Homebirth – Planning Ahead
If you’re pregnant you may have been asked by the midwife or friends if you’ve done your birth plan. If you haven’t got a clue what that is or what to write then you’ve come to the right place.
A birth plan is written down plan of your wishes when it comes to giving birth to your baby. It’s a guide for anyone looking after you during labour. Of course every birth is different and birth plans can’t always be followed to the letter due to circumstances. It is however a good starting point.
Some women don’t want to write a birth plan and just go with the flow and that’s ok too.
It is though good advice to think about what you might like to happen at each stage if things go as you hope. I’ve had birth plans for all three boys. I’m also lucky to have been able to access the services of One to One midwives with two of the boys.
Thankfully my wishes were followed for those two births as my midwifes were familiar with my wishes and birth plan before the boys were born. At my most recent birth there was also a student midwife present who read my birth plan upon arrival.
If you want to watch my birth it’s on youtube and I’ll leave the link at the bottom of the post.
I thought it might help other parents to be if I published my birth plan. Please do remember that this plan is individual to me and my circumstances so feel free to pick and mix bits that you want. This plan is for a home birth and I have blanked out an personal information.
My Birth Plan
I plan to have a home birth as discussed with my One2one midwife
My one2one midwife D****** (07***********) is aware of all my wishes with regards to the way I wish to be treated during labour.
I wish to have a gentle labour, I prefer not to be spoken to while having contractions and I know from previous experience that I don’t like other people to be talking around me. I’m happy to speak in between contractions.
I prefer not to be offered pain relief and will ask for it if I wish to utilise any.
I will not consent to vaginal examinations during labour routinely but may ask to be examined, please do not offer.
I wish to try for a water birth.
I wish to be the first person to touch and hold the baby, when he is born I will pick him up from the water or his place of birth.
If I need to transfer into hospital I wish to go to ****** hospital not ******* hospital
In the event of a transfer to hospital before birth:
I do not give consent for anyone to cut the umbilical cord other than myself or my husband N***** once the baby is born
I plan to have the placenta encapsulated so please do not discard it, please label and refrigerate the placenta as soon as possible after separation from the baby until my husband is able to take it home.
In the event of a caesarean section needing to be performed either under a local or a general anaesthetic I ask that the placenta and umbilical cord stay attached to the baby (Lotus birth) and that I be given the baby for immediate skin to skin contact. In the event that I am unable to give skin to skin, please give the baby to my husband N***** so that he can give immediate skin to skin contact with the baby.
In the event of a transfer to hospital after birth:
If I am to have a manual removal of the placenta please be aware that I plan to have the placenta encapsulated so please do not discard it, please label and refrigerate as soon as possible after removal until my husband is able to take it home.
If the baby needs to go to a special care unit then please do not give any artificial feeds, I will be breastfeeding the baby exclusively.
Emergencies
I or my husband will discuss all eventualities as they arise. Please share any concerns with us as soon as they arise. It will help us to know the answers to these questions:
1. What is wrong?
2. What do you suggest and why?
3. What would be the possible outcomes with and without this intervention?
4. How much time do we have to make a decision?
5. Are there any other courses of action open to us.
We will be guided by balanced, informative advice. We want a healthy baby and mother and will take all necessary steps to achieve this.