When do you talk about a birth plan?

You can’t plan birth to be honest, you can have your preferences of things, make a note of them on your phone or have them with you notes when you go in and make sure your birth partner is also aware of them, such as things like pain relief but I’ve never made a birth plan with any of my 4 labours as you never know what will happen

Well that’s what mean, I was told at at the start I might not be able to give birth naturally or have an epidural due to other medical reasons, and it’s never been brought up since, and there’s nothing wrote in my notes other than that and for it to be discussed later date so I was wondering when that discussion usually happens

I really dislike when people say you can't plan a birth or there's no point having a birth plan. Yes unexpected things happen but there's no reason why you can't plan for expected and unexpected scenarios. Making a birth plan is vital for some people to feel prepared and calm going into labour. I suppose this is why the general lingo has moved to saying birth preferences. Its usually at your 36 week appointment but not every area does a birth plan appointment now due to lack of resources and time. If you're under consultant led care you'll usually see them again towards the end to come up with a plan

With my daughter ( she’s 8 now) they didn’t book my birth plan until like 38 weeks, however I had a medication review the day before it was due and discovered I had preeclampsia so had to get induced that night so never actually got to have mine lol

I understand you can’t really predict birth, and anything could happen etc however being told I can NOT give birth naturally is a bit of a scary thought when it has no been discussed, maybe birth plan was the wrong term to use to explain, it was more of wondering when the discussion does usually happen for notes to be wrote down etc, or when you tend to go through different options or ideas for like pain relief etc

Not sure if you have paper notes or the badger notes app - on the badger notes app there is a birth plan conversation section that could maybe add in. Or not sure if they could help or not but could you call the admin team at the hospital you are giving birth in to reassure or find out when that conversation can happen?

I know exactly what you mean and mine hasn't been discussed either yet in terms of my wishes etc. There is however a section on my Badger Notes for it, do you use that? I need to ask my midwife about it at my next appointment. Because you are right, there is usually an opportunity for you to note your wishes around your birth or at least your intentions. For example my Badger notes section includes sections on who you want to reveal the gender (if you don't know) and who you would like to clamp the cord. Skin to skin immediately if possible etc. I already know that I would like to do as much as I can on gas&air (depending on what a wimp I turn out to be) but im open to pain relief but want to avoid an epidural. Now that's because I'm allowed a natural. Yours would be different but you should at least get someone to talk through the process of a cesarean etc with you. It'll help keep you calm if you have an idea of what will happen when you get there etc (in ideal circumstances)

It’s often undertaken much closer to your due date - 36 weeks or so x

It my opinion I think it's ridiculous that they wait until 36 weeks to do a birth plan as things can happen and creating a birth plan with the healthy mindset that things could change can actually help you get your head round things and also pushes you to research options. Have you been to any antenatal classes as they usually discuss birth plans? If not this is the NHS link to the "generic" info you'd want on one and they also have a downloadable birth plan you can edit: https://www.nhs.uk/pregnancy/labour-and-birth/preparing-for-the-birth/how-to-make-a-birth-plan/ I made my birth plan at 33 weeks around the same time I packed my hospital bag which thank goodness I did because at 35 weeks I had an emergency scan and was told the next time I left the hospital I'd be leaving with a baby. Yes none of my birth plan was relevant at that point however everything that I had done I had researched whilst creating my plan and had sat with my husband to discuss what I wanted so he could advocate!

You need to make them discuss it with you. There isn’t any incentive for them to raise it.

i discussed my birth preferences with my midwife at 35 weeks (though it was my 36 week appointment). with my first i didnt have this appointment, and my current midwife said it's NICE guidelines to discuss birth preferences around 36 weeks though some midwives don't do it xx

Okay I will mention it at my next appointment, I only have paper notes and have never used the online ones! I’ve had a different midwife/ doctor every appointment (crazy considering I have appointments every other week!) so I think it’s a bit of missed communication with everyone regarding being told I wasn’t able to give birth naturally. I will push for that conversation and make sure there is something noted down at least 😊