1:16 Brigid and Pat talk about their morning before they got to podcasting

2:30 Is it a myth that Obstetrician’s don’t like birth plans?

2:56 A birth plan can be a great educational opportunity and make sure all parties are on the same page.

3:33 A birth plan as a tool.

5:56 Brigid asks what a woman to expect if they have a birth plan. Dr Pat talks about how an open-ended birth plan can help increase overall birth satisfaction because it helps the woman to be heard.

6:58 Brigid talks about her birth plan she took to her first birth, it was three pages long and Brigid described how she felt when she didn’t achieve what was on her birth plan.

8:42 Dr Pat talks about who makes a birth plan. In his experience about two thirds of first-time births. He worries about the one third who think they can wing it. People having a subsequent baby might talk about one or more births

10:35 People who have a birth plan are better informed and have an adaptable mindset.

Part 2- What goes into a birth plan?

12:54 Dr Pat talks about how to start with an acknowledgement of open mindedness.

13:53 Divide the birth plan into what you really want like skin to skin. Next section should talk about things that would be nice. Next section should cover what you really don’t want.

16:07 Dr Pat talks about whether you can ask people to speak softly and how the birth room can be set up

16:19 Brigid asks Dr Pat what are the deal breakers that he has seen in birth plans. He talks that people still put out of date issues like “enemas, pubic hair shaving and routine episiotomies”

16:53 A birth plan can also cover who from their family they do and don’t want in the room

17:27 The one birth plan that Dr Pat thinks is less useful is the one that is pre-filled.

18:08 A great idea is to say how you would like your birth to go in all eventualities.

18:49 Dr Pat talks about preferences you can have in a Caesarean birth. Such as who is going to be in the theatre as a support person, cord clamping, how the drapes can be arranged, where the Paediatrician checks the baby.

20:52 Dr Pat talks about preferences in an Assisted birth for example, forceps and vacuum and what questions could be asked of their care provider.

22:42 Dr Pat and Brigid talk about what you can put in your about your newborn such as circumcision.

23:24 Dr Pat talks about building a parenting plan

23:44 Myth or fact: Does an obstetrician intervene quicker because it is close to home time, or a golf game is imminent?

25:14 When to give your birth plan to your provider. Dr Pat at 30 weeks and 32 weeks, and if you don’t have continuity of care, give it to them when you go into labour.