Today, I am sharing my birth plan with you all and why I think they are so so important.
I, for one, couldn’t communicate during my labour. I mean I could talk, I wasn’t a mute. It was just the last thing I wanted to do. I was quite happy to be left alone in the corner, doing my thing.
This meant I wasn’t able to convey what, in an ideal birth situation, I wanted. Luckily I had a birth plan which had it all written down. I didn’t have to rely on my husband to speak for me. Imagine if he’d got it wrong!
I had two midwives during my labour and it meant that both of them could read my birth plan and understand the kind of birth I wanted.
On my original birth plan with Rosalie I had written down that I didn’t want my baby to have the Vitamin K injection. My midwife came over and discussed this with me and explained why she felt that Rosalie should have it and I changed my mind. Rosalie did have the vitamin K injection and I will have it again when baby No.2 is born.
I can’t stress enough why I think you should have a birth plan. It just means all you thoughts, fears, expectations can be explained to the midwives without you having to say a word. The peace of mind that gave me during my labour was invaluable.
I have added a copy of my birth plan that you can download and use as a guide when you create your own plan for your birth. I hope it helps!
I talk more about my birth plan in the video below…
13 Comments
Vikki Holness
23rd November 2016 at 12:55 PMMy birth plans went completely out of the window with my two – the first came 10 weeks early and the second was delivered by emergency c-section 3 weeks early – but you are so right in stressing about how important it is to have one in place! xx
Rebecca | AAUBlog
23rd November 2016 at 2:14 PMI’ve had no contractions and have two kids, so my birth plan didn’t happen with the first and was non existent withy second! (an emergency section after a hostile appointment and then an advised c-section). But I agree that for a straightforward labour it is a good idea. Neither of mine had the vitamin K and both my midwives said not to have it either – how interesting how it all varies (though it isn’t needed as much after a section apparently as the birth wasn’t as traumatic on baby’s body as a natural labour would be) x
TheLondonMum
23rd November 2016 at 8:45 PMI never really had a birth plan with my first- although his whole birth from stat to finish wasn’t anything I could have planned for because it was medicalised root he get go. With the second one I know I need to feel more in control of the birth. I’m not sure how I want to do it as an elective c section is an option for me, but whatever I choose I need to make sure my voice is heard.
Sarah
28th November 2016 at 8:12 PMAw bless you. It’s so horrible when you don’t feel in control of the situation. I would definitely recommend a birth plan as although I couldn’t talk I knew the midwives understood what I wanted. The worst part of my whole labour was the maternity assessment unit when I didn’t know what was going to happen of whether the birthing unit I wanted had space for me. I’m opting for a home birth this time to try and eliminate that bit altogether. I’ve heard lots of mama’s have wonderful elective c section experiences xx
TheLondonMum
23rd November 2016 at 8:46 PMI should really check my spelling before I send lol.
*start to finish
*medicalised from the
Let's Flip A Home
24th November 2016 at 6:31 PMI always wanted a date birth, but then when I was pregnant I was high risk so that idea went out the window. I suppose I had a plan as such, I didn’t want any pain relief. However it all ended in an emergency c-section, so I guess for me I wish I was more prepared about all the options.
Let's Flip A Home
24th November 2016 at 6:31 PMWater birth that should have said.
Sarah
28th November 2016 at 7:35 PMI thought I wanted a water birth too but I am so glad I didn’t have one! xx
hellobabysteph
27th November 2016 at 8:06 PMI had a plan with Jack and it didn’t go to plan at all. Thankfully I wasn’t that bothered as I know some people are so rigid about it and with Phoebs I didn’t really have one x
Sarah
28th November 2016 at 5:27 PMI think it’s such a good starting point regardless of what happens. I was so lucky that I got pretty much all I wanted xx
Steph (@steph_baybee)
27th November 2016 at 9:07 PMMy birth plan went out the window during labour, but I do think they are a good place to start but keeping your mind open to change!
Sarah
28th November 2016 at 5:26 PMDefinitely! Sorry to hear that yours didn’t go to plan but good that you adapted and got everything you needed! xx
This Mama Life
29th November 2016 at 4:33 PMIt’s good to have a plan but it’s also good to know that 9 times out of 10, it won’t go to plan! It’s good to have a rough idea of what you’d like to happen written down, but to be prepared to just go with the flow a bit 🙂 You’ll do great!x