Completing a birth preferences plan can help you and your birth partner to think about your choices and preferences during labour and the birth of your baby. During your pregnancy you will have the opportunity to meet with your midwife/doctor and discuss the plan – try and do this around the time of your 34 or 36 week appointment. This will help your team understand the kind of birth you would like.Read the in app content about labour and birth, then using the birth preferences plan in the Personal care and support plans section write down your thoughts and preferences. See below for what options to consider.
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.
Completing a birth preferences plan can help you and your birth partner to think about your choices and preferences during labour and the birth of your baby. During your pregnancy you will have the opportunity to meet with your midwife/doctor and discuss the plan – try and do this around the time of your 34 or 36 week appointment. This will help your team understand the kind of birth you would like.
Read the in app content about labour and birth, then using the birth preferences plan in the Personal care and support plans section write down your thoughts and preferences. See below for what options to consider.
