Birth plan

Making your birth plan, either with your partner, relative, friend or with the help of your maternity caregiver is a good way to prepare for the birth of your child. In this plan, you can lay down your ideas and wishes about the pregnancy, birth and the first weeks afterwards.

Items to consider might include:

  • tests done during pregnancy like ultrasound scan, amniocentesis and internal examinations;
  • would you like to be told the sex of your baby or discover it yourself?;
  • support available during birth;
  • positions and ways to relax during birth;
  • pain relief options during birth;
  • plans if complications arise during the birth (induction, breech presentation, caesarean birth);
  • will health professionals allow the baby to be checked while at your side;
  • length of stay in hospital / clinic after giving birth;
  • information on and help with breast feeding / bottle feeding.
Remember, flexibility is the key when writing a birth plan: it is not so much a rigid plan as a list of preferences and desires. It can serve as a good starting point for discussions between you and your maternity caregiver. If not all of your wishes are possible, it's good to be well informed about them beforehand, rather than finding out when your contractions are three minutes apart...

The following sections give you four examples of birth plans women of the Foreign Mothers Group have written in the recent past.

*** Examples of birth plans ***

Example 1

During labor and delivery:

  1. I'd like to have my husband and mother with me during labour;
  2. I want to move around as much as I can during labour and not be confined to a bed;
  3. I'd like to bring music into the labour and delivery room with me to use as a relaxation technique;
  4. I'd like to have pictures taken with a camera and video camera immediately after the baby is born;
  5. I hope to not have an enema;
  6. I don't want to be shaved in the public area;
  7. I do not want to have an episiotomy unless absolutely necessary;
  8. I hope to move around as soon as possible.
Postpartum:
  1. I want to hold my baby and try breast feeding immediately after birth;
  2. I want the baby to stay with me in my room;
  3. I want to fully breast feed my baby, therefore I don't want any formula or glucose water to be given to him/her at all;
  4. I hope to stay in the hospital for only 2 days as my mother will come to help me;
  5. As I am a vegetarian, I'd like to ask for vegetarian meals only.

Top

Example 2

Before 40 weeks:

  1. have none or a very limited number of ultrasounds;
  2. only induction of labour if therefs an urgent medical reason or more than two weeks overdue.
During labour:
  1. having husband available all the time;
  2. being allowed to moan or make noise;
  3. being allowed to move around, walk, be on hands and knees: complete freedom in my labour position;
  4. if shower / bath is available, like to have the option of using it during labour;
  5. prefer a cosy, home-like environment with only a limited number of people around me (preferably only my husband and the midwife);
  6. no intervention as long as labour is progressing normally;
  7. if ceasarean needs to be made, I prefer to be consious during the operation.
When baby is born:
  1. Ifd like to hold my baby directly after giving birth. If this is not possible due to complications, Ifd like to have the baby as soon as examinations have finished;
  2. Ifd like to breastfeed soon after giving birth;
  3. I do not want antibiotic eye drops given to the baby the first days;
  4. visits by husband and daughter allowed.
Care afterwards:
  1. I'd like to go home as soon as possible (home help is available);
  2. I'd like to have baby with me, in the same room or really close by (rooming in). If this is not possible, Ifd like to have unrestricted access to my baby;
  3. I'd like lots of support breastfeeding during the first days / weeks, to get a good head-start;
  4. I'd like to breastfeed eon demand E not giving formula, water, or water with sugar or something similar;
  5. I'd like to have all babyfs tests and results written down in English and added to the boshi techo.

Top

Example 3

During labour and delivery:

  1. I prefer to be in a single room during labour, if available;
  2. I would like my midwife to be allowed to be present throughout admission, labour, delivery and complications, if any;
  3. I would like to have my husband with me during labour. I would prefer him to be allowed to watch the delivery. If this is not possible, I'd like him to be kept informed in case of complications, and consulted if decisions about surgery and other serious treatment have to be made (if necessary to be allowed to enter the delivery room and consult with me);
  4. I will need to be tested for allergic reactions towards anaesthesia that may have to be used during labour and delivery;
  5. I would like to have an enema;
  6. Shaving of the pubic area and rupture of membranes only if necessary;
  7. During labour freedom to walk (move around) and choose/change positions as desired;
  8. No intervention as long as labour is progressing normally. Induction of labour and/or I.V.fluids only if necessary;
  9. Pain relief through relaxation, breathing and massage preferred instead of medication;
  10. Since I have a weaker vaginal support after the first delivery, if the dilation is not enough, I would like to have an episiotomy performed under local anesthetic and the incision to be closed with absorbable sutures;
  11. If forceps can be avoided at the expense of Caesarian birth, I prefer the second option;
  12. In case of Caesarian birth, I prefer my husband with me, spinal anaesthesia and lower transverse cut applied.
After the delivery:
  1. The baby delivered onto my abdomen. If this is not possible due to complications, I'd like to hold my baby as soon as examinations have finished;
  2. I would like to breastfeed the baby as soon as possible (in the first few hours after delivery);
  3. If the baby has to be kept in an incubator, I like to be allowed to have as much body contact with him/her as possible, and the baby to be given expressed mother's milk, as soon as possible;
  4. If the baby is Rh-positive, I would like to be given Rh immune globulin after delivery for antibody formation prevention (since Ifm Rh-minus);
  5. I would like to see the placenta;
  6. I prefer to have my baby in the same room with me. If this is not possible, I like to have unrestricted access to him/her, to be called if the baby cries, and to feed on demand;
  7. I prefer to be in a single room, if available;
  8. I like my family members to be allowed to visit me daily, and the duration of their visits not to be limited;
  9. I would like to have advise and support with my baby care, e.g. breastfeeding.

Top

Example 4 Caesarean Birth Plan

  1. I wish to be consious during surgery;
  2. I would prefer not to have an enema;
  3. I would like my husband to be present throughout the procedure;
  4. My partner would like to cut the cord, if possible;
  5. I would prefer a horizontal "bikini" cut;
  6. I would like my baby to be placed straight onto me after delivery;
  7. I don't want to be seperated from my baby for any longer than is absoluterly necessary;
  8. I would like to commence breast feeding straight away;
  9. I do not want the baby to be given any supplementation or formula;
  10. I would like to go straight to my room after surgery;
  11. I would like the baby to room in with me, and my husband too, when he wants;
  12. If the baby and I are well enough, I would like the option of leaving sooner than 8 days;
  13. I would like to have my midwife with me as much as she is able to;
  14. I would like a private room, preferably with shower and toilet, telephone, fridge, bed with a firm mattress and a window that can be opened.

Top