How to write a birth plan

Staying mobile during labour

Most hospitals monitor the woman for about 40 minutes when she is first admitted to hospital. This is so the midwife can record the baby's heart rate during contractions and thus check that the baby is well. During this initial monitoring, you are likely to be propped up in bed, with a belt round your tummy, which is hooked up to a computer screen. It is certainly not the most comfortable position to be in during early labour. However, as soon as the midwife is happy that your baby's heart rate is normal, the monitor will come off, and your midwife will encourage you to adopt any position you find comfortable during a contraction. If the midwife insists that you have to stay on a monitor, it is likely to be because she is concerned about your baby's heartbeat. You won't want to ignore that.

Having a 'mobile' rather than a full epidural

Whether you are offered a mobile epidural depends on which hospital you are in and which anaesthetist you have. You may not be able to choose. In any case, the best way to use the pain-relief benefits of an epidural is to rest and re-charge your batteries for the birth.

Avoiding forceps or Ventouse

This is another decision for the professionals. If your baby needs an assisted delivery, it is usually because he or she needs to be delivered quickly or is stuck.

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