Half Pint Pixie

Most pregnancy & birth websites now include information on birth plans. A lots of these are American and include things that are taken for granted in Irish hospitals. In an Irish hospital you are not routinely shaved or given an enema anymore when you arrive in labour. Your baby boy is not automatically circumcised and you are allowed to wear your glasses in labour. However, there is a good case for putting your wishes down on paper if you have any specific preferences.

Most hospitals have their own plan for your labour, this will be discussed during your antenatal classes. You can either choose to go along with whatever they think is best or pen down a few of your own ideas and hand them to the midwife when you arrive (have your birth partner keep a copy in case the first goes missing). Obviously no-one knows how your labour will go, but there’s no harm in having an idea of what you would like for your own comfort.

There are a couple of benefits to this:

1. It gives you and your birth partner an opportunity to work out what your hopes are for the birth.
2. It lets your midwife clearly see what your preferences are about epidurals etc.
3. It can help you feel slightly more in control of events (which helps some people cope better)

Find out in advance what your hospital’s policies are regarding breastfeeding etc. You want to present a clear, quick & easy-to-read page for the midwife so there is no need to repeat hospital policy. For example, in Holles Street it is policy not to give soothers or sugar water to newborns, to allow baby to suckle in the labour ward and to room-in baby with the mother, so it isn’t necessary to repeat these.

It’s worth mentioning that my consultant repeatedly told me I didn’t need a birth plan, but we found it great on the day. My husband handed it to the midwife when we got to delivery and she read it and was very accommodating. The consultants on call came by on their rounds and laughed at it, but we were beyond caring at that point! We had to have continuous monitoring, but the midwife understood how important it was to me to be up and moving, so she didn’t try to confine me to the bed.

Here is a copy of the birth plan we used last year in Holles Street:

Birth Preference Plan

We are hoping to have a natural birth, hopefully avoiding the use of an epidural.

As the safe arrival of our baby is obviously our priority, we will happily take any additional advice from our midwives or consultant.

I would like my husband present during the entire labour and birth, for all procedures and to stay with me if the need for a C-Section arises.

Pain Relief:

• I will have a TENS machine with me.
• I would like to have gas & air available but would prefer not to be offered an epidural or pethidine, either my husband or myself will request it if needed.

First Stage:

• It is important to me that I not be confined to the bed, so if possible I would like to avoid constant foetal monitoring and IV drips, unless medically necessary.
• I will be walking, choosing my own positions, and would like the use of the shower and toilet as needed.
• Unless medically necessary, I would prefer not to have my labour artifically speeded up.

Second Stage:

• I would prefer to choose my own positions for pushing, which may include a supported squat, on all fours or leaning on a birthing ball.
• After the baby is born, if there is any need for the baby or myself to be moved to a different room, my husband will accompany the baby.

Caesarean:

• If it becomes necessary to perform a C-Section, I would like my husband present at all times.
• Please lower the screen so I can see my baby being born.
• I would like skin-to-skin contact and breastfeeding to start straight away if possible.
• We would like my husband to hold the baby straight away, if I cannot.

Signed:
Birth Partner:
Consultant:

Above all, remember that the most important thing is that you want your baby to be born safely. The best way to do this is to be well informed and have a birth partner who you can trust to make any important decisions for you as you may not be quite in the right place for making them!

In my case this involved Mr. Halfpintpixie getting the midwife to leave us alone for a few minutes so he could refocus me and guide my breathing when I became overwhelmed mid-way through my labour. On a more serious note, it could involve your partner having to talk to the midwife and consultants about any problems that arise, so you need to be confident your birth partner can speak for you!

‘Prepare for a no fault birth….If you confidently participate in all the decisions made during your labour and delivery – even those that were not in your birth plan – you are likely to look upon your birth with no blame and no regrets.’ William and Martha Sears – The Birth Book

You can find more information on birthplans at rollercoaster.ie