LABOUR AND BIRTH: 11 QUESTIONS TO ASK YOURSELF

As you move closer to your due date, you may start to think a little more about meeting your little one, as well as the labour and birth and how you’d like it to be managed.  While it’s impossible to know exactly how your labour will unfold, a birth plan will help you clarify your wishes and communicate them clearly to the midwife or team who will be caring for you during labour.

Not sure where to start? These questions will help you decide the sort of birth you would like and highlight any questions you’d like to discuss further with your midwife…

1. Where are you going to have your baby?

The first question you might ask yourself is where do you want to have your baby? As well as your local maternity hospital, there may be other options available to you such as a midwife-led unit, specialist birthing centre or even a home birth. Be mindful that your options may be governed by what’s available in your local area and whether your pregnancy is considered high or low risk. 

2. What kind of birth would you like?

Would you like a fairly active birth where you can move around and use a variety of positions or would you prefer to be well propped up in bed. Do you want to spend time in a birthing pool or would you’d feel more comfortable surrounded by technology for peace of mind?  Thinking about how you would like to give birth can also help you decide what sort of setting you would prefer too.

3. Who would you like to be with you as your birth partner?

Birth partners are often romantic partners, but can also be a relative, a friend, or even a combination if your hospital or birth centre permits it. Choosing someone you trust who can help you feel calm, relaxed and confident can be a wonderful support to you during labour. If you want more professional support, you might consider using an independent midwife or doula.

4. Do you have any special requirements to help you through labour?

If you need any additional support during your labour such as a sign language interpreter, help with a disability, or any religious considerations, make sure you highlight your needs in your plan as well as discussing them with your midwife. 

5. What is your ideal method of pain relief?

From breathing techniques, water and TENS machines to strong painkilling drugs, Entonox (gas and air) and epidural, have a think about how you would like to manage your pain throughout labour and record your preferences in your plan. You can also note what order you would like pain relief (for example, gas and air before pethidine) as well as any methods you would prefer to avoid.

6. Would you like your partner to cut the cord?

If the delivery is straightforward, cutting the umbilical cord can be a wonderful way for your birth partner to be involved in the arrival of your baby. If you’d like your partner to cut the cord (and they too are comfortable with it), make sure your midwife knows ahead of the delivery and it’s in your written plan. If they change their mind during labour, that’s okay too. Remember – your birth plan is only a guide and so can be subject to changes.

7. Would you like your little one to be given to you immediately after being born? Or after they've been cleaned up?

How soon after the delivery do you want baby to be placed in your arms? Some women like baby to be passed to them as soon as they are delivered, while others prefer them to be cleaned up a little first. Make sure your birth plan clearly sets out your preference for that first magic hello. 

8. Would you like skin to skin contact immediately after the birth?

There are so many benefits to having immediate skin-to-skin contact with your baby, from relaxing mum and baby to helping with breastfeeding and even preventing post-natal depression. If you want skin-to-skin snuggles at the earliest opportunity, make sure it’s clearly outlined in your birth plan. Your birthing companion can also give maternity staff a gentle reminder as you approach the final stages of labour.

9. Would you like to breastfeed your baby as soon after the birth as possible?

You may not yet have decided whether you want to breastfeed  your little one yet. But if you do, and you want to feed them as soon after birth as possible, make sure your midwife knows so they can support you in making it happen. If baby is placed on your skin soon after they are born, they might even latch onto your breast entirely on their own. How utterly amazing is that! 

10. Are you happy to have student midwives or medical students present at the birth?

Student midwives and medical students are often present in hospitals and may request to observe your birth or labour. Having a student midwife present during your birth can be very reassuring as there is an extra person on hand to support you, however you may feel that it is not something you are entirely comfortable with. Talking to your midwife about how a student might be involved and any concerns you may have may help clarify how you feel about it. 

11. Would you like the placenta to be delivered with the aid of drugs, or naturally?

After your baby has been born, the placenta has to be delivered. This can be helped along with an injection of oxytocin which speeds up the process (to around 5-20 minutes) or you can push the placenta out naturally, which can take up to an hour. 

Something to remember…

Although your birth plan lays out your preferences, remember it is not set in stone. Your midwife or doctor will try and follow your plan and manage your labour and birth accordingly, but it’s also important to maintain a degree of flexibility if complications arise. Use your birth plan to give your midwife some alternative options should she need them and if you can, try to stay positive if things are progressing a little differently than you’d hoped. The most important thing has to be that your baby arrives safely and you both receive the best possible care.