Is it a step too far to write your birth plan before you're actually pregnant?
I'd really like to share mine with you and I would like to read other people's should you be willing to share it.
I'm not pregnant and am still technically WTT and looking for new ways to scratch the baby itch!
MY BIRTH PLAN (main aim is to just get us both through delivery in one piece!)
I'd really like to share mine with you and I would like to read other people's should you be willing to share it.
I'm not pregnant and am still technically WTT and looking for new ways to scratch the baby itch!
MY BIRTH PLAN (main aim is to just get us both through delivery in one piece!)
- Preferred location: local women's hospital.
- Pain relief: I would prefer only gas and air and pethidine. Epidural not ruled out but not to be first choice.
- Water birth: to be considered if available. If I give birth in a pool, baby to be brought slowly to the surface. Bikini top to be worn before breastfeeding.
- Examinations: minimal vaginal or cervical examinations, nothing that isn't necessary to progressing labour, no checking me routinely just to see how I am doing. Full consent to be given before all examinations or interventions.
- Monitoring: I do not wish to be permanently attached to any monitoring equipment unless it is necessary for my own or baby's safety.
- Birth partner: my fiance (baby's father). No one else other than medical staff or students to be allowed in delivery room.
- Equipment: birth pool and ball if available.
- Positions: any position which utilises gravity for second stage. First stage, whatever is comfortable and progresses labour. I would like to remain mobile if safe and possible.
- Environment: lights dimmed, fan on in room if warm, own pillows and spare pillowcases, to wear own clothes (not hospital gown). No shouting, even if to encourage. No music or noise other than what is necessary.
- Interventions: All reasonable steps to be taken to avoid forceps, ventouse, caesarean section, episiotomy or third and forth degree tears. I will however fully cooperate should any of these be necessary for my own or baby's safety.
- After birth and fourth stage: baby to be given to me immediately for skin to skin contact. Only to be taken from me if medically necessary. I am unable to hold baby, fiance is to do this. Fiance to cut the cord and have skin to skin care if he wants. I would like to breastfeed as soon as possible and would like support if I need it. Placenta to be delivered naturally and shown to me before disposal. Delayed cord clamping to be adhered to and myself and fiance to be left alone with baby as soon as possible. Myself and baby to be kept warm under towels. If baby is to be separated me for any reason, fiance is to go with baby.
- Should I require a c-section: screen to be brought down when baby is born, baby to be brought to me as soon as possible, if there are any issues then fiance is to stay with baby.
- Vitamin K: baby to have this by injection.
- Other conditions I have which need to be considered: speech impediment (fiance can help me communicate), chronic migraines and suspected autism.
- Other: should everything go to plan, I would like to be discharged with baby no later than 24 hours after delivery. I would be happy for a student to deliver my baby as long as they are fully supervised and a qualified midwife takes over should there be complications.