|
|
 |
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Writing a birth plan helps you to focus on the different aspects of your care during labour
and birth. When you've decided on your plan, if you give a copy to your midwife then she
will hopefully have time to study it before the birth. Perhaps you could discuss it with her,
and ask if there is any aspect that might cause a problem for her.
Your midwife is not only anxious to make sure your baby is safely delivered; she wants you to have
as good an experience as possible. A birth plan gives her an indication of how well prepared you
are, and what sort of birth you would like. As you make your birthplan you will find information
that helps you understand and ready yourself for giving birth.
You may need to be flexible; the midwife could suggest alternatives, which she may feel are better
for you and your baby. You can plan the type of birth you want but things don't always work out the
way you hoped. Just remember; a healthy baby is more important than a particular type of delivery.
Don't feel shy about telling the midwife what you want for the birth. It's hard to know how to phrase
things without causing offence, but if you feel strongly about something, it's best to write it down.
If you don't tell your midwife, she may not realise how important it is to you.
Take your own copy of your birth plan to hospital when the time comes. If there are conflicts,
hopefully they can be resolved before you go into labour. At the end of the day, though, remember
that it is your body, your baby, your birth and your decision.
Caesareans are becoming more commonplace, and there is no doubt, that for some mothers and babies a
Caesarean is a life-saving operation. It's worth knowing why and how a Caesarean is carried out, so you
are prepared if one becomes necessary. Talking to your GP during regular check ups will help ascertain
whether a Caesarean is appropriate for you and your baby.
Pain relief is an important consideration when thinking about your baby's birth. How you feel about
the pain and cope with it will depend on your pain threshold, your personality, how supported you feel,
your anxiety levels, whether you're under stress and so on. The pain occurs as contractions peak, but
then fades; even though such contractions get closer together as labour progresses, there's always a gap
in between. If you've opted for a drug-free labour but then have a change of heart, don't be afraid to
say so. Bear in mind, that as you get closer to delivery, not all methods will remain available to you.
Discuss this with your midwife as your labour progresses.
During the birth, there are two main ways that your baby may be monitored. The first is Electronic
Foetal Monitoring (EFM), which keeps a check on your baby's heart rate, using a transducer held against
your abdomen or a small electrode on your baby's scalp. Some foetal monitors allow you to move around,
as the signal is sent to the machine via radio waves. A smaller, portable machine called a Doppler uses
ultrasound for intermittent monitoring. The other type of monitoring is Continuous EFM, which allows
your carers to see when something might be getting more serious. Find out what your hospital's policy is
on the use of both, before you make your decision.
Everyone has questions and fears about the birth and becoming a parent - antenatal classes are here to
address those worries. Talking to the National Childcare Trust http://www.nct.org.uk/ will help you
understand what's involved in the birthing process, making it easier to write your birth plan.
Your midwife may not have time to read through the whole birth plan on the day, so it may help to use
a highlighter pen to pick out those points which are most important to you.
Ideas for your birth plan
- How do you feel about the inducing the birth?
- Who do you want with you during the birth?
- Would you like a birthing pool for labour and/or birth, for some of the time or all the time?
- How do you want your baby's heart rate to be monitored?
- Will you use pain relief and if so, what method?
- For a hospital birth, how long do you want to be in for if you have the choice?
|
|
|
|
|
