenta come naturally, however due to some issues with bleeding they ended up saying they wanted to give me the injection and explained why. Of course you know things might not go to plan and it's also worth noting what you might want if you needed an EMCS etc. I think writing it down helps educate you on your options and better understand what is happening.

[Doingitalloveragain]

I don't think it's necessarily dreadful advice to not have a specific birth plan Labour is extremely unpredictable and can lead to a sense of disappointment if things done go to plan.
I've had two very different labours and am 36 weeks with my 3rd. I've said I'm happy for baby to have the vitamin k injection and for me for the placenta but aside from that I'm just going to see how it goes

[Mamabear2020]

I wrote a birthing plan with my first. The only thing I was absolutely certain of was not wanting an episiotomy. When babys heartrate plummeted I dont remember being asked to consent to it, or giving consent, although my husband confirms both of those things happened. Second time around I didnt bother with the birth plan, I had a good chat with the midwife on arrival about things like what positions were possible and not being told when to push. Be open minded, these things dont go to plan. The only things you can say yes or no for certain on before labour starts is the placenta injection and the vitamin k injection.

[Areallthenamestaken]

Are you midwife or consultant led?

I was consultant led but we never talked the details of birth so I didn't know until I was already in labour that I couldn't do most of what I wanted because it was too dangerous e.g. I wanted to be able to move around but I had to be on monitors on the bed on my back. I'd advise you have a good discussion with your consultant/midwife about what is actually possible so you're not disappointed.