birth plans - dont bother go with the flow (Birth Plan)

Member Name: scottsmum

Product:	Birth Plan
Date:	31/10/08 (40 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: are good if something really bothers you - but make sure it is read

Disadvantages: you cant prepare for the unknown and will just leave you feel let down

What is a birth plan?

Birth plans are plans written prior to the birth indicating how you would like the labour to be, who you want to be there, medical intervention, pain relief etc. This is supposed to provide a solid foundation to how your labour progresses and the treatment you recieve from the midwifes ensuring your labour is as near to what you want it to be. However as everyone is aware there could be complications meaning further actions are needed which cannot be planned for.

My 1st child - birth plan

With my 1st i though about the labour a lot and wanted it to be how i wanted and not anybody else or just another number on the labour ward. however as i didnt know what to expect or how i would deal with it i found it difficult to right a detailed birth plan. i spoke briefly to my midwife about it who just said you will know what you want at the time and just relax and go with the flow as birth plans can often cause upset as you go in wanting one thing and it doesnt happen and you feel let down. i still wanted a plan and to be made my feelings noted so i wrote a brief birth plan in my pregnancy notes of the things which were most important to me.
1. my partner to be with me throughout
2. no students present - i know they all have to train, but i wanting it relaxing and not to be poked about with or unneeded stress caused.
3. no pain releif for as long as possible and only if needed gas and air - definetely no epidural or pethidine
4. to remain active throughout the labour, walk around or do what i felt comfatable with and not to be forced to be in bed
5. to take a position i was comfatbale for the labour
6. to have baby placed on my chest straight away and to be offered the breast
7. for my partner to cut the cord
8. my biggest point was for me to look and discover the baby's sex myself and not to be told.

All were just small points are what i wanted to happen. Needless to say i wish i had listened to my midwife and didnt bother as the midwives in the labour suite never even looked at it and at the end i felt let down. my main problem was that i went into labour at 36+0 and labour was progressing quickly, i went into hospital 3 hours after contractions started and were already close together. the first thing against my plan was that i was put in the care of a student, then she insisted i stopped in the bed and didnt move as was essential to moniter me with me being early and that it would be hours yet. 5 hours into the labour i said i needed to push, which she said was not possible as still to early, in agony i then resorted to gas and air but the pressure kept getting worse, finally another midwife came and examined me to find i was actually ready to push as fully dilated. i was then not given the choice to find a different position and was just told to push. the baby was placed on my chest and my partner did cut the cord, but that was only because they asked me there and then. my biggest thing that i wanted to look at the sex was ruined as the midwife shouted out you got a boy. although it was all very special i couldnt help feeling let down afterwards and wondered what the point of writing a birth plan was if it wasnt even read.

My 2nd child

This time knowing what to expect from a labour and how a birth plan just caused so much upset afterwards last time i never even bothered filling in the page this time. All i wanted was a homebirth and from there on in would go with the flow and enjoy it as much as possible, knowing what i said is what i would get. good job i didnt bother with a birthplan, as went into labour, called midwifes straight away, 50 minutes later i was fighting the urge to push, still wondering round the house freely, finally staggered onto the bed, on all 4s which was mouch easier to push just as the midwives arrived, i gave 2 pushes and she was born. so all the agony and time spent writing a birth plan would of been a waste anyway as no-one was there and there would not of been time to read.

3rd Child

This time i will do exactly the same again, i felt so in control last time, even though i was scared being alone, but i knew how long i could hold the urge and knew it was time to push without being poked. being a homebirth as well midwifes tend to be more tuned in with what a mother expects and my daughter (which we knew anyway this time) was immediately passed between my legs for me to hold and my partner was automatically passed the scissors to cut the cord.

My Advice

In my opinion i would not bother with a birth plan unless there is something you really want to be made clear, in which case tell the midwifes as soon as you arrive so its not over looked. if it is your first child, it is impossible to know what to expect and how you will come and will probably feel let down or that you havent done what you want if things dont happen as planned. i would strongly just let nature takes its course, go with the flow and anything you want such as pain relief or positions etc ask there and then, you really cant know months in advance, you will just get a feeling during labour and go with it, by doing so you ill feel more in control and happier at the end as expectations are not as high.

Summary: go with the flow you will only know what is right at the time and not weeks before