We can assume that since you have stumbled across this blog, you are currently expecting. Either that or you are dead curious about what a ‘birth plan’ is considering that giving birth often feels like something you can’t plan for. Whatever your motivations might be, welcome, let’s help you optimise your birth plan!
What’s a birth plan?
A birth plan is a set of notes or documents that lays out how you would like things to go down on the big day. Every birth plan is different, some people prefer to just face things as they come while others want to give a bit more structure to what can be a very hectic scenario. There is no wrong or right way to approach your birth plan as it is predominantly for you, your birth partner and occasionally your medical team’s reference.
What to include on your birth plan?
It can essentially be anything you like but if you need a place to get started – here are a few things we suggest…
- Allergies – if you have any allergies, especially medicine-based ones, might be worth listing them for reference. During labour, your recall of information may be somewhat inhibited (you will be busy doing other things) so having a little list for your birth partner and doctors can save a bit of time and energy.
- Placenta and afterbirth – Are you donating your placenta? Are you privately storing the cord blood and tissue? Do you want to keep anything? Have something noted down. These are things you will have discussed with your midwife and doctors previously but just to keep everything together, keep note.
- Birth pools and yoga balls – Essentially any other equipment you think you might want and or need, you have this noted somewhere convenient just so nothing is missed.
- Emergency contacts – Obviously if you have a birth partner with you, they will be the first point of contact but if you need someone else should an emergency happen, note done those you that need contacting.
- Pain management – if you have a preference for medication or non-medication options or have a sort of “let’s see where this goes” attitude – note it all down.
- Birth room – Music, noise levels, lighting levels, how many people are in there at one time – anything you know you can control, choose what you would prefer.
There are probably a few other things you may think of for your personal plan, but we hope this gets the ball rolling.
Conclusion
Just be aware that plans may change or (God forbid) something may go wrong. You may want to factor in some plan bs or just be prepared for things to maybe go off plan. Otherwise, this is yours to do with as you see fit
