Birth Plan

What Is A Birth Plan?

A birth plan allows you to be clear with the birthing team about what you do and do not want during the birth and directly after the birth of your child. The main thing to consider when writing your birth plan is to be flexible, in an ideal world we hope everything will go to plan but if it doesn’t, you need to flexible.

What Do I Put In My Birth Plan?

• do you want to be induced?
• do you want a natural birth or want pain relief?
• if you want pain relief, which options would you prefer?
• do you want an epidural?
• do you want your partner or someone else in the delivery room?
• what type of birth do you want? water birth, active birth etc
• how do you feel about an episiotomy?
• do you want to see your baby’s head being delivered?
• do you want your baby delivered directly onto your tummy?
• do you want the cord cut straight away?
• do you want your partner to cut the cord?
• do you want an injection of Synotometrine to speed up the delivery of the placenta?
• do you want to be stitched by the midwife or a student midwife?
• do you want student midwives present?
• do you want help to breastfeed directly after birth?

What Do I Do Now I Have Written My Birth Plan?

Now you have written your birth plan you need to share it with your midwife or GP and give them a copy. Ensure that your partner knows exactly what you want in case you are in a situation where things move too quickly.

Can I Change My Birth Plan?

Of course you can change your birth plan. If you do change your plan make sure you let your midwife or GP know.