Desert Storks

Birth Plans

Birth Plans have been around for many years. Birth Plans originated to assist women to inform their midwife or doctor of their wishes during labour, particularly if they wanted to avoid routine interventions. Birth Plans have evolved since their humble beginnings. Birth Plans now may be comprised of many things, including thoughts and expectations of what you would like for the birth of your baby. I must say from the out set, that I personally dislike the term ‘Birth Plan’. The term ‘Birth Plan’ implies that there is some control over birth and that you are able to plan for it. The reality is that you have little control over labour and birth, making it very difficult to formulate any sort of plan. Perhaps it would be better to think in terms of listing ‘Birth Preferences’ or compiling a ‘Wish List’.

The concept of a Birth Plan however, can be very valuable in acting as a tool of communication between your self and your midwife or doctor. Birth Plans can be used to help people around you know about your preferences before labour starts. As a tool to help you to explore different issues surrounding labour, birth and afterwards, Birth plans can help you formulate ideas on what you would like or not like to happen. You may find it very helpful to work on your birth plan with your partner, so they can be part of the decision making process and be able to assist you in implementing your plan.

Birth Plans can be quite varied, they can be short and to the point or extensive and cover every possible contingency you can think of, right through to caesarean birth to caring for the baby after the birth. There is no right or wrong way to write a birth plan. You can gather ideas for writing your Birth Plan from friends, books, childbirth educators, midwives, doctors, hospitals or the Internet.Every birth plan is very different and the sorts of issues that are important vary from woman to woman. A good way to start working on your birth plan is by undertaking the following five-step process:

1. Explore your options

2. Examine your feelings

3. Evaluate your priorities

4. Examine your person situation

5. Discuss issues with your midwife or doctor

This will give you a good basis on which to start formulating your birth plan.

The following is a large list of issues that you may or may not want to include on your birth plan:

• 1st Stage of Labour

 Choice of birth place
 
 Clothing during labour (own or hospital gown)
 
 Monitoring of the baby
 
 Activity during labour
 
 Eating and drinking in labour
 
 Students during labour
 
 Vaginal exams
 
 Pain medication
 
 Positions during the first stage of labour
 
 Use of water
 
 Use of heat
 
 Self help techniques
 
 Caesarean birth options
 

• 2nd and 3rd Stage of labour

 Positions during the second stage of labour
 
 Pushing during the 2nd stage
 
 People present during the birth
 
 Natural or managed 3rd stage of labour
 
 Episiotomy and tears
 
 Immediate contact after birth
 
 Cutting of the baby’s cord after birth
 
 Baby’s first breastfeed
 

• Postnatal Care

 Vitamin K
 
 Hepatitis B Immunisation
 
 Rooming in with mother during the postnatal stay
 
 Newborn Screening Test
 
 Breastfeeding/bottlefeeding
 
 Preferences if baby has complications
 

This list is by no means exhaustive. There are many other issues that can be considered. Use this list just as a guide.