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Birth Plans
A birth plan explains what you would like to happen during labour and birth. It is generally written and discussed with your midwife prior to birth say at 36 weeks, on admittance to hospital when labour has started or on the midwife’s arrival at home if you are having a home birth. It’s a good idea to make two copies one for yourself and a copy to be kept with your pregnancy notes.
A Birth Plan gives you and your partner the opportunity to think about what is important to you during your labour and the birth of your baby.
You may not know where to start when making a birth plan some ideas to help you are:
· Talk to family members and close friends about the choices that they made during labour and birth. (It is important to remember that you are only researching views to see if anything that they have to say sparks interest in you – try not to be influenced by what others did.)
· A great website that gives information on hospital birth statistics, caesareans, assisted deliveries etc. is www.BirthChoiceUK.com this may help you decide where to have your baby.
· Attending antenatal classes helps you to find out about your choices in labour and birth.
What to put in your birth plan?
- Place of birth – do you want to have your baby in hospital, if so which one, or at home?
- Type of birth – are you considering a water birth?
- Birth partner – do you want solely your partner or do you want your mother there too or a close friend, or maybe a doula?
- Coping with pain – what pain relief options are you considering?
- Your baby’s first hours – do you want your baby lifted into your arms directly after birth or onto your stomach or would you prefer to have your baby wrapped in a blanket and then handed to you?
- Breastfeeding – are you planning to breastfeed?
It is essential that when making a birth plan you keep it simple and easy to read and remain open minded. It is easier to work with if you use phrases like, “I would prefer………” as opposed to “I do not want…….”
“I would prefer to be as mobile and active as possible during labour”
“It would be preferable if my partner / husband could tell me the sex of our baby”
“I would prefer not to have an epidural”
By using this kind of language you are keeping you options open, as you do not know how you are going to feel during labour and how you will cope. You are simply stating your preferences.
Article kindly provided by Tammy Breuer
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