Claire here are a few things you may want to include in you birth plan. Sorry if they have already been mentioned or are repeated (i just copied and pasted them from a few websites!).
Birth companion
Write down who you want to be with you in labour. Do you want this person to stay with you all the time, or are there certain procedures or stages in labour when you'd prefer him or her to leave the room?
Positions for labour and birth
Mention which positions you would like to use during labour and for your baby's delivery. Also say how active you would like to be: would you like to remain upright and mobile for as long as possible, for example, or would you prefer to be in bed.
Pain relief
Say what kinds of pain relief you want to use, if any, and in what order (for example, you might prefer to try pethidine before an epidural).
Birthing pool
If your hospital or midwife-led unit has a birthing pool, or if you are hiring one to use at home, write down whether you want to use it for pain relief and/or to give birth in.
Monitoring your baby's heart rate
Say how you want your baby to be monitored during labour. Write down whether you would like your midwife to listen to your baby's heart intermittently using a hand-held device (Sonicaid) or whether you want electronic monitoring using a belt strapped round your waist.
Assisted delivery
You might want to express a preference for forceps or ventouse if, at the end of labour, you need some help to deliver your baby.
Delivery position
Say whether you want to give birth lying on the bed, or kneeling, standing or squatting.
Third stage (delivery of the placenta)
You can choose to have an injection to speed up the delivery of the placenta, or you might want to say that you prefer to have a natural third stage without drugs.
Feeding the baby
Be clear about whether you want to breastfeed or bottlefeed. Also be clear about whether your breastfed baby is allowed to have any bottles. If you definitely don't want her to have bottles, say so.
Unexpected situations
Some women write down what they want to happen if their baby has to go the special care baby unit (SCBU). They might want to be allowed to care for him as much as possible themselves, and to be transferred with him to another hospital if a transfer is necessary. They might ask for their partners to be allowed to stay with them at the hospital.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A Labor Birth Plan Sample Worksheet
1. I would like to give birth:
at home
in a birthing room
in a delivery room (more surgical facilities)
in the shower
2. In my birthing room, the following is important to me:
Dimmed lights
Soft music playing
Wearing my own clothes during delivery
3. I would like to have the following people present at the birth:
Partner
Parents
Friend(s)
Doula
Relatives
4. In preparation for my delivery, I would prefer:
to use/ to not use an enema
to be/to not be induced if I go past my due date
5. If inducing labor, I would prefer these methods:
Breaking the membrane
Castor oil
Nipple stimulation
Walking
Sexual intercourse
Acupuncture
Pitocin
6. During the first stage of labor:
I would / would not prefer to remain with my partner during labor or delivery
I would like to eat or drink during labor
Give me pain medication only if I ask for it/if the pain causes me too much discomfort
I would prefer not to undergo internal exams unless medically necessary for the health of me or my baby.
7. Ways I would like to manage the pain:
Massage
Breathing techniques
Hypnosis
Relaxation
Medication
Distraction
Acupuncture
8. Second stage of labor:
I would prefer not have an episiotomy, even if it means tearing vaginal tissue
I would prefer having an episiotomy if there is a possibility of tissue tearing
Unless it's medically necessary, I would prefer not having an episiotomy offered to me
9. I prefer to give birth in the following position:
Classic position-semi-reclined
Standing upright
Lying on my side
Squatting
Hands and knees
10. During my birth:
If it's necessary to extract the baby, use either forceps or a vacuum
I would like a mirror available so that I might see my baby's head
I would like to touch my vaginal area as my baby's head crowns
11. After delivery:
I wish to cut the umbilical cord myself
I wish to have umbilical cord blood preserved
I would like a private room
If my newborn leaves my presence, I would like my partner to attend to her
but i feel the same as you really. I guess ill ask the midwife about it next time i see her
