As you get closer and closer to the big day, it's a good idea to start thinking about how you want your birth experience to play out, and writing a birth plan can really help!
From info about your birth partner to pain relief options, you'll need to gather your thoughts and note down any preferences you might have, so everyone involved is on the same page.
For first-time parents, this can be a little daunting and can feel a little like a test - but don't worry, we're here to guide you through it and hopefully make the birth plan planning a little easier.
What is a birthing plan?
A birth plan, put plainly, is a record of what you want to happen during your labour, delivery and after.
This can include virtually anything you want the healthcare professionals delivering your baby to know, and it will be included within your maternity records.
If you've received advice from your maternity team that you want to stick with during your birth, you'll want to add that to your birth plan. If you have specific preferences about the position you'd prefer for labour, chuck that in.
Remember, different people have their own unique birth plans - this isn't GCSE Maths, you can't copy off your pal. Sure, take advice, but make sure that YOUR personal preferences that fit your circumstances are included in your birth plan. It's all about you and your baby after all.
Your birth plan is a way for you to help the health professionals supporting you. It lets you share information so they can care for you and meet your wishes, but no matter what you say in your birth plan, you can change your mind and consent to different care at any time.
What goes in a birth plan?
First things first, it's important to include your name, the names of anyone in your medical care team, and your contact information.
Aside from that, there's a lot that you can include in your birth plan to help your delivery team know what you're after during your delivery. Depending on your specifics, like whether you want a home birth, a more holistic birth, or if you're after a water birth or you want to explore hypnobirthing - you'll need to detail your ideal environment and other conditions you require when you go into labour.
It's important to remember to be flexible, though. Your delivery team will try and follow your birth plan as much as they can but ultimately, they'll do what's best for you and the baby in the moment. You're allowed to change your mind whenever you want and so are the healthcare professionals. Remember, everyone has your best interest in mind. Plus, sometimes they don't have a spare pool in the hospital and apparently calling dibs doesn't mean anything.
Where to give birth
The first thing you'll want to include in your birth plan is where you intend on giving birth. Depending on what's available in your area, you can give birth:
- at home
- in a midwifery unit
- in a maternity team unit in the hospital
Your midwife will probably explain your best options and outline the benefits of each, but the decision is yours. You might find it helpful to get some advice from the pros (your mom friends). Most hospitals and maternity units offer tours - go and have a nosey round. And you can always change your mind about where you'd like to give birth - things don't always go to plan in labour and your main concerns might change in the moment, which is totally fine.
C-section birth plan
If you're having a planned C-section, you should include as much information about this as possible in your birth plan. It's a good idea to think about:
- who you want to take with you - if your caesarean section is carried out under local anaesthetic and you're awake, your partner or companion can sit with you if you'd like them to
- what music you'd like to play during the birth (if any)
- if you want a screen up during the procedure
Information about your birth partner
Having a birth partner offers way more benefits than just having someone to yell at while you're pushing. It's been shown to reduce the need for pain relief while in labour - suppose having someone there to hold your hand is its own pain relief of sorts. But you'll need to provide some information about your birth partner in your birth plan.
You need to outline who they are and where you're comfortable with them being while you're in labour. For example, would you want your birth partner with you if you need a C-section? Or if you require a forceps or vacuum delivery? All this needs to be outlined in your birth plan.
Doula
During labour, delivery and the postpartum period, some people decide to have a doula present to advocate for them and provide emotional support.
A doula is a trained professional who offers non-medical support throughout the birthing process. They can help with pain management techniques, provide reassurance, and act as a liaison between the birthing person and medical staff.
When selecting a doula, it's important to have an initial consultation to discuss expectations and preferences. You can also decide how involved they will be in the lead-up to the birth and in the birthing room. Remember to communicate any specific needs or preferences, such as those regarding religion or language, with your doula to ensure a positive and supportive birthing experience.
If you've decided that you'd like to have the support of a doula, be sure to note this down in your birth plan.
Position for labour and birth
Think about what position(s) you'd prefer to be in during labour and birth. This can depend on how active you'd like to be up until the birth - will you be standing and walking around when they're almost here, or are you more of a relaxer? Here are some popular ones that might appeal to you:
- Squatting: This is a great one for the late stages of labour. Squatting tilts the uterus forward, which is perfect for delivery, and relieves some of the pressure on your back.
- All fours: Great for getting a little massage from your birth partner! This position also opens the pelvis and lets gravity do its thing.
- Sitting: Being upright on the edge of the bed or using a birthing stool is another great way to let gravity help you out a little. Plus, between contractions, you can always lie back and have a little rest before the next big push.
Plus loads more! You can lie on your side, lie down in bed, or kneel against some pillows - whatever you think will be most comfortable for you.
Pain relief preferences
This is probably the one that requires the most research. You can try breathing and relaxation tactics, massage and maybe being in warm water to relieve some of the pressure. Other than that, it's good to consider any other methods of pain relief you might like to try to assist with delivery.
These can include:
- gas and air
- epidural
- TENS (transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation)
- pain relieving injections
At this stage, it's also worth including if you'd like to try and use hypnobirthing techniques. Helping ease anxiety and stress with hypnobirthing can be an effective and natural form of pain management and one that more and more mums-to-be are opting for.
