My Natural Birth Plan As A First Time Mum

I actually don’t know why a birth plan is called a “birth plan”… It’s not like you order Uber Eats and you get exactly what you ordered. Everyone keeps telling me to “stay flexible with your birth plan” as things will most likely not go to plan… So from here onwards I will use the term “birth wish list”. There are a few things I’ve kept in mind as a first time mum, so here’s what is coverd in this blog post:

My Natural Birth Plan Summary

My wish is to have a spontaneous labour before or around the due date, and a natural vaginal water birth in the bathtub – using hypno birthing techniques, with minimal pain relief and minimal instrumental interventions.

For pain relief I wish to start with Massage Gun, Tens Machine, Heat Packs, Hot Shower and Bath (without tens machine attached obviously), for the next level I would like to use nitrous oxide mixed with oxygen and if unavoidable, I am open to the next level of medicated pain management however I have a strong desire for a natural, medication free, meditation rich, water birth.

If possible I wish to delivery baby myself as she comes out, followed by immediate skin to skin contact with mum, followed by Delayed Cord Clamping until the cord goes white (up to 3 mins). Then I wish to cut the cord myself.

Part 1 – Early Labour Plan

During early labour contractions are mild to moderate and shorter (about 30 to 45 seconds). You can usually keep talking during them. Contractions may also be irregular, about 5 to 20 minutes apart. They may even stop for a while.

Here’s what I’m planning to do during the early phase of labour (usually lasts the longest, can be up to 2 days, especially for first time mothers).

Labour at home and have my husband home for support and care.
- The labour hormone Oxytocin is released when we feel safe, secure and not disturbed. Often an area which is dark/dim with cozy lights, something your primal instincts like to create a safe “nest”.
- Home environment is setup as a safe, super cozy sanctuary with soft cozy fuzzy blankets, fairy lights, candles, heater, relaxing music, TV, aromatherapy and wishes and prayers written on cards from my friends and family.
Go about normal day as much as possible, sleep when it is bedtime, eat when it is time to eat etc. A wise midwife once said “ignore it till you no longer can”. This is my plan.
Distract myself with a TV series (make sure you have a few lined up so you have some “ready to watch” instead of waiting for it to download, walk the dogs, feed the animals, bake some treats or go out for lunch.
Have a hot bath or shower to soothe discomfort.
Listen to my favourite music – check out my Spotify Labouring Playlist
Stay nourished and hydrated as much as possible because I am going to need the energy and stamina (see my labour snack list below).
Use a tens machine as required (I have a Fortress Tens machine which is what physiotherapists use to help relax muscles. The placement of the pads: Attach the electrodes to your mid and lower back; two above the panty line (approx. 4 cm either side of spine and 4-5cm below navel line), and two below the bra strap (approx. 4 cm either side of spine and 4-5 cm above navel line). Also see “Instructions and Tips on how to get the most out of your TENS“
Use my Theragun as required to help with massage for pain management.
Take 1g of paracetamol as required to help with main management.
Labour positions to try: My wish is to stay as active as possible by means of walking, squatting, hanging on side of bed or chair, leaning forward.
Focused Breathing using the hyponobirthing app Blessed on my phone using wired headphones (that way I can’t lose one of my wireless airpods).
Visualisation: I will be using imagery to visualise positive things. For example I might imagine being at the beach, and visualising the waves wash over me, visualising each contraction like a wave rising and falling. I will also try to imagine the cervix opening and blooming like a flower. Our minds are powerful, so visualisation can help.

Part 2 – Car Ride To Hospital

When you transition from the safe, calm, magical home environment, to hopping into the car, there may be bright outside lights and unfamiliar circumstances that may distort the “feeling safe instinct” and might hinder the production of the natural labour hormone oxytocin.

To help with this here are a few tips:

You can choose to wear sunglasses to keep the lights somewhat dim/diffused
Make sure you wear comfy clothing that you feel safe and cozy in
If your waters haven’t broken yet, be prepared and wear for example the Poise Throw Away maternity briefs in case your waters break in the car. Or have puppy pee pads covering the seats.
Listen to your favourite music / hypno tracks with headphone whilst in the car (I suggest you used WIRED headphones so you can’t lose an airpod in the car and have to try to find it underneath a seat).

Part 3 – Active Labour Plan

Once the midwife has confirmed we can come to hospital (usually when contractions are less than 5 mins apart) I hope it will be something like this:

Upon arrival at Hospital

Arrive at hospital, go to triage (have ID ready) and be taken to private labour room
Have husband (or support person) be my advocate and speak on my behalf so that I can stay focused on “staying in the zone” so that my body feels safe and secure. When in active labour, women should not be using their “thinking brain” instead focus on primal instincts and retreat to a safe, dark, “nest” where she feels safe and can safely have her baby.
- Have husband setup the room for me so I don’t have to think and can be taken care of:
  - Dim the lights, setup the room with LED candles, Fairy Lights, Aroma Diffuser, BYO Pillow which smells like home, play desired music / hypno birthing tracks.
Speak to midwifes and express our birth plan wishes.
After this, request privacy for the first hour in hospital (where possible) so that the mind + body feel safe again in this different environment, and oxytocin hormone flows

During Active Labour

Continue to listen to hypno birthing / meditation tracks
Continue to use the tens machine (pulse width 150, pulse rate 120-150, mode normal)
Labour positions to try: My wish is to stay as active as possible by means of walking, squatting, hanging on side of bed or chair, leaning forward. Most importantly keep moving, try something different.
Visualisation: Imagine being at the beach or in your favourite place. Also, you could visualise each contraction like a wave rising and falling or imagine your cervix opening and blooming like a flower. Our minds are powerful, so visualisation can help.
Stay nourished and hydrated (see my labour snack list below)
Use pain medication suggestions as required – For pain relief I wish to start with Massage Gun, Tens Machine, Heat Packs, Hot shower and bath (without tens machine attached obviously), for the next level I would like to use nitrous oxide mixed with oxygen and if unavoidable I am open to the next level of medicated pain management however I have a strong desire for a natural, medication free, meditation rich, water birth.

Part 4 – Delivery

My wish is to have a natural vaginal water birth in the bath, with minimal instrumental interventions.

It would be a bonus if I can hold baby myself as she is born, or ideally that my husband delivers her as she comes into this world, followed by immediate skin to skin contact with mum.

Part 5 – Immediately After Birth

My wish is that our baby breathes and cries within a few seconds of being born.
Have immediate skin to skin contact with mum (in case things do not go to plan and I’m in a critical condition, skin to skin with dad) (Skin-to-skin contact keeps your baby warm, helps to steady your baby’s breathing and heart rate, and lets you and baby bond physically straight away). Dry baby to avoid getting cold.
Put grey beanie + mittens on to keep baby warm and avoid her scratching herself.
Delayed Cord Clamping and Cutting (DCC) (wait 3 minutes until the cord has stopped pulsating and becomes white before clamping and cutting the cord.)
Do not wash vernix away (delay baby’s first bath till a few days after birth so baby can adjust to life outside of the womb.)
Announce baby’s name (Within the first hour of birth, the midwife will put two name tags on your baby)
After that the baby will undergo the apgar score is a measure of a baby’s condition after birth (midwife / nurse will take baby away from me and check characteristics such as: skin colour, heart rate, reflexes and responsiveness muscle tone breathing rate).
After that I’ll probably be ready for a nourishing snack and a well deserved rest!
We have hand expressed colostrum from week 37 onwards which we will to hospital and use as required.
We wish to keep the placenta and take it home in a medical esky for religious reasons.

Labour Snacks Checklist

Staying Hydrated During Labour:

Electrolytes
Coconut water

Staying Nourished During Labour:

Honey sticks
Banana or apple with nut butter.
Avocado on toast.
Whole grain toast with nut or seed butter.
Banana and honey on toast.
Fruit – bananas, apples, melons, berries, satsumas, strawberries
Dried fruits – raisins, banana chips, dates, dried apple rings.
Veg sticks – carrots, cucumber, celery.
Nuts and seeds.
Fruit and nut / trail mix.
Flapjack or granola bars. Oats are great for slower release energy.
Energy balls.
Natural sugars from healthy sources to provide quick energy. A spoonful of raw honey, straight from the jar, for a boost of energy can be great.
Crackers – if you want something plain and easy, crackers can be good.
Sandwiches, wholemeal or granary for slower energy release.
Soups can be easy to digest.
Ice lollies or ice cream if it makes you feel good, also cooling in hot weather
Yogurt (add chopped fruit too).
Sweets – jelly beans, lollipops, gummy bears, haribo, cola bottles – fun nostalgia can be great for oxytocin release.

Labouring Essentials Checklist

Here are my labouring essentials:

Tens Machine – The electrical impulses can reduce the pain signals going to the spinal cord and brain, which may help relieve pain and relax muscles. They may also stimulate the production of endorphins, which are the body’s natural painkillers. How I plan to use the Tens Machine: pulse width 150, pulse rate 120-150, mode normal (pad placement on back 2 pads just below the bra line, 2 pads around panty line)

Theragun – This massage gun might come in handy to help massaging lower back.

BIG water bottle – it’s important to stay hydrated and ensure you have plenty of pee breaks in between. Make it your labour partner’s job to remind you to pee every 30-60 mins as a full bladder may impact your delivery.

Labour snacks – Staying on top of my (and my husband’s) nutrition during labour is essential to avoid fatigue and hopefully avoids getting hangry.

Birth Partner – I think it’s essential to have a birth partner to coach and support you throughout the process. Here’s how a birth partner can help:

1) Just being there to keep you company, hold your hand, talk to you, calm and reassure you.
2) Helping you to breathe through your contractions.
3) Putting pads for a TENS machine on for you.
4) Making you something to eat.
5) Timing your contractions (if you’re not using an app – I am using “Blessed hypno birthing”) .
6) Running a bath for you.
7) Giving you a massage.

Strategies for when it does not go to plan

I think it’s important to be prepared, and yes that means even being prepared for when things do not go to plan. I feel that if you run through the various options through your head, at least you have spent a bit of time thinking about alternatives, and then when birth does not go to plan, there may be less surprises.

After all, the best thing you can do to be prepared is to be educated or at least informed.

So here are a few things that I keep in the back of my head, for when things do not go to plan.

What do you mean? Things don’t go to plan?

My wish is to have a spontaneous labour around the due date, with minimal pain relief and no medical interventions such as forceps or vaccum.

But what if spontaneous labour does not happen?
What if complications arise during labour?
What if you feel you’re not getting the support you need?

Every pregnancy, and every birth is different and very unpredictable. You simply can’t just “choose” the birth you desire, which means you have to keep an open mind and stay flexible.

My mantra: “This too shall pass” and “This is only temporary”
Stay flexible, the HEALTH of yourself and SAFE arrival of your baby is the most important important, not matter how it happens (natural vaginal or emergency Caesarean)
Express how you feel during the process (e.g. I am nervous about this, or I feel scared) and ask for support from your labour partner.
Trust in the expertise, care and experience of your midwives, they’re here to help and to keep you and your baby safe.
Post delivery: Most importantly is to remember that “it is not your fault that it did not go to plan”. Babies have not read the book about how, what and why. Babies have their own way, and will come on their birthday (we just don’t know their birthday yet).