Hi guys,
So at last weeks yoga class we discussed birth plans. When suggested, my exact response was 'Do Irish people actually write these?' I always thought there was no point in writing one as no one can ever determine how their labour would go... I had visions of crazy women planning out each part of their labour like it was within their control; But then I realised that that isnt the point of a birth plan!
It is there to include anything that you feel strongly about with regards to your labour/ delivery/ aftercare, should you be unable to commumicate it at that time.
So, while birth plans are not a necessity, they can be useful. You also need to remember, that depending on how your labour progresses, your birth plan may not be possible.
10 things to consider when writing a Birth Plan:
1. Who do you want to be present; husband, partner, parent etc?
2. Pain relief preferance. Are you against having an epidural? Do you want to have an epidural as soon as is possible, or would you rather try all other methods of pain relief first?
3. Do you wish to be as mobile as possible or do you wish to stay in bed? Studies suggest that maintaining mobility during early stages of labour can help in the progression of labour, leading to less complications and less chance of having a caesarean section. Just think about it, gravity!
4. Do you have a preferance to a certain birthing position? Squatting, hands and knees, semi-reclined.
5. Do you want to use a birthing pool?
6. Do you want to listen to music during the labour?
7. Do you want your partner to cut the cord? Most hospitals will offer this, but often times if there has been an emergency delivery, it may be forgotten and the doctor or midwives will just cut the cord. If you feel strongly about it, write it down and they will do their best to carry this out.
8. Do you want 'delayed cord clamping'? This refers to the practice of not clamping or cutting the umbillical cord until after it has stopped pulsing or not before 1-3 minutes after birth, as babys blood circulation is still being transferred from the external circulatory system it has maintained in utero (umbilical cord and placenta) into the baby itself, unless the cord is clamped or cut before this transfer is complete.
9. In the event of caesarean section, do you have any requests? Sometimes, you are unable to carry out skin-to-skin after having a C-Section, but while you're being stitched, it is possible for your partner to do skin to skin when you cannot.
10. Do you want skin-to-skin after giving birth, and do you want to initiate first breast feed at this time?
The KEY to writing your birth plan is to keep it in short bullet points, and to be willing to go with the flow. As I said earlier, none of us know exactly how the labour will go, only baby will determine that, so keep in mind that while having a birth plan can be helpful, it is not always possible to carry out each point on your plan!
I will certainly write one up to bring with me, but I dont feel that it will be used. I have no idea what labour has in store for me, what the pain is like, what positions will make me feel most comfortable etc., It is my first baby after all! All I know for sure, is that I'm getting more and more excited as time goes on to meet my little one and nursery preparations are well and truely underway.
Keep up to date with me on Instagram @TheaverageirishmammyThe Average Irish Mammy
Until next time, Conni x
Hi Connie, great blog post. Agree with your sentiments about not having birth plan set in stone and going with the flow. I'm a midwife myself and recently wrote a blog post about my own labour if you want to take a look - www.irishbabyfairy.com/?p=114
ReplyDeleteMy birth plan was just in my head and it all worked out well. Hope you get the birth you want and the rest of your pregnancy runs smoothly. It's all worth it when you meet your wee baby. Lisa