My first birth plan (birth centre birth)


Birth Preferences

Our names are xxx
We like to be called xxx
Our Birth Attendant’s name is xxx

We’re hoping for a natural childbirth without unnecessary interventions or the use of drugs. We have asked a Birth Attendant to be present at the birth to help us work towards this. We appreciate your support with our birth preferences.

This plan represents our preferences; however we recognise that in the event of unforeseen difficulties it may need to be re-negotiated. Please discuss all options with us, in the presence of our Birth Attendant. We would then like the opportunity to contemplate our options without the presence of any medical staff.

ACTIVE BIRTH

We would like the birth experience to be respectful and private, with minimal interruptions and quiet voices.

We would prefer all examinations and monitoring to be kept to a minimum, with intermittent external fetal monitoring unless continuous monitoring is medically necessary.

I’d like the freedom to choose positions, use the shower or bath and walk around in labour as desired.

Please don’t offer drugs (including gas); I am aware of the options for medicated pain relief and will ask for it if needed.

I have discussed with my support team my desire to be encouraged and supported in achieving a natural birth, including during times when I may struggle and ask for interventions

I wish to be free of time limits and not have my labour augmented unless in a medical emergency.

Please allow time for the perineum to stretch naturally or tear. I’d only like an episiotomy if there is a genuine medical emergency.

I would prefer to follow my own urges to push. Please ask if I would like directed pushing before proceeding to this, unless it appears that I need to be reminded of some needs, such as to slow down during crowning.

INDUCTION / AUGMENTATION

If baby and I are well, I would like my baby to decide his/her own due date. I am happy to discuss a plan should my pregnancy reach the end of term at 42 weeks. Should labour induction become necessary at any time, I'd like to start with the least artificial means first before a medical induction. I would like time to allow the natural inductions work.

If this is unsuccessful and a medical induction or augmentation becomes medically necessary I’d like:

To only have my waters to be broken at first instance if my cervix is open. I would like to be given a generous amount of time for labour to establish upon rupture of membranes (i.e. more than just a few hours) before other forms of medical induction / augmentation. I would like to go home if all is well, until labour is established.

If I require Syntocinon, I would like a very low dose, to be increased gradually and slowly. Once my labour is established I would like to choose to stop the dose being increased, lower the dose or stop the drip to allow my body to continue to labour without artificial oxytocin. Please put the cannula in my arm and not my hand so I have more freedom of movement.

CAESAREAN

If a caesarean becomes necessary I’d like:

For my husband to be with me. We’d also like to have our Birth Attendant with us, who has been present in caesareans previously and is there to help enhance our experience of birth, no matter what form it takes.

For discussion to be respectful and minimal - only what is required medically and to inform me of what is happening.

For the cord to stop pulsating before clamping, to allow my baby to receive the valuable blood and iron stores.

My baby to be placed skin to skin on my chest without wrapping while you complete the procedure, unless prevented by medical emergency.

To be sure that a double layer suture is used and not a single layer in order to improve my chances for a future VBAC.

The opportunity to breastfeed our baby in recovery. If you do not have the staff to enable this, I wish to have my Birth Attendant with me so I can breastfeed in recovery.

BIRTH AND SOON AFTER

Presuming baby and I are well, we’d like:

For my husband and I to ‘catch’ our baby and determine the sex then for us to hold our baby immediately after the birth.

To wait until the umbilical cord stops pulsating before clamping, to allow my baby to receive the valuable blood and iron stores.

For all newborn procedures (weighing and measuring) to wait until I have had time to bond with and breastfeed our baby and then for them to be performed in our presence.

Not to have the routine Syntocinon injection to help deliver the placenta, unless medically required.

For our baby to have vitamin K as an oral dose.

For baby to be given only breastmilk – strictly no water or formula.

To defer Hepatitis B injections at birth, until baby’s first vaccinations.

Please sign our birth preferences in good faith that it has been read, will be treated respectfully and that we have your support in all of the above.

________________________________ Signed

________________________________ Name