any tips on how to make my birth plan?

Question

i have no idea what so ever of what to put in it! i'd like to go thru it with my midwife once its done to make sure i've covered everything, but i'm at a loss as to how 2 start it!!

i thought that if i made a birth plan, i wouldn't worry about 'do they kno i want this? or that?' and also there are somethings that i want checked out on the baby asap that aren't checked as standard. plus i won't be bugged by nurses saying 'where do u want her delivered etc'. i kno births pretty much never go to plan, i just want the doc's to have the jist of what i want so they can talk to me when it doesn't

Answer 1

Unless you have really specific things that you do/do not want to have happen, you really don't need one. Birth plans are for people with specific preferences. You can get some forms downloaded off the internet but, again, if you don't know what you want it won't do too much good.

Good luck and I'm sure you'll have a great birth and baby!

Answer 2

Go onto almost any pregnancy site eg www.babycentre.com or www.ivillage.com and search birth plan. They have interactive ones that you can do right online and even save online or you can print off a bunch of different ones and add what you want to your own. You will get a good idea of the layout. Point form is probably best as you don't want to go through paragraphs during labour, especially if you can't remember something. Make sure your midwife, hospital/birthing centre, partner, doula and anyone else that may be at the birth should have a copy so that everyone is aware of your wishes for your birth. Good luck!!

Answer 3

Well i would start with what is most important to you. Write down what pain relief, if any, you want. What position you would like to be in when giving birth. How you would like to feed the baby once it has been born. Do you want the baby put on your tummy straight away, or would you rather he/she was cleaned up first? The midwives will do their best to stick to your birth plan, BUT.... ALWAYS REMEMBER, it is just a plan, and not a contract. You may feel differently when you are in labour. Please remember that it's just a plan, don't feel disappointed if your labour/birth doesn't go exactly to your plan, your baby may feel differently to you and may not agree!! Talk to your midwife about what to include if you need further help. The only thing i put on my birth plan was ' i will do what i think is appropriate at the time'. And i did. With my first child, i had 2 sides of A4 about how i wanted a water birth, with no pain relief, and in the end i had a planned c-section! With my second, i only wrote what i have just said, but in my head wasn't bothered if i had an epidural, and had him in 3 hours, totally naturally, with not even a whiff of gas and air! So be relaxed about it. Whatever happens, you will end up with a beautiful baby, and that's the most important! Good luck!

Answer 4

I made a birth plan and it went right out the window once labor started. It's really hard to tell what you are really going to want unless you've been through labor before. This time around I have a better understanding of what I really want and it will be easier. My suggestion is not to set anything in stone, just go with the flow. Maybe write down a few ideas but don't get too involved in it. Good luck!

Answer 5

It's a really good idea to have a birth plan and you should have one. It should include your preferences for pain relief, whether you would like to use a birthing pool or ball etc. How you feel about epidurals and c-sections. How much you want to move around during the birth, how involved you want your birth partner to be etc etc. Just anything that you feel is important about the birth - write it down.
If you are happy to just see how the birth progresses and to take medical advice then say that.

Answer 6

I just read that whole, big, giant, "birth plan" someone posted - kind of mind boggling, I must say.

I talked with my doctors about what I wanted or didn't want as far as pain relief went, and other than that I just brought my pocketbook, a toothbrush and a robe. I left a clean outfit for me and a new one for the baby at my house to be brought the next day. I was very well-informed when it came to pregnancy, delivery, and possible complications - so I think that was useful because it helped me not be nervous.

Both babies were born in a hour and a half, even with one breech and the other in some other weird position.

My point is (and this doesn't mean I don't respect your wish to plan the delivery) there is something to be said for seeing the delivery with a certain amount of perspective. Whether it lasts one hour or ten hours, it doesn't mean much in the scheme of life and doesn't last long.

The most important and meaningful stuff starts to happen the minute the baby is born and in your arms; so if all you think to pack is a brown bag to blow into when you're breathing that will most likely be more than enough.

Best wishes for a nice delivery, but, more importantly, best wishes for a beautiful and well-informed life as a mother.

Answer 7

I have a plastic folder I cary every time I am at the midwife/Dr's and I will take me to the hospital and in that it has different questions to fill in... I will tell you the questions and you could even just write the questions and answers on your own. 1. How do you feel about labor and birth? What are your expectations? 2. Who do I want with me during my Labor? 3.My environment for labor? (Privacy, Music, Food & drink, comfort aids) 4. How I want my baby's heartbeat to be monitored during labor? (Hand held Doppler/ Continuous electronic) 5. How will I cope with the pain? Which type of Pain relief if any? 6. How would I like to give birth? (Position) 7. Would I like my placenta to be delivered with or without an injection? (An injection helps to reduce bleeding) 8. After my baby's birth? (Skin to skin contact is usually encouraged) I hope this helps!! Good luck :) x

Answer 8

It's a good idea to make your wishes known, especially about medication, but most nurses/doctors say that the more complicated the birth plan, the less they want to follow it and it becomes a total PITA. I would suggest to tell the nurses and your spouse/partner/whatever you want so that they know, and your partner knows in case you are unable to make the request yourself. Be flexible; some things are hospital policy and there is nothing that can be done about it. Midwives will probably be a little more open to the idea, but don't go overboard on it and you should be fine. I had one but don't think I even pulled it out except to give a copy to my doula; I just told the nurses what I wanted in the way of meds and they were fine with that. Three hours after I checked in my daughter was born, so I got lucky.

Answer 9

I included what I wanted in the way of pain management, visitors during labor, people in the room during birth, first visitors post birth (very important on the second baby- I wanted big brother to see his sis first), whether you want certain things done in case you can't tell post birth (in case of c section or bad birthing and you are drugged up heavily) you can put if you have a boy whether you want him to circumcised or not. I listed four nurses that I didn't want any where near me or my baby (and it was enforced). It just depends on how picky you are, most midwives, nurses and doctors within reason will follow a birth request plan as long as some things are explained. (like no distant relatives in the room during labor, they don't need to see me like that, or all visitors must wash hands before going into room and if you have cold symptoms then please not visit- had one baby in DEC., that was the hospital birth center policy anyway.) Good luck and Congrats.

Answer 10

The best birth plan worksheet is printable on babycenter.com, and the best way to set it up is to choose what YOU want. Don't be embarassed about choosing any of the methods they offer because you never know what might work for you. Also don't forget in choosing a birth plan, it might not always go that way! I had one all picked out and ready to go and wham a doc's appointment and the baby came by c-section. good luck!