Options to consider

Options to consider

Smiling health professional hold the arm of a pregnant woman in a reassuring gesture
  • who will be your birth partner(s)
  • how you feel about having a student present during labour/birth
  • different pain relief options for labour and birth
  • different positions for labour/birth
  • coping strategies and pain relief
  • how you feel about vaginal examinations
  • whether you would like continuous or intermittent monitoring of the baby’s heart during labour
  • any preferences you have if an assisted birth is recommended.
  • who will cut the cord/optimal cord clamping
  • skin-to-skin contact
  • your thoughts about infant feeding
  • how you would birth your placenta (afterbirth)
  • vitamin K for your baby.
It is useful to think about how you would like your baby’s birth to be in the event of having an induction of labour or a caesarean birth – planned or unplanned, and to ask your midwife or doctor what things you might need to consider for your own personal circumstances. Your midwife will discuss your preferences with you again when you are in labour and any reasons to consider changing the plan. You can share your birth plan with your midwife when you meet at the maternity unit (or at home if you are planning a homebirth). Complete your Personalised birth preferences plan in this app which can be printed out to share with your maternity team.

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