Birth Plan

[RidlayBlue]

Hi,

Just wanted to get people's opinions on birth plans.
I'm personally thinking I don't particularly want to make one. I want to be able to trust the health care professionals and their advice depending on what my circumstances end up being. I also have no idea what level of pain relief I'll want (first time pregnancy) so want to be open on the day as to what I need.
I've spoken to a few people who had a birth plan, then things ended up drastically changing so they didn't get their 'ideal birth' and they were quite upset about it. I don't want to be in that position (and to me there is no ideal, it's all painful, can take time to heal etc, for me it's about getting my baby here safely, however that may be).
Just asking for people's opinions as I'm constantly being asked if I've made a birth plan yet.

Thank you. With everyone asking, I was worried I was being a bit naive not making a plan but I honestly don't have a preference as long as baby is born as safely as possible

I think you’re naive to always trust medical staff as they’re just human.

It’s things like medical students or no medical students, pushing for freedom of movement, if you need monitoring then it’s possible for have that done while you can move around, do you want regualr cervix checks or not, optimal cord clamping (should be in every hospital by now), do you want baby cleaned before skin to akin or not, Dad to cut the cord, oral or injection vitamin K, cannulua in left or right arm.

It’s about preferences rather than a plan.

These are helpful
www.positivebirthmovement.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/visual_birth_plan_all_icons.pdf

I'm not making a plan. I have preferences but am totally open minded to see how it goes.

I know what you mean about not wanting a prescribed plan about how everything will go, but I definitely would recommend researching optimal birthing techniques and thinking about what level of intervention you would be happy with before opting for c section.

For example, I have been looking at the high rates of “purple pushing” and how medical teams will often tell you to hold your breath and push, this is actually much more likely to result in tears or pelvic floor issues - there are much better breathing techniques for the pushing stage. But if you didn’t know that then you’re at the mercy of getting an old school midwife who is shouting at you to hold your breath and push!

So my birth plan will include an instruction that I don’t want guided pushing and plan to down breathe during the pushing stage.

I think you've definitely got the right idea of not having a set or rigid plan as things often do not go to plan and then you're not really prepared for it. However, I would strongly advise against just trusting medical professionals fully and their opinion. It would be best to do your own research and preparation and when making decisions use the BRAIN acronym (benefits, risks, alternatives, intuition, nothing). You should have a rough idea of preferences, like deciding on location (birth centre or delivery ward or home birth), water birth or on a bed etc. those are decisions that you would make, unless there is a particular medical reason for one being better than the other.

I had one but very brief, I would think about whether you want the vitamin k injection and the injection for the afterbirth or wait to come naturally and whether you want the cord cut straight away or wait for a bit. My first ended up being a bit dramatic at the end so was good to have these things decided in advance so the midwife could make sure these things happened

I have 3 dc and never had a birth plan for any of them. I did choose each time that my preference was the birthing centre so that was indicative of my "plan" i.e. gas and air only, pool if avsilable. And during the pregnancy you can only nominate the centre if you are considered straight forward or low risk.
2 out of 3 dc were born there, only one in the pool, the other required more monitoring so i couldn't be in the water. 1 dc on the ward because of leaking waters so gel induction after 24hrs. I am a calm person and felt comfortable to make the decisions needed but also accepted / would have accepted interventions as put to me each time by medical staff. I felt it was important to be flexible.

I have been having special sessions with a perinatal mental health champion to cover birth preferences (previous trauma from a missed gynae diagnosis). I’m having an ELCS, but it’s not really a plan. Just a document for my preferences so I don’t have to remember to ask for things on the day.

Some examples from my list of preferences:

1. being assigned to the part of the ward where partners can stay over (the ward is split between totally single sex areas and then bays where you can have a partner stay at all times)
2. keeping my glasses on throughout the c-section (so no-one thinks they are doing me a favour by putting them to one side)
3. skin to skin as soon as possible and vitamin K injection consented to
4. not being told what they’re up to during the ELCS (eg I don’t want to be told we’re just about to make the first cut etc)

I’ve found it really helpful to list out these things in a document so I don’t get asked them as questions or even not asked at all on the day.

It’s also helped me to reflect on how in an ideal world the birth will go.

But it’s not a birth plan as such. I’ve not set out what I expect to happen and when or anything like that! It’s just a place for me to document what I’d like to happen (and a brief note on why where appropriate).

There are many wonderful doctors and midwives out there but they are also usually under huge pressure. This can mean that the advice they give you can be what suits them- what they perceive as most efficient without always considering how it might impact on you individually. I had a horrendous first birth experience when I decided to go with the flow of what staff recommended. With my second birth I had some clear red lines and boundaries - refused unnecessary vaginal exams, refused to be on my back on the bed, no additional medical personnel unless absolutely necessary etc- I had midwives who were so respectful of these and a great birth as a result. So I wouldn't say go in with a plan as such but definitely read up and be informed.

Hi there it's a labour ward midwife. There's nothing wrong with not making a birth plan on my opinion. Saying it might be a good idea to read up on what normal birth might feel like. I would recommend Positive Birth Book from Amazon to any pregnant friend

You don’t have to make a ‘plan’ as such you could just put preferences like who do you want to cut the cord? would you like your own playlist of music on? If you don’t know the gender do you want your partner to read it out?

I would also really suggest looking into the pain relief and make informed decisions that you could note down for the midwife’s - for example i took pethadine and i just took it no questions asked i was in agony. That didn’t do any favours for me, and made my baby very unwell - leading to a bad birth. But i wish i had read up more on it beforehand, everyone’s reactions and births will be different but it’s worth having an idea of risks!
I do genuinely believe in birth - knowledge is power!!

I don’t know how some have got away without a plan.! I was in labour (had actually booked as cs) and as I didn’t have a birth plan a lovely student midwife was trying to get me to make one between contractions! We got one made in the end

I've been looking at this today, 24 weeks with no 2 and just thinking about birth!

From memory, I think they give you a form at 36 weeks which has a few things on there thats helpful just answer on paper and get your birth partner to give them, rather than having to go through questions in labour like vit k, delayed cord clamping, preferred feeding method, baby straight on you or cleaned first, etc.

I didnt bother last time and was so so frustrated when I kept getting asked by different midwives. So it's worth looking at the specific medical questions and ticking or writing down your responses. Otherwise, completely fine to go with the flow! I will be again, but I'll be writing down in big block caps not to ask me anything in labour and setting out the answers to the irritating questions some midwives have a habit of pestering you about at 8cm dilated!