Birth Planning

Your birth, your choices, your plan, with the time to talk through what matters to you

Birth planning is about much more than writing a birth plan.

A written birth plan can be really useful, but for me, birth planning is about making sure you understand your choices, what you would like for your birth and what might happen if things don't go exactly as planned.

I believe that knowledge gives you power. The more you understand about birth and the choices available to you, the better equipped you are to make informed decisions about your own care.

My role isn't to tell you how you should give birth. It's to give you information, answer your questions and help you feel prepared for the different ways your birth may unfold.

What Is a Birth Planning Appointment?

A birth planning appointment gives us dedicated time to talk properly about your upcoming birth.

We'll discuss where you're planning to give birth, what matters to you, any previous experiences that may influence your choices, your preferences for labour and birth, and any worries or questions you have.

We can talk about pain relief, examinations, monitoring, positions for labour and birth, the birth environment, your birth partner, the third stage of labour and your preferences for the first moments with your baby.

But we also go further than that.

I want you to understand that Plan A may change and what your choices might be for Plan B.

I usually arrange your birth planning appointment at around 34 weeks of pregnancy. This gives us plenty of time before labour, because these conversations often open up new questions and things you may want to think about. You don’t need to make every decision during the appointment, we still have time afterwards to talk through your questions, revisit your choices and make sure you feel informed and prepared before your baby arrives.

We can also discuss what might happen if your birth plans need to change, including what it could mean if you are offered an induction of labour.

This can also be a good time to start thinking about packing your hospital bag and getting the practical things ready for birth

Birth Planning Is More Than Writing a Birth Plan

It's very easy to think of birth planning as making a list of everything you would like to happen.

Your preferences matter enormously, but nobody can predict exactly how you or your baby will labour.

For example, I could never promise someone that they will definitely have a home birth. We can plan and prepare for a home birth, but throughout labour I will continue assessing the wellbeing of you and your baby.

The same applies to hospital birth.

Birth can change direction, and sometimes decisions need to be made that weren't part of the original plan.

That doesn't mean your birth plan has failed.

Good birth planning gives you the information to understand your options even when circumstances change.

Understanding What Could Change Your Birth Plan

This is an important part of the conversation I have with the families I care for.

We'll discuss circumstances that may mean I recommend further assessment, additional monitoring or transfer to hospital.

Depending on your individual pregnancy and planned place of birth, our conversation may include things such as concerns about your baby's position, significant bleeding, meconium in the waters, concerns about your baby's wellbeing or situations where labour isn't progressing as expected.

We can also discuss obstetric emergencies that can occur during birth, including cord prolapse and shoulder dystocia, and what I would do if one occurred.

These conversations aren't there to frighten you.

They're there because if I ever need to tell you that I'm concerned or recommend that we change our plan, I don't want the first time you've ever heard those words to be in the middle of an urgent situation.

Planning for Transfer From a Home Birth

If you're planning a home birth, we'll talk about hospital transfer before you go into labour. This is an important part of planning any home birth and something we will discuss in particular detail if you are planning a HBAC.

Most people don't particularly want to think about transferring when they're planning to give birth at home, but I believe it's an important part of informed birth planning.

We'll discuss some of the reasons I may recommend transfer and what would happen if we needed to go into hospital.

A transfer doesn't automatically mean an emergency. Sometimes transfer is recommended because you or your baby need assessment, monitoring or care that isn't available at home.

If an urgent situation did arise, you would already have some understanding of what was happening and why I was recommending a change to our original plan.

Sometimes Transfer Happens After Baby Is Born

Birth planning doesn't stop at the moment your baby is born.

There are circumstances where you or your baby may need hospital care following a home birth.

We can discuss situations such as a tear or birth injury which would need to be sutured in hospital, postpartum haemorrhage (PPH), a retained placenta, concerns about your physical wellbeing or concerns about your baby's condition that mean further neonatal assessment or resuscitation is required.

Again, the purpose isn't to make you expect these things to happen.

It's to make sure you understand that they can happen and what our plan would be if they did.

What About a Caesarean Birth?

Birth planning is equally valuable if you're preparing for a planned caesarean or if a caesarean becomes recommended during your pregnancy.

We can discuss what happens before, during and after a caesarean, your preferences for the birth and the things that may still be important to you even though your baby is being born in theatre.

If you're having a planned caesarean, I can also provide dedicated caesarean birth support, including antenatal preparation and postnatal care.

Making Decisions Without Creating Fear

There is a big difference between being frightened by information and being prepared with information.

I don't believe that avoiding conversations about complications protects you.

I would much rather we have these conversations calmly, during pregnancy, when you have time to ask questions and understand the information given.

Then, if something changes during your labour or birth, you already have some knowledge to draw upon.

You can ask:

What is happening?
Why are you recommending this?
What are my options?
What happens if we wait?
What are the benefits and risks?

Being informed doesn't mean you have to become an expert in obstetrics.

It simply means you can remain part of the conversation about your body, your baby and your care.

Your Birth Preferences Still Matter

Preparing for different possibilities doesn't mean abandoning the things that matter to you.

We can talk about your birth environment, who you want with you, communication, consent, pain relief, examinations, monitoring, positions, delayed cord clamping, skin-to-skin contact, feeding and your preferences for the third stage of labour.

Some things may become clinically inappropriate depending on circumstances, while others may still be possible even if the original birth plan changes.

Part of my role is helping you understand that distinction.

Your Plan Can Change

Your birth plan isn't a contract.

You are allowed to learn something new and change your mind.

Your circumstances may change during pregnancy. Your baby's needs may change. You may feel differently when you're actually in labour than you imagined you would during pregnancy.

That's okay.

Birth planning isn't about locking yourself into a set of decisions.

It's about giving you the knowledge and confidence to make decisions as your pregnancy and birth unfold.

Birth Planning That Is Guided By You

I bring my knowledge and experience as a midwife, but this is your pregnancy, your body and your birth.

My role is to explain, prepare, listen and support you to make informed decisions. We can also talk about that beautiful oxytocin, how it supports your body through labour and birth, and how feeling safe, loved and cared for can help create the right environment to help it flow.

I can't promise that your birth will happen exactly as you imagine it.

What I can do is make sure that we have talked about your choices, your preferences, the possibilities and the things that matter to you, so you go into birth feeling informed rather than walking into the unknown.

If your culture, faith or family traditions are important to your birth, we can also make sure these are understood and incorporated into your birth planning.

If you're planning a home birth you can also read about what happens in those first hours after birth.

I provide personalised private midwifery care and birth planning support across London, Essex and Hertfordshire.

Whether you're planning a vaginal birth, HBAC, VBAC or planned caesarean, your birth deserves thoughtful preparation and support.

Whatever path you're hoping for, I can help you feel informed, confident and prepared to make the choices that are right for you and your baby.

Let’s plan your birth together, get in touch to find out how I can support you.