Birth Plan
It is very important to have a birth plan. It is a chance for the mother and her partner and/or doula to discuss the birth that she would ideally prefer. It helps to go through this with the people who are supporting the mother as when she is in labour her supporters can confirm to medical staff the wishes of the mother. Of course we have to be flexible in case of complications however it is best to be prepared for the ideal outcome.
It is better if the birth plan is simple and there are not too many requests. It would also be helpful in the case of a hospital birth to find out at antenatal appointments the hospitals policy on certain interventions such as:
- Fetal monitoring during first stages of labour
- How flexible is the hospital about the mother being mobile throughout the first stages?
- Is the cord cut straight away?
- Is the oxytocin injection given straight after delivery for separation of the placenta?
Below is a simple birth plan:
- Father/partner
- Doula
- Midwife
I don”t mind if I have a male or female, only 1 student/or no students
- I would like to be as mobile as possible for as long as possible
- Prefer monitoring if necessary to be done infrequently and with hand held device so movement is still possible
- I will ask if I want pain relief, I would prefer nothing but have discussed gas and air, pethidine, meptid and epidural with my birth assistants.
- If possible I would like to use a birthing pool
- Do not want drugs to speed labour
- I would like to be in whatever position I find comfortable
- If possible no episiotomy
- Lights dimmed
- Baby delivered straight onto my stomach
- Cord left to stop pulsating before it is clamped
- No oxytocin injection (you will need to discuss this at your antenatal appointment with your midwife)
- Baby to stay with mum at breast
- Room to be as quiet as possible
