Your birth plan – or better, your birth preferences – can be an important part of your journey into parenthood.
You may have heard people say their birth plan went out of the window, or that it isn’t worth writing one. In my opinion, as a doula and mother of four, it is worth thinking about your birth preferences (rather than a “plan”). Whether you put them in writing is up to you, but sharing and discussing your preferences, thoughts and feelings about the birth with your birth partner(s) is important.
You can make it as detailed as you like, but the more detail you include, the less realistic your expectations may become. So focus on your top four or five preferences – things you are likely to be able to control.
You may wish to consider:
- Your birth place – where would you like to give birth?
- The birth environment
- Who will be there (birth partner(s), doula…)?
- Which home comforts would you like (music, a blanket, a cushion…)?
- What will the lighting be like?
- Will there be music?
- Type of birth
- Vaginal
- Caesarean
- Induction
- In water or out of water
- Your religion, beliefs and traditions
- Your medical history and your individual options
- Your preferences for medical pain relief, for example:
- “I don’t want any”
- “Let me know when I can have an epidural”
- “I would like X but would like to avoid Y”
- Vaginal examinations and touch: you can decline any vaginal examination, or any other form of physical touch, at any point – and you can change your mind at any time. Many people are happy to have vaginal examinations, and consenting to them can help your midwife support you.
The NHS website has a very detailed birth plan template. It’s a useful checklist to make sure you’ve considered all your options, even if you don’t use it as your actual birth preferences.
It can help to think through your birth in order:
- Early labour / at home
- Active labour / on the way to hospital / while waiting for the midwives to arrive
- Established labour / at your birth place under midwifery care
- Transition
- Second stage / pushing
- Third stage / the placenta
- The golden hour with your baby
If any of your preferences don’t align with your healthcare provider’s recommendations, discuss them before the day, not on the day. A doula can also help you explore your preferences and make sure you have good, evidence-based information. You might also like my post on using the Circle of Control to write your birth plan.
Please also check out my online course! No videos, just text and images to learn in your own time. Includes hypnobirthing mp3s, scripts, workbook, handouts, infographics and much more! Lots and lots of information at your fingertips! Includes:
- hypnobirthing mp3s
- hypnobirthing scripts
- written information
- infographics and other imagery
- printable handouts
- printable workbook/journal
Some sources of good evidence-based information:
