Birth plan
You write a birth plan to prepare for the birth. It gives you the ideal opportunity to make clear what your wishes are. Your partner and the midwife then know exactly what you want. Discuss the plan with us, so that we can take it into account as much as possible. If you still have questions about this, you can always call us on weekdays between 08:30 and 16:00. Of course, you can also send an email.
Birth plan: digital or on paper
The Pregnanta birth plan is a short document in which you indicate everything that is important to you before, during and after the birth. You can fill in the birth plan digitally or on paper. The average and desired length of a birth plan is one A4 page.
Why make a birth plan?
Making a birth plan is all about good preparation. We want you to feel as comfortable as possible. Some advantages of a birth plan are:
- You are consciously engaged with the birth of your baby. This also helps you prepare mentally as well as possible.
- The midwife knows exactly what you find important. This way he can help you in the way you would like.
- You work together with your partner to get your expectations and wishes clear. In this way you grow even closer to each other.
- You think well in advance about decisions that need to be made. This also keeps you involved in decision-making during the birth.
Tips for writing a birth plan
- Less is more. So keep the birth plan simple. Write down your expectations and wishes in short sentences. For example, indicate who you want with you or which position you would most like to adopt during the birth.
- Put the points that are most important to you at the top.
- Try to keep your birth plan as positive as possible.
To help you get started with drawing up your personal birth plan, we have developed a template. Choose the Dutch birth plan template or the English birth plan template.
Discussing the birth plan with the midwife
It is important to discuss the birth plan with your midwife. He or she can give you more information and advice. In addition, he determines whether your wishes are feasible. Sometimes it is medically or practically impossible to carry out some wishes. We will look for possible alternatives for you so that they can still be partly met. In short, we take your wishes into account as much as possible, but in the end the medical condition of mother and baby is decisive.
Deviating from the birth plan
Sometimes it is necessary to deviate from the birth plan. The most common reasons are:
- Interventions are needed to bring the baby safely into the world.
- You have changed your mind about something to do with the birth.
- Your midwife refers you to a gynaecologist in the nearest hospital.
- Your baby is admitted to the maternity ward.
- The birth goes differently than planned.