The following is an example of what you may want to include in your birth plan when having your baby in a birth centre. Feel free to add, change or delete any aspects to suit your needs.
Your name...................................................
What you like to be called (e.g. Deb / Debbie, Louise / Lou)
Your partner and / or support person's name (possibly including their relationship to you i.e. friend, mother etc).
At this time, there is no reason to anticipate any change of plans. However, in the case of complications we are happy to transfer to the delivery suite for assistance. The following list is offered as a guide. We may withdraw any of these requests at any time before or during the labour or birth.
Our requests at the birth centre are as follows:
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I wish to go into labour spontaneously. If I go overdue I would like to be at least (10 - 12 - 14) days past my due date before being induced (unless there are problems). I would prefer to use vaginal medications to be induced and then to labour in the birth centre, but understand I may need intravenous medications in the Delivery suite if this is not successful. |
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If circumstances for both mother and baby are suitable, our preferred birth method would be a water birth. |
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If a water birth is not possible due to unavailability of the bath (or unforeseen difficulties), we would like to have a floor mat and a birthing stool at our disposal. |
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The father / support person (name) is to stay with me throughout the labour and birth. |
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Ideally, either parent (names) will be the first to touch the baby's head. If circumstances are appropriate, dad (name) may wish to catch our baby. |
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Please ask permission for midwifery/medical students, hospital staff or other non-essential personnel to be in the room during the labour and birth. |
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The room should be warm with dimmed lights. Excessive noise should be avoided and people present at the moment of birth should try to speak softly to avoid startling our baby. |
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Our baby will be placed on my abdomen and gently massaged and caressed after being born. A blanket can cover our baby while still having skin-to-skin contact with mum (name). Our baby may breastfeed within the first half hour of birth. |
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Our baby's cord should not be clamped or cut until it has stopped pulsating, unless it is very short and needs to be cut to complete the birth of the baby. |
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The third stage of labour (delivery of the placenta) should not be rushed. We would like it to proceed at its own pace. The use of oxytocic drugs and manual removal of the placenta is to be reserved for true medical emergencies. |
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We consent to our baby having oral vitamin K. |
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Our first preference for care after the birth is to stay in the birth centre and go home within 24 hours on the domiciliary program (early discharge). |
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If I go to the postnatal ward I would like my partner to room in with me (if possible). |