How to Write a Birth Plan
Unless you opt for an elective c-section, birth largely remains an unplannable event. However, a birth plan will help you to communicate to your care givers how they can assist in achieving the birth that you and your partner want. In a birth plan you state how you want the setting of your birth to be like; what you want to happen and - as importantly – what you do not want to happen.
“A birth plan will help you to communicate to your care givers how they can assist in achieving the birth that you and your partner want”
It might be a good idea to write a short paragraph at the start, introducing yourself, stating which number of birth this is for you and acknowledging that nurses play an important role in the safety of your baby and thanking them in advance. This will be much appreciated.
A few tips:
Be ASSERTIVE!
Use active language like “I will move around in labour” rather than “If it’s ok with my doctor I would like to move around”.
Keep it BRIEF!
Keep it to one page in total if possible including labour and birth and steps for when you are up in the post-natal ward. “Less is more” is essential in this situation.
Be CONCISE!
State clearly what you want, e.g. “The baby will be breastfed exclusively” instead of “I am planning to breastfeed but in case it turns out to be difficult I would consider the baby be given formula or other means to soothe him/her”.
REFERENCE
T. Grose-Hodge (25.08.2015) ‘How to Write a Birth Plan in Singapore’, SassyMama, https://www.sassymamasg.com/pregnancy/how-to-write-a-birth-plan-in-singapore/