Our (Hypno) Birth Plan

[tru]

I know birth can't be 100% planned but I think creating a birth plan really helped me birth with confidence, knowing that our care providers knew what we wanted (even if things couldn't go as we wished!).

Also, because writing a birth plan usually involves doing some research - you can learn a lot about birth and your options. My eyes were opened to a lot of new things I never knew about, and I think that education definitely contributed to a fearless birth

So I just wanted to share our Birth Wishes, hoping that it benefits someone else. Please feel free to comment and critique if you like...

Our Birth Wishes

Mother & Father
(Insert names)

Support People
(Insert names)

__________________________________________________ ____________________________

We are so happy to birth our baby at the Ipswich Hospital. Our experience to date with staff and facilities has been wonderful. We have faith in your ability and truly appreciate your willingness to help us achieve a relaxed, natural birth.

We have chosen to apply deep relaxation and other natural techniques from the HypnoBirthing method. Please ask us if you would like to know more about this. We understand that this choice presumes a normal pregnancy and birth. Should a medical emergency situation arise, please know that you will have our complete cooperation after an explanation of the medical need.

We respectfully ask the following requests be honoured

Active Birth…
 As long as baby & I are fine, I’d prefer to be free of time limits and not have my labour augmented
 I’d prefer not to be offered drugs; we are aware of the options for pain relief & will ask for it if needed
 Minimal disruption
 Minimal monitoring
 Please refrain from any references to pain or hurt at all times
 Please refer to contractions as “surges” or “pressure”
 Use of bath
 Subdued lighting
 Gentle encouragement when bearing down (No loud coaching to push)
 Photography/filming allowed by our support people during birth
 Discover baby’s sex ourselves
 The father to be involved in receiving the baby during birth

After Birth… Presuming our baby is well, we’d like:
 To wait until the cord stops pulsating (or longer) before it is clamped & cut by the father
 Placenta to be delivered naturally, without synthetic oxytocin (unless I’m haemorrhaging)
 All newborn procedures (weighing & measuring) to wait until we’ve had time to bond with & feed baby
 Vitamin K to be given after first bath, which we may choose to delay
 Defer Hepatitis B injections until baby’s first vaccinations at 2 months

Caesarean… If a caesarean becomes necessary we’d like:
 For the screen to be lowered so we can witness the birth of our baby
 Baby to be placed on my chest while procedure is completed, unless prevented by medical emergency
 For the cord to stop pulsating before clamping
 The opportunity to breastfeed our baby in recovery
 To be sure that a double layer suture is used & not single, in order to improve chances for a future VBAC

Please show patience & understanding if we decide to change our minds on any of the above

~ Thank you for taking the time to read our plan. We are very grateful for your support ~

[elissas]

That looks identical to our birth plan!

[Kizmet]

what a great birth plan!

[tru]

Thanks I wanted to share it because when I was looking for examples I found heaps that included lots of unnecessary/outdated requests (eg, shaving, enemas, etc), and they were too long - going on for pages! One page is enough (and more well accepted by the midwives as they don't have to shuffle through a book )

[Mum2Reuben]

I think your birth plan is fantastic and well thought out.

During my birth I got caught out with the rupturing of membranes to assist with transition to second stage.

It wasn't on my plan that I didn't want it and during the birth I was feeling pressured to 'let the student midwife have a go'... she was standing there with the tool in her hand staring intently at my birth canal while the other midwife asked me... I said no a couple of times then waivered and got confused they made it sound like it was something that would help me... personally I think the student midwife just wanted the practice... I know now I didn't need it... I had only been in active labour for 4 hours and I was dilating beautifully... 8 or 9 cm she stretched me the rest of the way... they didn't ask about that one... all I had agreed to was an exam to see how far along I was...

so I say be thorough and prepared for all their 'normal procedures' and suggestions...

I don't know why the midwives thought they had to hurry my birth along... thats when a bit of trouble started... I think that I wasn't dilated properly and bubby got a bit stuck... wouldn't have happened probably if they had let me be... and let my waters break naturally... but then can't know for sure

I just wish that I could have been prepared with the question "Does my baby's life depend on it?" If they answer No then my answer is NO.

[cheezelz]

This is fantastic. You and your DH have been well prepared and educated for this.

Thank you for giving me an idea of what I can suggest and ask for in my next birth plan.

[~Emmylou~]

I think that's an awesome, well thought out and realistic birth plan!

Definitely one of the better ones I've seen

All the best for a fantastic birth.

[stellarella]

Great birth plan.

I had a very similar one. Pity mine didnt end up going to plan.

[PaperTiger]

Superb birth plan tru, one of the best hospital birth plans I have ever seen.
You have obviously done your research very well.

[tru]

Hi BonnyGrace. I would be really happy for you to use some or all of my birth plan I'm just happy to have helped in some way!

I found a naturopath in Brisbane trained in Hypnobirthing through just searching on the internet. BubHub has some listed as well I think. Also try googling hypnobirth and your location to see what you find. There are also courses you can do through books/CDS. Best of luck