October 2017 Birth Club

Birth plans

There was a poll on my old birth board, so far over 300 people have replied. The question was 'Did your birth go to plan'

The results so far:

23% - Birth went to plan
17%- Mostly went to plan
60%- Did not go to plan

I thought this demonstrates the importance of not getting fixated on a 'perfect birth' and to expect bumps in the road. I was told by my midwife not to make a birth plan because babies don't care what your plans are. She was totally right, I couldn't even give birth at my own hospital as it was full, had an EMCS and baby ended up in intensive care for a week. This is an extreme obviously of what can go wrong.

I always get worried for mums when I hear they 'will' have a perfect water birth with no pain relief, because if that isn't possible for any reason they then feel like failures which isn't true and not helpful to anyone.

Sorry for rambling I'm just so anti birth plans and I think the poll really helps to argue my point 😂.

comments (15)

  • Me too totally against birth plans! Never made one last time either because u never know what's gonna happen xxx
  • I do agree with you that people shouldn't get fixated and need to be realistic that things might not go to plan. However I did have a birth plan and I will have one this time because it gave me the chance to tell the hospital what my choices were and I wrote it when I was calm and rationale rather than having to tell the nurses while I was in the throws of labour.

    I'm completely realistic about it not going to plan and if me or my baby are in danger the hospital can do what they like with me. I just wanted them to have an awareness of my wishes x
  • I suppose I should have added, that they listened to my wishes too so it positive for me although didn't go completely to plan, I wanted an active birth but as soon as I got up my contractions stopped completely so I ended up on the bed! Oh well, very small price for my amazing boy x
  • I agree with Mumraah. I had a birth plan last time and if nothing else it helped me get my own thoughts organised before birth, and made me feel at least a bit in control of an uncontrollable situation. My birth wasn't 100% according to my plan - mainly as son was born in meconium and was unresponsive - but most of the stuff preceding the actual birth was according to my plan which I thought was nice. Definitely don't think you should feel like a failure if it doesn't go according to plan though as that's unrealistic.
  • Whilst I think it's a good idea to be aware of options, it's never a good idea to be too focused on a particular plan.
    There are certain things you can make decisions on and certain things you can preference though so good to know your stuff and make sure your birth partner knows your wishes so can advocate for you if necessary.
  • I wrote an entire a4 page for my birth plan. Not one thing went to plan. But I would say do one anyway in case you have a normal birth unlike me! We have requested elective c section for this baby and will be doing a birth plan. Just hope we get to actually stick to some of it this time!
  • I had a lovely birth plan, all printed out and ready to go. But my actual birth went a whole lot better in my opinion. I did the majority of my labouring at home and was only in the hospital 2 hours before my baby arrived. They're good to have but probably best to keep in mind that baby calls the shots 😉 X
  • No one even looked at my birth plan (not that there was one to look at) they just asked me as we were going along what I wanted.

    I agree it's vital to research everything and know what your preferences are but really don't assume anything will happen like you imagine.

    My friend had a home water birth planned, was dead against epidural. Was 10000% not having one. She ended up labouring in hospital (waters went first) had epidural and was bedbound. She said she didn't know how anyone could do it without one.

    Another spent hundreds on hypnobirthing classes, wrote a detailed plan only to tell midwife to ignore it, skip the water birth and give her all the drugs now 😂😂.

    Of course there are perfect stories out there too, I'll be having an elective section next time although I fully expect I'll go into labour early and that will go tits up too.

    As long as you both come out alive, I think that should ultimately be your plan.
  • I didn't have a birth plan last time as people said don't bother. I said drugs if I ask and I don't want examining too much. That was put because the midwife insisted I put it down as she needed to write something.

    I wish I had sorted my thoughts more and been a little more determined to have a certain type of experience. It was a horrible labour due to a vile bitch of a midwife. This time I will have a list of non negotiables that I will stick to. E.g. Very few examinations, give me drugs, I want a water birth and leave me alone, but don't you dare leave the room for too long!
  • Yup I wanted a water birth, that went straight out of the window when I was induced and had to be constantly on monitor. Then I wanted to see how I got on with just has and air, that went out the window when DS's heart rate dropped and I had to be put under GA.