Women's perceptions of birth plans.

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the use and effects of birth plans and how women perceive them.

DESIGN

Retrospective questionnaire survey.

SETTING

A teaching hospital with approximately 3000 deliveries per annum in Dundee, Scotland.

PARTICIPANTS

143 primigravidae, six to 13 weeks following delivery.

FINDINGS

The study achieved a 71% response rate. Ninety per cent of women had completed a birth plan. Most women thought the process of completion of the plan had been useful by allowing discussion of available options beforehand. Half said the birth plan did not make any difference to the amount of control they felt during labour, although many thought that not enough attention had been paid to what they had written. Most women said they would make another birth plan in a future pregnancy.

CONCLUSIONS

The majority of women found completion of a birth plan was beneficial.

IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE

More attention should be paid to the birth plan by carers during labour.