Midwife appointments

The birth planning appointment isn't really long enough to tell you everything about birth and all potential preferences you may have. You definitely need to do some research on your own if there's things you're not sure on beforehand so the midwife can clarify or offer suggestions. Then the appointment can be more about getting those preferences down on paper/ in the system

Most trusts no longer offer birth plan appointments simply because they don’t have the staff to do them properly

@Charley luckily I've done all my own research, but I wanted to make sure they know my preferences as I want things as natural as possible, water birth etc and use hypnobirthing. I just feel a bit fobbed off that's all as I might not have a chance to actually sit down and discuss everything with a midwife if he comes early? It doesn't help that I've seen a different midwife every time and never even met my named one :(

@Natalie unfortunately this is normal in the state of the NHS at the moment. It doesn't really make that much difference because you'll have a different midwife for the birth so you'll have to discuss the things you want with them anyway when you get there, so having it written down is more of a formality. Do you have online notes or an app? If so, there's usually a birth preferences section there so you can just go in and update it yourself.

@Charley I feel sorry for people who don't have the knowledge to look out for themselves in this system really 😞 I have an app, "my pregnancy notes" but nothing ever gets uploaded to it so I'd be surprised if anyone ever looks at it! I might upload what I've done for my birthday plan though just so it's officially recorded, thanks- that's a really good idea x

@Natalie yes it's a real shame and midwives don't get the chance to be "with woman" in the way their role has been intended throughout history thanks to the demands on the service and under funding. I have my pregnancy notes as well. But yeah pop it on there and then when you go into labour you'll have all the bits you want to let them know about in an easy to access place as they'll just bring it up.

Mine appointment for all.of that is 36 weeks if that helps... in a week's time for me

I signed up to the positive birth company last time which was really helpful for info and it also had a template birth plan which I amended, printed off and showed my midwife. We discussed it, made a few amendments and they put it in my notes. They definitely read it during labour as when they went against my birth plan they specifically got my consent mentioning what my wishes were.

@Georgie thanks 😊 I'll be over 37 weeks by the time I have my 36 week appointment as they are all a week behind for some reason x

@Marina yeah I've downloaded a template to use too 🙂 it's so helpful isn't it! I'll definitely upload it so it's on my notes x

I had this exact same issue this week - at my 34w appt (I’m actually 35w) the midwife tried not to discuss it. Which I thought no let me ask.. and she said “oh I can do it if you like” and I said yes - otherwise I was the same my next appt id be 37w at my 36w appt - and anything can happen at that point! As much as you can do all the research you like it doesn’t change someone being able to answer any questions you have etc - I found it rather useful xxx

@Aimee yes exactly! I asked too but they said it has to be an hour long appointment booked to go through all of that 😞 I've already been threatened with induction due to my age, so you would think they might want to discuss it with me?! Hopefully the baby comes before it gets to that point though x

36 weeks is when they first mentioned my birth plan with me and asked me to think about my preferences and we completed it at 38 weeks. Just done in midwife appointments x

i just had mine yesterday at 35+2, but that was my 36 week appointment. i didn't have this appointment with my first, and when i mentioned that to my midwife this time she said some midwives won't bother but that the NICE guidelines are to do a birth preferences appointment. as someone else mentioned, if your notes are online, there might be info and a place to fill in your preferences, my midwife asked me to do this prior to my appointment yesterday xx

just noticed you have my pregnancy notes too, that's what i use - do you know how to fill in your birth preferences on there? if not i can help you xx

I’m still waiting for my care to start from my midwife and I’m 33 weeks, she’s rubbish 🫠 I’ve given up now and just do my own research

@keisha thanks, I have just been looking and have found where to put my preferences, I'll be doing that today! It just would have been nice to talk it all through with a professional x

@Laura 🌻 yeah I do too, I think it's better that way anyway as you can read lots of different info and make your own mind up about things x

i’m 34+5 and also been told i’m having my birth plan appt at 36 weeks

i never had a birth plan appointment with my first xx

I had my 34 week appointment a week and a half ago and my midwife did go through my birth plan with me. She went through each of my preferences and gave me info on vitamin K injection, injection for delivering the placenta etc, think that is how it’s meant to be

I got mine booked at 35 +3 w, I requested for it, as it was not in the books

with my first they said birth plan to be discussed at 34 weeks, made my partner take time of work as i thought it’s an ‘ important appointment ‘ wasn’t discussed at all and at 36 weeks was very brief, I’m due 3rd October, same again not mentioned at 34 weeks she said it would be at 36 week appointment and to fill out preferences on badger notes which I’ve done! X

@Shelley I had the EXACT situation - my partner took the time off work, my midwife actually didn’t even turn up.. they told me they’ll just see me at 36w appointment but I would actually be 37w - so I point blank refused and took another appointment else where as I thought no this is my birth plan - to which I had to ask them to do it because they didn’t want to 😂 for my first pregnancy it’s been shocking - we don’t have the badgers app in London so couldn’t even do that! X