Birth Plan??

So I have yet to do anything..... I thought this weekend I could make a start. So what do I do? Just write it on a piece of paper? Are there any proformas I could use?  DOes the midwife give me a plan?

What did you ladies do? Help!!!!

With A, I was given a little booklet type thing at one of my appointments that had info about a birthplan, and then a basis for writing one.  So it had various headings and questions that we could answer and write info underneath about the ideas we had and what options we would/wouldn't consider.

To be honest, although it was very useful for me to feel "in control" of what would happen, I forgot all about it once I was in labour! lol.  I think my labour was exactly as I had said I wanted it to be, but that may have been more down to luck than anything.

There must be some sample birthplans floating around on t'internet that might help?

I didnt get to write one as Ben was born at 36+4, but always remember that it is your thoughts and wishes but trust in the midwife and listen to her advice as well.  Mine was amazing and when i said i don't have a birth plan she looked at me and smiled and said 'great we'll do this together !'.

Mandi

Mine consisted of one line - that I wanted H to be the one to tell me if we had a boy or a girl.

I thought it would be better to have no set plans so I wouldn't be disappointed if it didn't go to plan. It was a mistake for me. It was not a good birth & I felt (& still feel 21 months later) bitterly disappointed in how it turned out

next time I will def write something down.

On a bit of paper is fine. Or copy someone else's.  They will ask you for it when you get to the hospital, but also good to have your H wave it under their noses I would think

My midwife advised me to write up on a piece of paper and put it right at the front of the folder which was my maternity notes - the file had a section for birth plan in it, but it was buried quite deep in the booklet and the midwife advised it would be much easier for the staff if it was prominent.

I know others will think differently but my advice is to keep it really simple, and try to stick to the aspects which you already have clear feelings about - don't feel that you need to cover every single element.  Mine had about 5 key points on it (eg I wasn't keen on the idea of pethidine/morphine, I wanted OH to tell me the sex of the baby) and just finished it up with a sentence saying for everything else, I will decide at the time in light of the advice coming from those who are looking after us.

There are lot's of sample birth plans on the wiki: http://www.btwiki.ebrey.net/index.php?title=Example_birth_plans

My only birth plan was the one in my green notes, i think my was just along the lines of i was open to the idea of an epidural, would like to keep mobile, would like the injection the assist with delivering the placenta etc.

egiw

x

Have a read of those one the wiki - lots of good ideas there

We kept ours to what we wanted to happen in a worst case scenario so it let us think through options and preferences - it also meant we made sure we listed things like if there are problems, Mr Rabbit stays with baby, no formula unless we explicitly consent, vitamin K by drop not injection, put directly onto my skin not cleaned up, quiet in delivery room and minimal interference

I'm about to do mine for my 2nd birth