your birth plan - mybirthbox fileyour birth plan 2. my birth partner will be..... 5. 6.during labour...
TRANSCRIPT
Your birth plan
2. My birth partner will be
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
5. During labour I would like to use
A birthing pool
A birthing ball
A birthing mat
A birthing stool
Wall bars to lean on
standing up
I am not sure
1. I am planning to give birth…
At home
In hospital
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
In a MLU/birthing centre
Other
3. Please call me
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
9. I am happy for the baby’s heartbeat to be monitored:
Intermittently by a hand held Stethoscope/Doppler if
the labour is trouble free
Continually using a CTG machine taped to my
abdomen
I do not wish my baby’s heart rate to be monitored,
so please discuss with me
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
10. My thoughts on having my waters artificially
broken are:
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
11. I plan to stay active during labour and move around:
Yes No
6. I am happy to have training doctors/midwives
present:
YesNo
4. We would like my birth partner to take photos/
videos during labour:
Yes No
8. I may wish to use the following pain relief options
in the order I’ve numbered:
A bath/shower
Massage
Breathing techniques
Being in the water
Acupuncture
TENS machine
Gas and air
Pain relieving injections
An epidural
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
_
_
_
_
_
_
_
_
_
7. I plan to use the following positions during labour:
Standing
Sitting
Kneeling
On all fours
Leaning forward
Squatting
On my side
On my back
Other
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
13. My thoughts on having an episiotomy:
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
15. If the birth results in a forceps, vacuum or caesarean
section delivery
I would like my partner to remain
I would like my partner to leave
I am not sure yet
14. I would like to have the following happen during the
2nd stage of labour:
Be told how the baby is progressing – e.g. when the
head is crowning
Be given strong encouragement
Everyone to be as quiet as possible
Be told when I should push
Push when it feels right to me
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
16. I want to be told the sex immediately after birth
Yes No
19. If there are no complications, I would like:
My baby cleaned a little then handed straight to me
My baby handed straight to me with cord still attached
My baby cleaned, wrapped in a blanket and handed to
me
I do not mind
I am not sure yet
20. I plan to feed my baby:
Breastmilk from birth
Bottled milk from birth
Mixed feed from birth
I am not sure yet
22. My special requirements
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
17. My thoughts on an injection to contract the womb
and speed up the delivery of the placenta:
I am happy to have the injection after birth
I would like to wait and expel the placenta naturally if
possible
I am planning a lotus birth and wish to expel the
placenta naturally and remain attached to the umbili-
cal cord
I am not sure yet
18. I would like the umbilical cord to be handled as
follows:
The doctor/midwife to cut the cord
My birth partner to cut the cord
The cord to be cut immediately
Delay the cord cutting
I am planning a lotus birth and wish the cord to
remain attached
I am not sure yet
21. My feelings on giving my baby vitamin K are:
I am happy for my baby to have a vitamin K injection
I am happy for my baby to have vitamin K orally
I do not wish my baby to have vitamin K
I am not sure yet
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
12. I hope to give birth in the following position:
Kneeling on all fours
Leaning forward
On my side
On my back
Squatting
I’d like to decide at the time
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
MyBirthBox
Where to give birthIt’s your right to choose where you would like to have your
baby. Your midwife can discuss the local facilities with you and
issues to do with your health or pregnancy that may affect your
choice.
Most women choose to give birth in hospital, a birthing centre
or at home. Even if you’re not yet sure, it’s worth discussing
the options with your midwife. For example, some hospitals do
not support a decision to switch to home birth on the day, but
do allow you to switch from home birth to birthing centre or
hospital.
Birth PartnerWho you would like with you during the
birth, if you want them there all the time
or if there are any circumstances or
procedures when you would like them to
leave. You may wish the birthing partner
to have other roles, such as being the first
point of contact for general questions the
staff have during the birth.
Birth Plan tips
Birthing equipmentThe use of birthing equipment such as birthing balls,
mats and wall bars can help to provide physical support
and relief during labour. They are often available in
birthing centres and some hospitals. If you might wish to
use these it’s worth checking with your midwife what
your birthing location has to offer or if you can bring
your own.
Birth poolIf you intend to use a pool during the birth, include this in
your plan. You can also speak to your midwife to under-
stand what stages of labour it’s recommended you can be
in the water, when you might not be able to and why.
If you’re planning a home birth it might be worth asking
your birth partner to do a ‘practice run’ inflating the pool
and checking the hose can reach from the tap to the space
you plan to birth in.
If you hope to use a birth pool in the birthing centre or
hospital, remember there are a limited number available, so
it might not always be possible.
Special requirementsIt is worth highlighting on your plan any special require-
ments you have to the midwifes and doctors such as; if
English isn’t your first language, you have certain
religious customs to be observed, you need a sign
language interpreter, you or your birth partner have
special needs, or you have dietary requirements.
Midwives, nurses and doctors in trainingYou may be asked if you are happy for midwives, nurses or
doctors to observe during your labour for their training.
You can state on your birth plan if you consent or not for
this to happen and the choice can be changed on the day.
1st Stage
Pain relief optionsPain relief for birth comes in many forms and you might
find it useful to write in your birth plan which, if any, you
hope to use. The order in which you intend to use them
if necessary and any you hope you avoid is also useful to
write down. You can use a number of different methods
at different stages of birth for whatever suits you best
and these include:
Breathing and relaxation, massage, acupuncture, water,
TENS (transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation), gas
and air (Entonox), pain-relieving injections, an epidural,
try to manage without pain relief.
You may also request to be informed about any medica-
tion and possible side effects before it is given to you.
Positions for labour and birthYou are encouraged to choose positions that are comfort-
able for you during labour and birth. Practicing them
beforehand, at home or in an antenatal class will help to give
you an idea of what is comfortable. But be aware that on
the day, your body may prefer weight on different parts of
you, so if those you practised don’t suit, try others until you
find what works for you.
Note on your plan if you would like to be standing, sitting,
kneeling, leaning forward, squatting, on your side or your
back. Or if there are any of these positions you do not want
to be encouraged into unless absolutely necessary.
Keeping active during labourGentle, normal movement such as standing up and walking
around should help to progress the birth. You might wish
to include a note in your plan if you are keen to follow an
“active birth” approach.
InterventionAs your labour progresses, the doctor or midwife may feel it is
necessary to intervene in some way for safety reasons e.g.
breaking waters, acceleration, ventouse. You might wish to
highlight in your plan if you are happy for them to proceed as
necessary or if you want them to be explained and discussed
first, and ideally to be kept to a minimum. Sometimes at this
stage of labour there may be some variation from your ideal
birth plan as delivering the baby safely will be your highest
priority.
Having an episiotomyAn episiotomy is a cut in the perineum (the area between
the vagina and anus) that may be performed if the perineum
won’t stretch enough and you would prefer not to tear, or if
the baby is short of oxygen and needs to be delivered
quickly. Discuss this with your midwife and note in you plan
whether or not you want this if the time comes.
“Obstetrics and Gynaecology Department:
Monitoring in Labour”
Monitoring during labourYour baby’s heart rate will be monitored during labour to
ensure they are not in distress. There are different ways this
can be done depending on your preference such as sonar,
ultrasound or with a stethoscope. A good article on this is:
http://www.uhcw.nhs.uk/clientfiles/File/Monitoring_in_la-
bour_UHCW_patient_information.pdf
http://www.uh-
cw.nhs.uk/clientfiles/-
File/Monitoring_in_la-
bour_UHCW_patient_
information.pdf
http://www.uh-
cw.nhs.uk/clientfiles/-
Here you might like to include a few notes around;
• reiterate here what position you would like to be in, or avoid
being in to push, which might be different to the positions
during the first stage of labour.
• outline if there’s any information you want to be made aware
of during the 2nd stage – if the baby’s head is crowing etc.
• what sort of encouragement you would like from the
staff around you; strong guidance, enthusiasm, as quiet as
possible.
• if you want to be told the sex immediately or find out
yourselves.
The final push
2nd Stage
Clamping the cordThe default approach is for the midwife or doctor to clamp the
umbilical cord, so if you would like someone such as your birth
partner to do it, you should state this in your birth plan. You
may also prefer to delay the cord clamping to allow the full
supply of oxygenated blood to reach the baby, which you can
also highlight in your plan if so.
Skin-to-skin contact with your
babyAssuming there are no health concerns the midwife or
doctor need to immediately address, you can choose to
have your baby handed to you immediately before the
cord is cut, or you may prefer to have them cleaned a litt
le,
the cord clamped and/or wrapped in a blanket firs
t. You
can of course change your mind at the time on the day.
Feeding your babyNew mums are encouraged to try and breastfeed as it
is the best form of nutrition for babies and has lasting
health benefits, however it is the choice of the new
Mum. You may wish to think about in advance and
state on your birth plan if you wish to breastfeed,
bottle feed or mix feed your baby. If you are planning
to try and breastfeed, please know that it takes most
mothers and babies a while to establish feeding so
don’t worry if it doesn’t come easily.
Soon after your baby is born, in hospitals you will be offered an
injection of artificial oxytocin in your thigh to help the womb
contract, prevent possible haemorrhaging and speed up the
delivery of the placenta.
You can choose to have this injection or you may prefer to expel
the placenta naturally. The choice is yours and it is worth
discussing it with your midwife and doing some research before-
hand if you wish, to include your decision in your birth plan.
http://www.aims.org.uk.
http://www.aims.org.uk.
http://www.aims.org.uk.
http://www.aims.org.uk.
http://www.aims.org.uk.
http://www.aims.org.uk.
http://www.aims.org.uk.
Delivering the placenta If you wish to do some detailed research on birthing your
placenta we recommend the book “Birthing your Placen-
ta” by Aims - http://www.aims.org.uk.
After Birth
Vitamin K for your babyVitamin K is offered for babies after they are born to help the
blood clot properly and prevent a rare disease called Vitamin
K deficiency bleeding. It can be given orally or by injection
and the choice is yours whether you wish your baby to have
it.
We recommend discussing this with your midwife and doing
further research if you are unsure. There is an Aims book on
this topic available as well. http://www.aims.org.uk/
http://www.aims.org.uk/
http://www.aims.org.uk/
http://www.aims.org.uk/
http://www.aims.org.uk/
http://www.aims.org.uk/
http://www.aims.org.uk/
http://www.aims.org.uk/
http://www.aims.org.uk/
3rd Stage