Many expectant parents make a birth plan so they can plan for what they would like to happen during labour and birth. Birth plans help to give a sense of control and assist maternity care providers in understanding what is important to the labouring mother. While birth plans are not a guarantee of outcome, they clearly outline how a pregnant mother wants her labour and birth to take place.
Birth plans aren’t essential, so don’t think you have to have one. Speak with your midwife or doctor about what’s important to you and they can make notes in your records. Most women are asked during labour how they can be supported to have the type of birth they’d like. Conversations between you and your midwife and/or doctor give insights into the labour and birth which is important to you.
One of the main advantages of a birth plan is that it helps you prepare for having a baby. Sitting down and making a written record can help you focus attention on what’s really important. And they can also be a good way to initiate conversations between a labouring mother and her maternity care provider if they’ve not met before.
There’s no preferred time during pregnancy when a birth plan needs to be written up. Ideally, you won’t be trying to make a plan after your labour has started. Speak with your maternity care provider about what, in their experience, is useful to include. And check to see if you need to include any factors due to specific conditions, like gestational diabetes or pre-eclampsia.
Some women have long-standing ideas about the type of labour and birth they would like. This helps when it comes to writing out a birth plan because they’ve done research into their options.
Aim to write up a simple birth plan which highlights what’s important for you. Too much information can be overwhelming and confusing. Make sure if you’re writing your birth plan by hand that your writing is clear. Alternatively, perhaps use an app or keep a digital copy — which would be easier to share with multiple people. Keep a spare copy and ask your maternity care provider to include this in your notes.
Think about your preferences and what you would like to avoid. Importantly, remember that your labour and birth may not proceed as you would like — a birth plan is not a contract. There needs to be room for flexibility in case of unforeseen events. Sometimes interventions are necessary to avoid complications that can affect a mother and/or her baby.
