A birth plan is a summary of your wishes and plans for labour and birth. It gives the midwife who will be looking after you in labour and idea of what your wishes, priorities and prefereces
are.
For example, you can start your birth plan by saying:
Our (you and your partner) focus is on a calm and natural birth. We would very much appreciate your support in this by helping us to crate a calm and quiet environment at all the times, with no routine interventions and no routine vaginal examinations without fully informed consent and unless absolutely necessary.
Other suggestions:
Birthing room
Soft lighting (e.g dimming the main light in the room, we would like to use battery operated candles we have brought with us)
We would like to play some music to create a relaxing atmosphere
My birth partner to remain with me throughout labour and birth and after the birth if possible
Use of a pool during labour (in HUG you will have to get out of the pool for the delivery of your baby, however, in the birthing centre you can deliver baby into the water if you wish)
Pain relief suggestions:
I would like to try to labour and to birth my baby without any pain relief.
I would like to use the water - shower, pool.
I would like an epidural as soon as possible.
I would like to see how it goes first.
I would like to be encouraged to try without an epidural for as long as possible.
I would like to try the gas and air first.
I would like to have an injection of pethidine (for UK readers).
I will be using a hypnobirhing method.
After the birth:
Dad/partner to cut the cord
Optimal cord clamping and cutting (leaving the cord pulsating for example for 5 minutes or for as long as possible)
I would like to deliver my placenta naturally (physiological 3rd stage) - for UK readers only.
I would like the 3rd stage to be managed actively (with a syntocinon injection/drip). Please note that you will not have a choice of how to deliver your placenta in HUG.
I would like my baby to be delivered directly onto my chest.
I would like my baby to be cleaned first before handed to me.
I would like to find the sex of the baby myself rather than being told.
I would like to hold the baby undisturbed for at least an hour after birth.
I would like to exclusively breastfeed.
I would like to mix feed my baby.
I would like to formula feed my baby.
No infant feeding supplements to be given to my baby without my consent.
Any artificial intervention of any kind unless absolutely necessary.