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Harriette Hartigan
I was once told by a mum friend not to bother with a birth plan because as soon as labour starts the plan goes out of the window.
I hadn't realised at the time how loaded this bit of advice was, and how truamatic this friends birth was. She aquated not having her wishes and feelings listened to throughout her labour and birth as having wasted her time making a birth plan. She also didnt really understand what a birth plan was for, having put in things like having nice music and fairly lights, it missed the mark on what was really important to her.
She didn't have anyone to talk to about it, and no-one spent any time with her to really get to understand her and what she wanted, and to guide her to understand for herself what it was that was important to her.
I have a blog plost coming in early 2024 all about birth plans that you will be able to read very soon that contains more information from my point of view and experiences.
I believe having a well informed birth plan can lead to an empowering birthing experience. It doesnt matter if you have a freebirth, water birth or a C-Section, if your views, wishes, concerns and voice is heard and acted on, you are most likely to have a birth you are not just happy with, but proud of.
It's also a really good document to have to discuss with your birthing team, making your thoughts and wishes known well before the day can lay the foundations needed for everyone to be on the same page. Having a hard copy for your birthing partner to refer to, in those moments you need to be left alone, a good birthing partner can use the plan to advocate your wishes for you.
I have a birth plan template which can be used to help guide you and give you ideas for what you would like to include in a birth plan. This can be used as a downloadable PDF as a resource for your own birth.
However the template is only as good as the person filling it in, to fully understand what you would like to have at your birth, I suggest having 2 birth planning appointments. This will give you the opportunity to talk through your wishes, thoughts and fears surrounding birth and to give you your options and rights and pointers as to what you can and should include.
You would then take some time to fill in the template, add to it what you want, talk through with your birthing partner.
At the second appointment you will go through everything and make sure you are happy with it, discuss anything you may have found since you started and get any further advice or guidance you may need.
My Birth Plan guide to help you put to paper what is important to you and your birth. This download is completely free for your personal use.
As it is a guide, it does not include every piece of information and every eventuality. You can find information on birthing and birthing rights on lots of good independent midwives and doulas on the socials as well as my own. There is also more information in my Birth Plan Blog post.
To get the very best from this guide I suggest booking in for a birth planning chat.
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