Birth Plan - The Second Time Around.

As a first time Mum, one of the biggest & most daunting things you have to consider is your birth plan. With so many options available these days and so many things to consider, it can seem like a minefield of epidural's, episiotmoy's and vitamin K. Where do you even start?

With the birth of John, I did vast amounts of research on what pain relief I'd like, what interventions I wanted to avoid and how I'd like things to go after the actual birth. And this is how my Birth Plan panned out;

Birth Companion.
Iain (partner & baby-daddy) and Christine (my Mum).
I would like Iain there at all times.
Pain Relief.
Relaxation & breathing, birth ball, gas & air, TENS machine and birthing pool. Ideally would like to avoid opiates but open to try if really struggling with pain. Do not want epidural unless things become completely unbearable.
Monitoring.
Intermittent monitoring unless otherwise needed.
Interventions.
As few as possible - I really do not want to have an episiotomy or forceps. Avoiding c-section unless completely necessary.
I would like things to run as naturally as possible so would like to avoid induction or breaking of my waters.
Delivery Positions.
Would like freedom to move into comfortable position - like the idea of squatting.
Discovering the Sex.
I would like Iain to reveal the sex to me as opposed to the midwife doing so.
Delivery of Placenta.
I would like a managed 3rd stage labour.
I would like Iain to have the opportunity to cut the umbilical cord, although I'm aware he'll probably decline.
Feeding.
I really want to breastfeed so skin-to-skin contact as soon as possible and would would appreciate assistance in breast feeding if needed.
If for any reason I'm unable to have skin-to-skin contact (eg. emergency c-section) it's important to me that Iain have the opportunity to have skin-to-skin until I'm able to.
I do not wish for my baby to be formula fed.
Vitamin K.
I would like my baby to be given vitamin K as a single injection.

Now, some people will tell you having a Birth Plan is pointless and only sets you up for disappointment, which if you're going to write things such as "I want my baby to be born at 3.09am, after 24 minutes of pushing and exactly two shots of diamorphine", then sure, you're maybe being a bit too specific. But I think with a Birth Plan it's important to be clear on your ideal birth but flexible and open to the fact that things might not go to plan.

For example, with Pain Relief, I was pretty sure that for various reasons I didn't want an epidural. That wasn't to say that if I ended up in labour for 4 days straight and the pain was more unbearable than I thought, that I would want the option to have become unavailable. I made a point of listing my preferred pain relief in steps of willing to try, with epidural being the final option. In the end I had half a shot of diamorphine and otherwise stuck to gas & air. An epidural was briefly mentioned but I really didn't think I was at the stage of needing one.

What I'm trying to say is, with a Birth Plan, be clear but open to change. That way you won't be overly disappointed if things don't go to plan.

So what will I be doing differently this time around? Well, over all I was very happy with the birth of John, however there is a few minor tweaks I'll be making.

 

 Birth Centre. I'll be requesting to give birth in Birth Centre at Edinburgh Royal Infirmary as opposed to the Labour Ward. With John we started off in the Birth Centre but unfortunately had to be moved to the Labour Ward for monitoring. The difference in the rooms is phenomenal and I'd much rather stay and birth in the beautiful big rooms of the Birth Centre than be stuck in a poky wee room on the Labour Ward. Of course, there may not be a room available in the Birth Centre but we'll just cross our fingers that there is!

 Pain Relief. If I learnt anything from last time around, it's that I deal with pain quite well. The only moment pain relief was brought up during my first labour was when the midwife said, "I don't want to mention it because you've not asked - like how I wouldn't want to ask if you were ill and not showing symptoms - but do you want to consider pain relief?" Cue my Mum & Iain discussing epidural and diamorphine. At that moment I agreed to try a shot of diamorphine but if I'm perfectly honest, did nothing for the pain (not that I'd ever turn that magical stuff down if offered again!) and I didn't ask for any more - gas & air was sufficient, even if only a distraction.
So this time I think I'll follow a similar route - going as far as I can on as little pain relief interventions as I can. I'll also be prepping myself with positive affirmations & birthing knowledge, inspired by the beautiful Jess at Life With Malakai.

 Water Birth. With John, I never actually made it into the birthing pool before being transferred  to the Labour Ward. This time I would love the opportunity to get into the pool and reap the benefits of water as pain relief. I'm unsure how I'll feel once actually in the water but I do like the idea of a water birth, especially considering I seem to be suffering with SPD this time around.

How have your birth plans varied from pregnancy to pregnancy?

Don't forget - you can vote every 24 hours!