Birth plans - do they work?

Birth plans seemed to be mentioned in almost all pregnancy related articles I read and I was wondering, how efficient are they? Did you really find it useful when the time came? I just finished mine today seeing that it felt like part n parcel of the whole childbirth journey but sometimes I wonder - does the OB/midwife that it seriously?

Do they actually refer to it during the whole delivery and stuff?

They say what sometimes you can't say... if that makes sense. At the time of giving birth sometimes it's a bit hard to say things - which is where your birthing partner comes in and having what you do and don't want in writing can help them also... just remember to be flexible if need be. I actually didn't really have much of a chance to use mine as everything happened in 3 1/2 hours and less than an hour from getting to the hospital. Although having said that I had already mentioned during visits that I was hypnobirthing so they had that written on my chart already. I didn't want intervention but had to have vacuum due to baby in distress, but we made that as an informed decision at the time. Hope some of this helps you and happy birthing!! :D

Writing it down does help, but things do change when the actual days arrives you can change it whenever but if sometime happens to you or your baby they will pretty much to whats in the best intrest for you and your baby .. i was only in labour for 2 and a half hours and i wanted to walk but couldnt because i was stuck on the ecg
Bec :)

I think they can work... I had one which I discussed with my hubby so he could advocate for me if I was too out of it to say what I wanted/didnt want... Most went to "plan" except for a couple of things (one being that I didnt want to give birth on my back, but that happened because Claire was stuck and we needed monitoring and for the Ob to stick his hand up me and guide her out). I sort of also think it is more likely to work if you have some kind of continuity of care throughout pregnancy and labour.

I think mine worked - although I left it at home! It was more about getting it set in our minds what we wanted and didnt want - so even though we didnt have it with us,as issues came up we knew what we wanted - eg. I had to be induced and told them to start slow, even though it was a c/s DH got to cut the cord, i got skin to skin and bfed straight away, got in the bath - drip and all etc.....
Just be open and flexible - knowing that it may not go to plan - I wanted a v/birth with gas only, in the bath, and i was terrified of an epidural - I got the bath but gas made me sick and 26 hours after being induced i asked for an epidural, and Izzy was born after 36 hours by a c/s!
Good luck hun!

If they don't "lose" it then it's great - I included important medical info I didn't want to have to explain during labour, but ended up doing so anyway. I wish I'd made 4-5 copies!

MIne didn't get read but my body wasn't too interested anyway and was moving my baby down and out while they were telling me i had 5 more hours of dilation to go...

Bec

So I guess it all depends but best to get it ready n inform the hubby, huh? :) I'm almost done with mine...just need a little fixing n then pass it on to hubby. :)

Ryn! I can't believe they lost your birth plan!! I am going to have one for my child's birth and it's going to be printed about 6 times and handed out to anyone who wants one on the day!!:lol: (we have a print shop so i can print heaps!!!!) that way they can't lose it on me!!!
I never knew they existed until i found BB and i think what a great idea if the nurses/midwives etc respect it and they should

I had one all written out and never got it out of my bag. I had chance to discuss things with the midwife anyway so didn't feel it necessary for her to read it. I agree that it is a great tool for getting your head around what you want so that you feel more in control when you are in there.

a good idea that someone suggested to me was to blue tac a copy of your birth plan to the door of your room so that any new midwives (shift changes, etc) will see it. i also plan to go in with mine a few weeks in advance and discuss it (make sure there are no show stoppers that "are against hospital protocol, etc") and get them to put it in my notes. I'll also bring in multiple copies and give out to anyone that deals with me when i'm admitted (and talk through it with them to make sure that they are happy with everything on it)...
but i think that you're all right that the most important thing is that your support person understands the birthing plan and is able to advocate for you during labour if you're a bit too preoccupied or tired to do it for yourself... as long as my DH clearly understands the birth plan (which he will because he will be forced to help me write it!), then i think that making sure that enough people get hard copies of it is more of a nice-to-have than a necessity...

ella, your bub's due on my birthday!! :D had to lol when u said that you'll be forcing your DH to write it with u....hehehe!!