Comments on: Do You Need a Birth Plan?

By: Penny

Penny — Mon, 14 Jan 2013 06:55:54 +0000

I whole-heartedly agree! Most of my friends who had a structured birth plan ended up throwing it out the window or really upset because it didn’t turn out the way they’d planned. Just get the baby out, I say! 🙂

By: alanamaree

alanamaree — Mon, 14 Jan 2013 02:08:26 +0000

Wow, Princess Child’s pic is divine. I’m with you – my birth plan was to ask for pain relief!

By: nmsullivan0909

nmsullivan0909 — Sun, 13 Jan 2013 18:42:38 +0000

we adopted. enough said!

By: Janine

Janine — Sun, 13 Jan 2013 08:15:35 +0000

In reply to Lisa. That's interesting that many birth plans end up having to be discarded. I wonder if anyone gets to follow theirs to the letter? I hope that women can have an open mind and accept that sometimes more help is needed than you would have liked. In the end the important thing is that mum and bud are safe.

By: Janine

Janine — Sun, 13 Jan 2013 08:12:48 +0000

In reply to Cate. I think that it does help women to feel a bit more in control to have a birth plan, I like that you included your opinions on different options, I think it is important to consider that it may not follow the plan you have laid out.

By: Janine

Janine — Sun, 13 Jan 2013 08:11:13 +0000

In reply to Rachel @ The Kids Are All Right. I think I was a bit like you the first time, had no idea so just went with whatever I was told. The second was so complicated natural was never an option so I had to trust the obstetrician to make the right decisions.

By: Rachel @ The Kids Are All Right

Rachel @ The Kids Are All Right — Sun, 13 Jan 2013 07:48:35 +0000

Interesting to note the comment from Lisa, a midwife. I’d always been under the impression that midwives liked plans. I didn’t have one the first time, because I had an open mind / knew nothing so wouldn’t have known what to include. Plus I was in a birth centre so my access to drugs was limited. I didn’t have a birth plan for the subsequent babies beyond “get through it”, “start with gas”, “have access to other drugs if necessary”. I never really felt in control with my labours, and that freaked me out. Perhaps a plan is a way to keep your head and wits about you, rather than getting dumped by the waves, like I did? It was not till my third did I resolve to try to stay positive and to try to be an active part of the birth – it was a much more “enjoyable” experience (not sure that is the right word though 🙂 )

By: Cate

Cate — Sun, 13 Jan 2013 02:03:00 +0000

I think encouraging mums to write birth plans (especially first time mums) is a good idea – they’re more likely to be informed and aware of what can happen, and make better informed choices if the plan needs to change. Having been there a few times, I know that my birth plan gets adhered to where possible, and I always cover our opinions on different options, so if something drastic happens and neither husband or I is available to comment, they know our wishes.

By: Lisa

Lisa — Sun, 13 Jan 2013 01:24:12 +0000

As a midwife, I must admit I find birth plans set a huge amount of expectation on the process of giving birth. As you mentioned for your friend, they mostly end up shredded or crossed off or thrown away before the baby arrives. Even the most straightforward births never turn out the way we imagine it. Women should be aware of the interventions that are available and have an open mind to what can happen.