Your Birth Plan Explained

A birth plan is a document that lets your medical team know your preferences for things like how to manage labour pain or how you would like your baby cared for after he/she is born. Keep in mind that you cannot control every aspect of labour and delivery, and you will need to stay flexible in case something comes up that requires your birth team to depart from your plan. But a printed document gives you a place to make your wishes clear. Your doctor and midwife will be happy to assist you in preparing this document

Remember that, at any time, you can change your mind regarding your wishes.

VAGINAL DELIVERY

LABOUR & BIRTH

Environment

You are invited to visit our delivery suite prior to giving birth to better know what the hospital can offer to you

Monitoring

Every baby’s heart is monitored throughout labour. Depending of the situation, the monitoring can be intermittent or continuous. Be aware that in some cases, continuous monitoring is necessary to ensure your baby’s safety.

Pain control

There are many different ways to help you cope with the pain of labour and childbirth. These range from special breathing to an epidural block. When your pain is under control, it is easier for you to help with the birth. You may choose natural childbirth (no pain relief), but you can also opt for pain relief if the pain becomes too much for you.

Labour

If your labour is progressing too slowly, your doctor may suggest rupture of membranes or starting an intra-venous infusion with oxytocin. Oxytocin is a hormone which will cause the contractions to get stronger or become more regular.

BIRTH

Pushing time

You can indicate in your birth plan whether you prefer coached pushing or instinctive pushing.

Medical intervention

Forceps or vacuum are not routinely used however sometimes the baby’s head does not move as expected through the birth canal. If this happens, your doctor may use forceps or vacuum extraction to deliver the baby.

An episiotomy is a surgical cut that your doctor may perform in the area between the vagina and anus to avoid the risk of natural tear and enlarge the opening if baby needs it. Episiotomy is not performed routinely but your obstetrician may recommend one in some situations

Immediately after birth

After your baby is born, and the umbilical cord is cut, it is possible to collect your baby’s cord blood and cord tissues (umbilical cord) that contain special cells called stem cells which can be used for your baby’s future medical needs. If you wish to have this done, please contact our receptionist on the 1st floor to give you all the necessary information.

At FV hospital we strongly encourage placing your baby on your skin just after the birth. This skin-to-skin moment helps create the bond with your newborn baby and gives you the opportunity to start breastfeeding within the first hour of your baby.

Breastfeeding is also strongly encouraged as breast milk is the ultimate best source of nutrition for your baby

VAGINAL BIRTH AFTER C-SECTION

If you desire to try a vaginal delivery after having had a previous caesarean section, you should be encouraged by knowing that approximately 80% of women who have previously undergone caesarean birth can successfully give birth vaginally.

ELECTIVE CAESAREAN DELIVERY

An elective caesarean delivery is a scheduled C-section; it can be a patient-requested C-section or a C-section indicated for medical reasons

You can ask for your partner or a relative to be present in the operating theatre, to have photos or video taken, the type of anaesthesia, your baby’s cord blood to be collected. We encourage skin-to-skin immediately after delivery and breastfeeding within one hour after birth

Note that the presence of your partner or a relative can be refused when complications are feared or if the procedure is not going to be done under spinal/epidural anaesthesia.

IN THE MATERNITY WARD

Feeding my baby

FV Hospital recognises that breast milk is the most complete form of nutrition for infants and endorses at least six months of exclusive breastfeeding as the ideal way to feed your baby.

Our trained staff will help prepare expecting mothers and support new mothers on this journey.

Bonding

FV Hospital encourages rooming-in with your baby during your hospital stay. Rooming-in is good for both you and your baby. A mother who is rooming in is able to attend to her baby when feeding cues are displayed, helping her establish a good milk flow by promoting milk let-down.

MY BIRTH PLAN

At FV Hospital we recognise that every birthing experience is unique. We have created this document to help you plan for the various stages of your birthing experience. Please indicate below your preferences and share your plan with your obstetrician and midwife. We are looking forward to caring for you and your family during this special time and to providing you with a memorable and safe experience

We will do everything we can to honour your wishes but be aware that your safety and the safety of your baby may require unexpected change to your birth experience

I am planning:

Vaginal Delivery
Vaginal Birth after C-Section
Caesarean Delivery