Birth Plans - A useful exercise (Birth Plan)

Member Name: LIZR315

Product:	Birth Plan
Date:	04/12/08 (97 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Makes you aware of what your choices are

Disadvantages: Don't stick to them rigidly

A birth plan is something that many websites suggest you do prior to giving birth. You are meant to write down exactly what you want to happen to you during your birth and give it to your midwife.

I wrote out that I would like to use the water birth pool, what drugs I wanted, who I wanted to stay with me and what should happen in an emergency and how I wanted to feed my newborn. It wasn't very long, probably only about half a side of A4. Some ladies plans are very detailed outlining what they want to happen at every stage of labour, down to what they want to do with the placenta.

As a dutiful first time mum I typed out my birth plan and printed it out and put it in my hospital bag, shared it with my husband ... and there it stayed.

On arrival at hospital I started off according to my plan and asked for the birth pool but as anyone who has given birth knows it's best to go with the flow and listen to your body and the midwife rather than sticking to a rigid plan.

I ended up not doing what I thought I wanted and 'screamed' for an epidural very early which was the best decision I ever made.

I think it was a good exercise because it made me aware of what my birth options could be and not go into it without any knowledge or idea. A pushy midwife could badger you into something you didn't want if you hadn't thought about it. Because I was aware of the choices I could assert my choice for an epidural and not be swayed to another choice which is easier for the midwife. It's also good to share with your birth partner as they could help you and have an idea of what you want.

If I have another child would I make a birth plan... yes and it would say


'GIVE ME AN EPIDURAL ASAP'

Summary: A good idea to think about one prior to birth