Crafting your Birth Plan

A Guide to Preparing for Your Baby’s Arrival

The experience of birthing a baby is intense and awe-inspiring. It can be a long and physically challenging process, and it requires the mother to be resilient and strong. The birth process can be unpredictable, and it is important for you as the birthing parent and your support team to be flexible and open to different possibilities. Having a birth plan and support team during childbirth can be incredibly helpful. This team may include a partner, family member, or friend, as well as a midwife or two. Support during childbirth can come in many forms, from moral support to physical support, such as massage, breathing exercises, and pain management techniques.

This is where a birth plan is important. A birth plan outlines not only how you want to deliver your baby, but also any pain management and after-birth wishes. It is a written document that outlines all your preferences regarding your birth, and it can be put into your pregnancy folder for your midwife or doctor to see. There are a few important things you need to do before writing your birth plan though.

Do your research

Before you can create an effective birth plan, you need to understand all of your options for both labour and delivery. It is important to understand how labour works and the different stages involved, as well as pain management techniques and potential complications. You can talk to your midwife about all the options.

Reflect on your values and priorities

Every person’s childbirth experience is unique. Consider what matters to you regarding pain management, mobility, privacy, medical intervention and postpartum care. Think about your relationship with your birthing partner and your emotional well-being.

Be specific and Clear

Your birth plan should be as detailed and concise as possible. Use clear language that leaves no room for ambiguity. Use bullet points or numbered lists to organise your thoughts and make it easy for a midwife or doctor to find the information they need.

Stay Flexible

This is important. Though you want your birth to go a particular way, it is not always possible, and you must be open to the idea that yours may not go the way you would like. By being flexible and keeping an open mind you are allowing for a smoother transition into the unintended.

Share your birth plan

It is pointless writing a birth plan without showing it to your midwife or doctor. Make sure to ask any questions regarding areas you are unsure of, and make sure that they understand your wishes and goals for your birth.

Advocate for yourself

Remember it is your body, your labour and your delivery. You have to assert yourself or have someone there with you who can when you are unable to. Never be afraid to speak up, ask questions or reassess your options should you need to.

It is important to remember that the most important thing during your labour and delivery, is that you feel safe, supported and empowered. By creating a birth plan, you are able to set the stage for a positive and meaningful childbirth experience.

Below is a link to a free birth plan for you to print off and use, and a guide for how to use it.

An image of a birth plan and how to use it.

Now you have you birth plan all written up and you are happy with your choices. You must think about packing your hospital bag, this is a good idea even if you are planning a home birth. Remember plan for the unexpected. Below is a list of things that I would recommend having in your hospital bag:

Hospital Bag

  • Hospital notes and birth plan
  • Comfortable clothes and PJs for you (something easy to breastfeed in)
  • Knickers
  • Clothes for baby
  • Nappies and wipes for baby – If you are planning to use reusable ones, take disposable ones as well just in case your baby is small.
  • Hygiene products – Shampoo, conditioner, body wash, toothbrush, toothpaste, hairbrush. You never know how long you might be in for.
  • Charger for your phone
  • Breast-pads
  • Nursing bra
  • Maybe bring something that you can do to pass the time – a book etc.
  • Partner – Clothes, charger
  • Snacks/drinks – You want something like Lucozade Sport to help keep up your energy, and some little snacks.
  • Maternity pads

Pads – Uhhh… especially if you cool these down in the fridge, they are amazing to help with the pain from vaginal birth and help soothe any tears and stitches you might have had.

Rubber ring – Hear me out. If you have had a vaginal birth, sitting down can be quite uncomfortable and those little rubber rings you can buy for the pool are the perfect thing to help ease the pain while sitting down.

Resources

The NHS website has a lot of information with regard to birthing in the UK and is a great place to start your research.

When looking for support, a doula is a wonderful person to have on your side.

Home birthing can be an amazing way to have a baby. The NCT website has information regarding this choice.

If you want to have a look at having a water birth check out the website here.

Though a c-section may not be your choice, here is some information on the NHS website about it.


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