Birth Plan
On this page, you can set out your wishes, vision and ideas regarding the upcoming birth. Once you have completed the form, we will ensure that this document is linked to your antenatal record.
During an appointment, we’ll discuss your birth plan and you’ll have the chance to ask any questions you may still have. Even without a birth plan, we’ll of course provide personalised, high-quality care during labour; read below to find out what’s included as standard in our care, even if you haven’t set it out in a plan.
From the active phase of labour onwards,
we will stay with you and support you in finding the right relaxation techniques, posture and breathing. Together, we will decide when to carry out a check-up and where the birth will take place.
We are committed to clear, calm communication throughout labour. In everything we do, we will ask for your consent and involve your partner.
We will suggest and use all forms of natural pain relief where necessary. These include massage, a shower, a bath, TENS and nitrous oxide. Usually, the progress of your labour will determine whether you also wish to have medicinal pain relief prescribed by the gynaecologist. We will decide together during labour which options are available and when is the right time to use them.
The baby will be placed directly on your bare chest and will only be taken away if medically necessary. If you, as the mother, need to leave for medical care, your baby will always remain with your partner. If you are breastfeeding, the baby will remain on your bare chest until after the first feed. After that, the baby can lie skin-to-skin with your partner. We allow the umbilical cord to pulsate out naturally as standard; this takes 3–5 minutes. We prefer to use a cord ring for the umbilical cord; you can also order one yourself for use at home. We will always ask your partner if they would like to cut the umbilical cord. We will ask if you would like to see the placenta and what you would like to do with it.
We administer an oxytocin injection as a straightforward measure to prevent blood loss. Naturally, we assess each situation to determine whether this is genuinely necessary. With your consent, your baby will be given vitamin K drops to aid blood clotting.
Your home maternity care team is your first point of contact; we are also available to you by telephone throughout the first week after the birth. We’ll pop round about three times to see how you’re getting on.
Trainee midwives are an integral part of our team. We take great pleasure in mentoring trainee midwives and believe it is important to contribute to the training of our future colleagues. A trainee midwife is often with you for an extended period and can therefore become a familiar face and a constant presence throughout your birth process – something that many women and partners find reassuring. That is why a trainee midwife may be present during your antenatal care or labour; you can always discuss specific procedures or aspects of your care with us.