Complete the form below with your personal details and birth wishes and receive your birth plan in PDF. Of course, we are also happy to help you personally. Please contact us for this.
• Heat (hot water bottle/ shower/ bath)
• Changing position/moving around
• Breathing exercises
• Rest
• Music
• Massage
• TENS
• Clear communication
• We make decisions with you
• Encourage position changes
• We do not perform an episiotomy, unless the baby’s heart rate drops while pushing (foetal distress)
• Skin-to-skin contact after delivery (if possible the entire first hour)
• Waiting for the umbilical cord to stop pulsating before clamping
• Your partner will be asked to cut the umbilical cord
• Assistance with your baby’s first feed
• Where do you want to give birth?
• Who do you want with you while giving birth?
• In which position would you like to give birth?
• How do you feel about pain relief?
• Do you want to ‘catch’ or pull out your baby yourself?
• Do you want to breastfeed or bottle-feed?
Sometimes things don’t don’t go as planned. In some cases, we may be unable to deliver your baby, and have to hand you over to the gynaecologist. In that case, you will be assisted at the hospital by a midwife or an assistant physician. Your baby’s heart rate is continuously monitored to keep a close eye on its condition.
Reasons may include:
• If the baby had a poo in the amniotic fluid
• If dilation stalls
• Insufficient progress while pushing
• Heart monitoring indicates foetal distress
• Lots of blood loss/ if the placenta does not come out
Interventions such as a ventouse birth (suction cup)/caesarean section are only performed if there is a need for this.
Loss of blood or bloody mucus before/during labour is perfectly normal. If you are losing a lot of bright red blood (like a period): call immediately.
If you request pain relief, a gynaecologist will assist you during the birth. Your baby’s heart rate is continuously monitored. Because you can no longer get out of bed and peeing is thus more difficult, a catheter will be inserted into your bladder.
95% good pain relief. You will feel some pressure from contractions. Generally no impact on the baby. Your blood pressure may start to drop, which is why you will be given intravenous fluid. Additional stimulation is often needed for contractions. You may experience fever, itching, and headache after childbirth. You have to stay a bit longer after giving birth.
A morphine-like substance is injected into your buttock. It works within half an hour and lasts anywhere from 2 to 4 hours. You may feel sleepy so you can rest during the contractions. It takes the edge off the pain of the contractions. Cons: nausea, drowsiness, you may experience the birth less consciously. Not administered in the last stage of dilation. May affect your baby’s breathing.
A morphine-like substance that is administered intravenously. Works instantly and you can control this yourself. The painkiller is quickly dissolved. Takes the edge off the pain of the contractions, you can relax better between contractions. Cons: nausea, dizziness and may affect your breathing and your baby’s breathing. It is not always available in the hospital.
It is vital that you feed you baby every 3 hours. You can wake the baby for this or watch for signs that your baby is hungry. This is also a good time to take your baby’s temperature and change his or her diaper. Have a glass of water yourself and go to the bathroom.
When can you expect to see us?
We visit you the day after you gave birth. After this, we come every other day, more often if necessary.
These days, you can register your baby’s birth online. This should be done within three working days of delivery.
During the day, the maternity nurse will monitor if everything is going well with you and the baby. If she has concerns, she will contact us. We explain below when you should call us yourself when the maternity nurse is not with you (078-8200996).
If you are losing lots of blood
When you have a full maternity sanitary towel after 30 minutes or lose a blood clot the size of a fist more than twice.
In case of fever
When your temperature is 38 degrees or higher (rectal measurement).
Temperature is too low
When your baby’s temperature is 36.5 degrees or lower, try a hot water bottle/skin-to-skin contact first. Is your baby’s temperature still 36.5 degrees or lower after an hour? Call us.
Temperature too high
When your baby has a temperature of 37.5 degrees or higher, start by taking off some of your baby’s clothes first. Is your baby’s temperature still 37.5 degrees or higher after an hour? Call us.
Peeing/pooing
When your baby has not peed/had a poo within 24 hours of delivery.
If your baby is lethargic or listless
Other acute concerns about your baby
First, let’s talk about the term birth plan. We don’t think this is the right word, because a birth is difficult to “plan”. That is why we prefer to use the term birth wishlist. Keep in mind that if things go differently than expected/ hoped for, we may have to deviate from your wishes in some cases. We always do this in consultation with you and your partner and in the interests of your health and that of your baby. During a birth consultation, we discuss your wishes with you and see whether they are feasible.
Below are some TIPS for making your birth wishlist and a template.
TIPS:
Make sure it’s short, concise, and easy to read.
Tell us what you find important.
Think of it as a kind of preparation/a reflection on giving birth.
Writing down NOTHING or just a few words is also fine.
Think about what matters to you, don’t be inspired by the stories of others.
After sending the form, scroll back down to download your personal birth plan in PDF.
Verloskundigenpraktijk De Singel
078 6148113
SPOED 078 – 8200 996
info@verloskundigendesingel.nl
Locatie: Gezondheidscentrum EUREKA
Burgemeester de Raadtsingel 91 E
3311 JG Dordrecht
Locatie: KV13 eerstelijnshuis
Oranjelaan 11
3311 DH Dordrecht
Verloskundige Praktijk Papendrecht
Locatie: Gezondheidscentrum De Zorgmolen
Poldermolen 2
3352 TH Papendrecht
Website Papendrecht