Birth Plan

Yes - the positive birth book have a visual one you can do for free, it’s much easier then for health professionals to quickly reference, I used it and it was great. Link is here: https://thepositivebirthbook.com

As above comment said you need to be open minded when it comes to your labour and birth. Having a plan is fine but anything can happen and you need to expect the unexpected x

Try not to overload it with information so it's easy for the midwife to look at and it's more preferences than a set plan. With mine I had what I want to try to avoid any specific requests like delayed clamping, using the birth pool ect although when I gave birth as it was so fast they didn't get to look at it until after

I doubt they'll do a clear drape for you to see. But usually the big mirror above acts like a nice reflector of what's going on

I don’t know if they keep the drape blue purposely to prevent you from seeing, fainting and then you being in a panic situation. That would be something I imagine would only be allowed to happen in a planned section, possibly not an emergency one. - I had a planned section and having another in a couple weeks and honestly, wouldn’t want to know what’s going off🫣

The bold writing is helpful - maybe some visual pointers would also help. Keep it short and to the point so it’s actually useful. Make sure you have more than one copy and consider laminating one for your hospital bag.

@Helen I looked for the mirror twice but couldn’t see anything both times. Probably for the best though 😂 Don’t worry too much about a plan. Set a few things you want and have flexibility that they might not happen if things happen. I asked for skin to skin, delayed cord clamping, dad to cut the cord and got all 3 twice. The drapes are definitely blue though, they can’t risk people passing out. My husband had to sit on the floor with our first as he got woozy and they gave him 2 minutes to recover. Any longer and he would have been removed as a hazard.

I wouldn't focus too much on a Borth plan, as then you're in for disappointment if it doesn't go as planned (which it often doesn't). The only things on my birth "plan" was that I wanted to give birth on all 4s and not have an epidural! Thankfully I managed to achieve both of those things

My birth plan was so far off from what I actually had lmao, I went in saying non medicated from the roof tops but soon as it started I think I had every bit of pain relief under the sun they could give me 🤣🤣🤣 be open minded, it’s gonna go how it’s gonna go! Best of luck💕

My birth plan was delayed cord clamping, birth on all fours, no forceps, only gas and air and only my partner present. But I had an emergency c section, my partner wasn’t allowed in theatre until a couple minutes before baby was pulled out and the cord was cut straight away because my placenta was covered in clots. So honestly I wouldn’t focus too much on it just have a rough idea because things like these don’t always go to plan and it’s whatever helps your baby be delivered safely that matters. Goodluck xx

Just to make you aware if not already, the majority of hospitals when you say delayed chord clamping, they will wait 1-2 minutes, if you want it delayed longer than that, you need to specify for eg. Till the chord stops pulsing or turns white :)

I understand the above comments saying that births don’t always go to plan - however I think having some key things that you definitely do or don’t want, in different scenarios, is helpful and that’s exactly what a birth plan can be. For example, I wanted a water birth and so asked for undisturbed skin to skin for 2 hours, delayed cord clamping, and wanted to deliver baby myself. But then in the moment I asked the midwife to deliver baby and it wasn’t in the water. I also had some key things I wanted in case I needed a c section - like a gentle c section, skin to skin, etc. don’t assume what they will do in the moment, it’s ok to ask for what you want!

I’m sure I was given one at our ante natal class. I think one of the things they ask is if you want the baby to have a vitamin k injection. Also what pain relief you want. It’s more of a guide as labour is so unpredictable. May be worth visiting the ante natal wards as well before birth.

@Sarah the blue screen was over my head the entire time. I couldn't even see the ceiling except when they pulled it down for me to see my daughter being lifted up. It was kind of cozy. I just played with it while singing to myself till they brought my daughter over. I wish I'd told them I wanted skin to skin but mine was a cat 2 emergency. I did get asked if I wanted delayed cord claping if she didn't require NICU straight away. Which I said yes to. Luckily she cried when out so I'm assuming they did do delayed cord clamping. I had my daughter wrapped up, snug as a bug for about 30 minutes by my head though. They left the cord long so my husband could do tbe honorary cut without asking us if we wanted it prior to her birth which was nice.

as people have mentioned, best thing you can do is go in with a totally open mind! i didn't ever make a birth plan with my first, and with my second i forgot to bring the copies i'd printed out so it was useless anyway😅 i still ended up with 2 beautiful experiences. go with the flow as much as possible and maybe as others have suggested, have a few things that you prioritise - e.g. skin to skin immediately if possible, delayed cord clamping etc. best of luck xx

One thing I would advise, if youre set on cord clamping and feel very strongly about it like I did, Id highlight that Id want it till the cord goes white. The standard practice seems to be 1 minute. When I gave birth I was absolutely out of it, my partner reminded them I wanted cord clamping and they said they only do it for 1 minute. If I had known, I wouldve spoken up for myself a bit more or made a bigger deal out of it to the nurses when I begun my labour x

@Sophie thank you

Guessing your having a natural birth if you do have a c-section it won’t be your choice what’s in it x

I totally agree with the above comments, no birth will go as planned despite the plans. Always advocate for what you want and have a second voice in your corner (birthing partner). My birth plan was hand written in my notes and read “get this baby out of me as quickly and as safely as possible. Avoiding a c-section where possible”. That was all!! I went in with an open mind and fortunately I’ve had 2 very straightforward births which I’m so grateful for.

I’m just interested if they follow any of this cuz otherwise I have to ask my partener to be on it all the time I only have 2 major ask - and the rest is nice to happen. I have read here on app lots of unhappy experience at hospitals.

@Magdalena depends who is on staff on the day tbh. Some drs and midwives will take their time to read it, others are unlikely to engage. Prep your partner for stuff you feel most strongly about. You could also consider hiring a doula to advocate for you if you are really worried your partner won’t be able to for whatever reason.

I am due to give birth in August and have written out a “ Birth plan “ that is more preferences in different scenarios “ if an emergency C section is needed I want to be put under GA instead of a spinal block “ etc , I do have my preferences on that , Id like to use a birthing pool and so on but I’m aware this may be unavailable at the time I’m in labour although that is the only thing I’m quite set on the rest I have down I would like but can do without, I also have highlighted who I want at the birth being dad only just Incase ☺️