Birth planning

Birth planning

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I've always stated to women in antenatal appointments and classes that birth plans are really more preferences and they should be prepared for change and adaption to their birth experiences and journey. 
I realise now after reading the below info-graphic that birth plans are more than requesting a pool birth or the woman's thoughts on pain relief but it is a list of their informed decision and consent practices surrounding their birth. 

From @Cath_BellaBirth on twitter.


When a woman writes 'absolutely no epidural' it's not an opening to start conversing about the benefits of epidural but an invitation to ask why and discuss other pain relief options. 

Recently I wrote an essay for university critiquing a reflection I had written based upon maternal choice for an ARM as written in her birth plan - I found that maternal request, and respecting birth plans highly influence birth satisfaction and how the woman views her birth postnatally. 



Doherty (2003) states that birth plans can also be seen as a good way to start the facilitation of relational decision making and informed choice. The RCM also state that if a woman has made the decision to have an intervention in birth, such as elective cesarean section, this should be outlined in the woman's birth plan (RCM 2012).


Birth plans are also seen as an effective communication tool during labour (Mei et al. 2016) and as midwives and future midwives we all know that communication is a key skills in midwifery care.


The Positive Birth Book by Milli Hill (2017) has a whole section on the communication and use of birth plans for women. Today Pinter and Martin, the publishers have made the images Milli used in her book completely free (click here) for women who wish to have a more visual birth plan as we cannot assume a level of English language understanding or literacy in our communities. Some women are more visual learning which mean these images can also help in antenatal classes.


Here are some examples of visual birth plans from online...

Both birth plans found on pinterest.co.uk


 Do you think you would change to introduce visual birth plans into your antenatal care?
As a student midwife, what are your opinions on birth plan discussions?

Let me know!

Ruth x

twitter: @ruth_stmw



References:

DOHERTY, M.E., 2003. Birth plan decision-making: Patterns of interaction. International journal of childbirth education, 18(2), pp.27-33.

ROYAL COLLEGE OF MIDWIVES (RCM) 2012. Evidence Based Guidelines for Midwifery-Led Care in Labour: Rupturing Membranes. London: RCM.

MEI, J.Y., et al., 2016. Birth plans: What matters for birth experience satisfaction? Birth.

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1 comments:

  1. liperk14 November 2021 at 20:53

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