When I was pregnant I initially didn’t see the point of making a birth plan. I had always heard that it’s better to ‘go with the flow’ when it came to birth, as you never know what’s going to happen or how you’re going to feel on the day.
But the problem with ‘going with the flow’ is that when different options do come up on the day, you might not have thought about them. You’re unlikely to know what the advantages and disadvantages of any options are, what the possible consequences (good or bad) could be of opting for/against something, and you might end up having to make decisions about something you know nothing about when you’re feeling tired or overwhelmed during labour.
YES, birth can be unpredictable and you need to have an element of flexibility - but this doesn’t mean you’re powerless to control anything. There are SO many choices you can make that should be possible whatever type of birth you have, and can even influence how your birth goes on the day. Preparation can make such a difference.
The POWER of a birth plan isn’t necessarily in the plan itself, but in the process of making the plan. The act of putting together a birth plan encourages you to research and explore all the options and possibilities, so even if your plan A doesn’t happen, you’ll still understand all your options, and you’ll be able to make the best decisions for you and your baby.
Get your birth partner involved too - in the moment it can be easy to forget what your preferences are and why, so if both of you are clued up then your partner can help remind you of what you learnt together.
If the idea of a birth ‘plan’ seems a bit too rigid, then it’s sometimes better to think of it as your birth ‘preferences’. Having birth preferences doesn’t mean you can’t change your mind, but if you DO change your mind then, having looked at all the options, it will be easier to make the right decision!
Aim for what you want, as we should always go for what we want right? But being prepared for any eventuality can help make your birth POSITIVE whatever happens.
Take your preferences along to your midwife/antenatal appointments later on in pregnancy, as you might start to be asked questions about your preferences then.
Right, so how do I write a birth plan?
There are lots of ways you could do it:
There are loads of free ‘birth plan’ templates available online which give you an idea of how to structure one.
Have a look at ‘The Positive Birth Book Visual Birth Plan Cards’. They can act as a great visual way to go through and present your birth preferences.
Or contact me for a FREE Birth Preferences template, and a checklist of lots of things you could be thinking about!
Start by doing some research and work out what’s important to you. You might have strong feelings about a waterbirth, pain relief, skin-to-skin, cord clamping - and equally you might not! Write all this down (or draw it if that’s your thing - get creative!) and you’ve got your plan A.
Then think about what you might want if, for any reason, aspects of your plan A aren’t possible. For example, your plan A might be to go into labour naturally, but you might be offered, and decide to accept, an induction. Would you be open to induction? What methods? What would you want an induction to look like? That might be your plan B.
Say you end up choosing to have a C-Section - what would you like that to look like? That might be your plan C.
What should I consider?
Some examples of the things that might be in your birth preferences:
If you’re using hypnobirthing techniques, would you like your medical team to know that? How can they help you?
Where would you like to give birth? Would you like a homebirth? A waterbirth? To be in a Birth Centre or an Obstetric Unit?
What would you like your birthing environment to be like? Think about any music, lighting, familiar objects, or scents you might want in the room.
What comfort measures would you consider? How do you feel about pain relief options?
How do you feel about induction methods? Would you consider a sweep if offered?
What would you like a C-Section to look like? Would you like any music, would you like to be talked through what’s happening?
Would you like physiological or active management to deliver your placenta?
Would you like skin-to-skin with your baby immediately after birth?
I go through a lot of these options in my hypnobirthing courses, or I’d be really happy to put together a bespoke session to focus on you and your preferences.
Katie x
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