Bith Plans- When is this done?

[Jzee]

My baby is due in about 5 weeks and so far none of the midwives have suggested I make a birth plan? I have heard about them from other sources and am wondering how I should go about making one? Is it something that's normally done with a midwife?

[sjs]

Linnet - Soupdragon is right, the BCG injection wasn't given in the UK but in Hong Kong where my dd was born. Didn't realise wasn't standard in UK though. It did leave quite a scar - I guess it will fade over time.

[badjelly]

Jzee

I never had a written birth plan I just discussed it with dh who knew that I would just go with the flow and ask for pain relief when I needed it. He also knew little specific things I wanted - like to have the baby put on my belly but with a sheet or towel under it first (didn't do yuckyness then!) and he was to cut the cord. He also knew my views on what I wanted to happen if I things went pear shaped and I couldn't communicate for whatever reason, good job too - if he hadn't put his foot down with certain aspects we both me and dd wouldn't be here now!

[princesspeahead]

as marina says, pretty common now in london because tb rates have risen so swiftly (connected to immigration from eastern europe in particular, where it is rife). both mine were given it at birth (both london babies). having said that there is a huge shortage of vaccine nationwide at the moment and I've been told if I want to try and give it at birth I'll have to source it myself... and if I find any can I tell my GP where as he hasn't managed to get hold of any for months.

I love the NHS

[StripyMouse]

Rachael17 - everyone is different and the same woman can (and frequently do) have different labours. Pan relief is so personal - for example I had pethedine which was a disaster for me and never again however some women swear by it. Best bet is to do all the research in terms of what crosses the placenta, potential complications and side effects (eg. certain things will stop you having awaterbrith) and keep an open mind on the day. So many women say only gas and air/tens and then end up with an epidural - and some end up leaving it too late to have one as they become desperate to "stick to the plan". I guess I am trying to say there is no rules.

[SoupDragon]

I don't think you'll be disappointed if youview it as a plan and not something set in stone. You have to be prepared to accept that things change as you go along and write your plan accordingly.

[SamboM]

I agree with Codswallop. If you have a plan I seriously think you are setting yourself up to be disappointed. Go with the flow girls!!

[Marina]

Regional, Linnet. It's given at birth in parts of inner south London for example. Cases of TB have risen sharply in boroughs such as Lambeth and Lewisham in the past ten years.

[SoupDragon]

I suspect it's a non-UK thing.

[Linnet]

Since when did they start giving new born babies BCG injections? Is this a new thing that has started in the past few years? Or is it just a regional thing?

[sjs]

Think it's a good idea to write a plan - will help you think through the options and what matters to you. Also, good for your partner to know what you want so he can stand up for you if required. Allow for room for changes in plan (eg, I'll start with gas and air and would like an epidural if I ask for one.) I added in that I wanted my husband with me as long as he was comfortable (he was very nervous and I didn't want him forced into a situation where he was distressed eg, if I had ceasarian). Also, added that we wanted to be given advice and to be consulted and given all options. Turned out this was the most important piece for us and was brilliantly followed by our doctor and midwives who explained everything throughout and gave us all options. In end, I had an emergency c-section - but even that was presented as an option. (I'll let you keep going for another hour or so, but if you have the baby naturally, I'll have to use some sort of intervention and she'll most likely be in special care for a day or so. ) Although I had a c-section I never felt like I'd lost control which was important to us. The important thing is to be very flexible and don't be upset if things don't go to plan. Agree with comment about after the birth too - we asked for the BCG injection to be given in dd leg instead of arm since that's what I had and it avoids a scar in the arm.

[Rachael17]

im only 16 weeks and already i got my birth plan sorted
jus querying the pain relief
want to try and do it with gas and air and tens
as epidural made my mum and b/f mum sick and sleepy also my mum had a very long labour with an epidural
any advice
also anybody had a water birth

[Linnet]

I didn't have a birth plan when I had my dd, I just thought I'd go with the flow and see what happened. We're now trying for baby #2 and I'm not even pregnant yet but I have a piece of paper where I am jotting things down that I will eventually turn into a birth plan when I'm pergnant. Because I've been through labour and birth before I have very definite ideas of how I want things NOT to happen(if possible), given the circumstances last time. I know every birth is different but this time I hope to be more in control and will ask a lot more questions about what is going on, something I didn't do last time.
In the end it is just a plan and sometimes things happen without your control write one out but do be prepared for things to go differently just in case. And Good Luck

[elliott]

I think they are a good idea especially if you are likely to be delivered by someone you've never met before. It will help them to know something of your attitudes and hopes for the labour (and make you think about that too!!)
My first one was quite vague and hedged with 'ifs' and 'buts' as I didn't want to make myself a hostage to fortune with categorical statements about no pain relief! Next time I will be MUCH more dogmatic, though the content will be very similar.

[CAM]

When I had dd1 no-one had heard of a birth plan - you just did what the mw told you! Second time around, it was suggested at NCT ante-natal classes that it was a good idea to write one. The other mothers did, but I decided to have a birth plan in my head and it mainly consisted of: to stay as relaxed as possible and to enjoy the birth. I managed it!

[motherinferior]

Oh, yes, hadn't thought of that. If they give me sulphanimide I will puff up and go spotty. Enhancing my post-natal glamour even further.

[princesspeahead]

I think they are useful for things afterwards - eg I want my baby to be given a BCG, I'd like him/her to receive Vit K orally instead of by injection, please check my baby for x because it runs in the family (thinking of dodgy hips in my case) - stuff that you might not remember at the time but you KNOW you need to tell them despite how the actual birth went. I also use it to remind them that I'm allergic to certain drugs even though this is all over my notes as well...

[motherinferior]

My midwife actually asked me if I'd done a birthplan (I'm 36 weeks) and I was amazed, as I tend towards the codswallop point of view. Junior Pregnancy and Baby mag has an outline of things you might want to consider, in the back section.

I seem to remember last time saying 'I apologise in advance to anyone I shout at or crap on)...

[SoupDragon]

Phillipat, you'll only get a Betamax VCR on the NHS though...

[Katherine]

Totally agree with beetroot and bossykate - it helps you to focus and makes you aware of the options. Unless you actually write it down we often don't think about what we want to happen if things go wrong - but that can be part of a birth plan too and very importnant as if things are a bit chaotic its harder to think about your options.

I wrote birth plans for both my two and although I can't say they were followed to the letter the MWs did look at them and I think it gives them an idea of what you want and don't want which helps. Try to keep it as open as possible though. I would imagine that if you present them with a long list of ideals they are less likely to take things seriously.

Also its fun as it makes you think about the babies actual arrival. Suppose I'd better put one together for me soon - 9 weeks to go!

[Philippat]

There used to be template in the pregnancy book the nhs give you - is there not any more? We also discussed it at parentcraft classes.

I think it's really important to do it with your partner (or your birth partner if that's someone different). It gives you a chance to discuss issues like vitamin k and check you both agree on what approach you want to take.

Soupy, just loved your interactive one - I would like flowers and a vcr in my room!

[M2T]

LOL Soupy!

I chose to lean over the back of the bed and call my dp names.

[SoupDragon]

I don't know anyone who's been offered an enema either!

The interactive birth plan I used was US too but it did provide me with the bones of a "plan" which I then tweaked. You can generally find out what on earth the US terms mean from Google or similar.

My favourite bit was where I wrote "I want to choose my own positions for labour". With DS1, I chose to lay on my back at the foot of the bed, whimpering

[bossykate]

agree with beetroot, a useful exercise so that you can think about your preferences. just remember... no battle plan survives contact with the enemy!

[WideWebWitch]

Oh, I see, it's American I assume, from the spelling of labor. Very worrying that I didn't understand half the questions!