Home Birth - Birth Plan help

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Hi Ladies

I've found my birth plan from DC1 and that was for the hospital.

I've been told I'm a good candidate for a home birth for DC2 and would really like this to happen. (My partner doesn't drive and hospital is a short drive should things not progress so feel confident I could be taken care of promptly, and just my own shower after... haha)

How did you guys create a birth plan with a home birth in mind? I'm thinking it's the same as my hospital one with just a few tweaks.

Thank you :-)

I had a homebirth with my first last March and it was wonderful, so I’m a massive advocate. I had a birth pool in my lounge and had the most lovely experience, I consider myself very fortunate, so always happy to help someone who might also want one.

I’d never done a birth plan before, but structured it around scenarios, with my number one choice being home birth, then hospital (midwife-led unit), then hospital ‘proper’. I covered the same issues under each scenario - what pain relief I wanted, the atmosphere/environment, who I wanted to cut the cord/announce the sex, how I wanted the 3rd stage to be etc. I also included notes on my preferences around inductions/sections. So it wasn’t solely focused on homebirth in case that didn’t happen for a million reasons, but it made clear that I wanted as gentle an non-overtly medical labour regardless of where it happened. So I would say you could use your last one as a base to build from, and just build in what you want under each option

The best birth plan advice I had came from a young mw who was very matter of fact and told me to just jot a few ideas down. Only really note anything that would be a TW for the staff, and to otherwise go with the flow. She said people write really detailed birth plans and 1. The staff have little time to read, far less memorise it, and 2. Any deviation makes you feel like you have failed so don’t bother because you have no idea how you’ll feel or how it will go.

Remember you’ll not lose the power of speech, you will still be able to ask for a drink, or the pool, or say yes/no to drugs etc

Just to add that the best thing about having a homebirth is that you have a named-midwife - it’s the gold standard of care in pregnancy and labour. I lot meant that I had the same midwife at all appointments and also met the midwives who were actually at my birth beforehand too (unfortunately my named midwife wasn’t on shift when I was in labour, but that’s why you meet the others too). It’s what every woman deserves, but it’s really only the homebirth teams that can provide that level of care. It also means your birth plan will be read and the decisions/wishes you make are really listened too. Unfortunately I understand the PP is right in that in a hospital setting they aren’t really read (though I still think it’s worth doing as there are some good examples of hospital midwives taking them more seriously).

Sounds like things have come on since my home birth a few years ago. I was told whoever was on shift would be sent out and I’d never met the 2 mw who did come out to me.

Thank you for your replies :-)

I'm quite excited for the prospect of a home birth - even if it's a "stranger" midwife I'd trust their care and think I'd be so distracted in labour I wouldn't be too fussed but having a familiar face is a great benefit.

I think it's more after the birth I'm a bit more strict about. I want minimal interference and gas and air but if intervention needs to happen then I'll let the MWs do their thing. So long as husband can cut cord and injection for placenta, I'll be content. I feel like a home birth they might take more note of a plan? But just want to ensure i include what's needed for everyone's benefit.

I had a home birth in October.

Make sure you give birth on a floor that’s easy to clean.

I haemorrhaged but luckily it was only on Lino so watch easily mopped up. Our only causally were the towels. At least we didn’t have to replace a carpet!

@AllTheUsernamesAreAlreadyTaken

I had a home birth in October.

Make sure you give birth on a floor that’s easy to clean.

I haemorrhaged but luckily it was only on Lino so watch easily mopped up. Our only causally were the towels. At least we didn’t have to replace a carpet!

Thank you! Yes I was planning on getting some shower curtains too, and using the towels we have (with the excuse we'll need to buy nice new fluffy ones to replace them )

Mine wasn’t a planned home birth so I can imagine it being much less messy when there’s a midwife there to help you 🙂