Should I write a birth plan?
Creating a birth plan is very important, it allows you to communicate with your care team exactly what your wishes are in regards to the birth of your baby. In order to do this you will need to do adequate research into the most common and routine interventions offered under your specific model of care.
A birth plan is not only a reference point but shows your care provider that you are confident, well informed and educated around the unique needs for your labour and birth.
Writing a birth plan is a way for you to think ahead about possible scenarios and make educated decisions about what kind of care you would like, minimising the stress of having to think on the spot during your labour, if any deviation arises.
Remember as a birthing women you have medical autonomy rights, meaning that no medical intervention can be done to you without your full informed consent. If you do not have a birth plan then you will be going into your labour and birth following the birth plan of your care provider which may not align with your preferences and wishes. You can give your care provider a copy of your birth plan at one of your hospital appointments as well as bringing a copy for support team on the day.
What should I put in my birth plan?
Your birth goal - e.g to have a physiological birth, you can specify here if you would like to birth your baby in the water
Your name, your partners/support person/doula’s names
A small sentence of gratitude to your care provider - e.g “We want to thank-you for helping us bring our baby into the world and appreciate you reading my birth plan”
That you would like a midwife who is aligned with your style of birth, such as
“ please may we have a midwife who is familiar supporting hypnobirthing”
Environment - how would you like the room to be? Quiet, calm, dim lighting?
Undisturbed labour, you can ask for questions to be directed to your partner or support person.
Using positive language for example saying “surges” instead of contractions
Pain relief - free to move around the room, using a TENS machine, that you plan to use the shower and bath (hydrotherapy)
That you will ask for medicated pain relief if you need it, not to have them offer it to you, are you happy to use gas? morphine? epidural?
Ask your care provider to be patient with you body and your labour, not to make you feel like you are under time pressures
What interventions are you okay and not okay with, both for you and your baby
Post birth expectations
C- section preferences - important to have this as we never know how our labour may play out, better to have it and not need it, than not have it and need it!
You can break your birth plan down into the “Stages of labour” if you prefer for example - labour - stage 1 / pushing baby out - stage 2 / birthing the placenta - stage 3 / after baby is born / c-section
There are plenty of birth plan examples online, for more information or for help with your birth preferences, feel free to connect with me for your commitment free meet up.
Happy birthing everyone!
