A birth plan is an important way for you and your support team to all be on the same page and after the same ultimate goal. It will help them remind you of what you want when you are at the point where you believe you can’t go on anymore and start calling for ‘anything you can give me!!!!’ It is a great way to re centre your mind and re focus on why you are here – the healthy natural birth of your amazing little person, and of how important it is to you that this goes the way you want as much as is possible. The World Health Organisation states that women who deliver with the assistance of forceps or vacuum extraction are more likely to suffer from post natal depression.

Keep your birth plan as open minded as you can. Be sure to include your preferences if the baby is in distress and for if you are recommended to have a caesarean delivery. It is important that you acknowledge these options as a possibility, even if it is not the path you wish to proceed down as first option. If you close your mind to what may need to be done to save your life or the life of your baby and these procedures become necessary, you may suffer anxiety and disappointment in yourself for not having provided what you felt was best for your baby. You may feel a sense of failure. You should feel euphoric at the birth of your baby. Do everything possible to prepare your mind for all options, then focus on the path that is your priority.

Make sure that the midwives where you will be birthing are informed of your birth plan so that they can do all that is possible from their perspective to ensure that you have the birth you desire.

Below is a sample birth plan used for a family birth centre with a private Doula (birth attendant) present.

Our Birth Plan: xxxxxx and xxxxxxxxx
Our Doula - xxxxxx

We have chosen this birth centre due to the positive open-mindedness of the team of midwives and their encouragement to create our own individual birth environment. We trust in the knowledge and experience of these midwives and look forward to giving birth to our baby. 
 
Labour
- I want my husband xxxx to be with me at all times during labour
- xxxx our Doula will also be present to assist us through the labour and delivery
- We wish for an active labour with the freedom to change position and location as we feel is required
- We would prefer to keep the number of vaginal exams to an absolute minimum.
- We would like a quiet, dark, peaceful room
- Please enter the room slowly and quietly
- We do not want continuous fetal monitoring
- We would like to hear the heartbeat from time to time for encouragement
- Please remind me to empty my bladder frequently
- I wish to be able to eat and drink freely during labour
- Should i be unable to make decisions for myself xxxx should make any important choices
 
Augmentation
- I do not wish to have my membranes artificially ruptured
- I do not want any drugs to speed up labour at any time
 
Anesthesia
- I do not wish to be offered gas or any kind of pain relief at any time
- I would like options to be available to me at my specfic request and after consultation with xxxx and xxxx
- If I ask for pain relief, please feel free to offer nonmedical choices for coping and/or remind me how close I am to the birth.
 
Episiotomy
- I do not wish to have an episiotomy unless it is vital for the safety of my baby
- I would like to be coached and have the delivery process slowed if tearing can be avoided
- To avoid episiotomy or tearing,  our doula or midwife will apply hot compresses.
- To help my perineum stretch, please help guide my pushing efforts by letting me know when to push and when to stop during delivery of the head.
- I would rather tear than have an episiotomy
 
Delivery
- I wish to deliver my baby in an active position
-  Please remind me to breathe
- I do not wish to be on my back at any time
- Even if I am fully dilated, and assuming the baby is not in distress, I would like to wait until I feel the urge to push before beginning the pushing phase.
- I prefer to push or not push according to my instincts
- Please feel free to offer assistance for the slow delivery of the head with no traction or rotation
- If the use of forceps or ventouse is recommended there must be very good reason and this must be explained to us first
- Please hand the baby directly to me after birth for skin to skin contact
- Please hold off clamping and cutting the cord until it ceases pulsing or at least 5 minutes after delivery
- My Husband should be offered the chance to cut the cord if he wishes. If he decides against this I would like xxxx to cut the cord

Third Stage
- This is a very special time and we would prefer to be left alone in private for a short period of time (1/2 an hour or so) if appropriate, thank you
- If suctioning of the baby’s airways or additional oxygen is required please do so with the cord still attached and against the mother if possible
- I prefer to wait for spontaneous delivery of the placenta and do not want a routine injection
- The baby should remain in my arms for at least 2 hours after delivery so that we can bond and initiate breastfeeding
- After this time, at our comfort, the baby can be weighed and measured
- Please do not give our baby a dummy
- Unless medically necessary our baby should not be given any bottles of any description
- If the baby requires medical attention or resuscitation my husband should be present at all times
- NO vaccinations are to be administered to our baby at any time
 
 
In the event a Cesarean is deemed medically necessary
- If a cesarean delivery is indicated due to fetal distress or danger, I would like to obtain a second opinion from another physician if time allows.
- I would like my husband present at all times if my baby requires a Cesarean delivery.
- I wish to have an epidural for anesthesia if possible
- Please hold off clamping and cutting the cord until it ceases pulsing or at least 5 minutes after delivery
- Please do not wrap the baby if possible
- If our baby is not in distress, our baby should be given to my husband immediately after birth
- Our baby should have skin to skin contact with my husband and be brought to me in recovery for skin to skin with me and breastfeeding if at all possible in the event of a cesarean delivery
 
Thank you for your time and consideration of our birthing preferences.

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