QMH - What to do with Birth plan?

I have a birth plan to fill out for QMH - When do I actually give it to someone and who???

when you arrive and "check in" you give it to the nurses - have a few copies on hand - however dont expect that they will follow it too much - you have to be strong to enforce what u want sometimes. They are busy and sometimes dont pay much attention to it - but if you are having a smooth time then im sure they will listen!

Sorry to thread-jack,


I had my son in Sweden and they followed my birth plan /requests list down to every pedantic detail. It was deffinately in my favour that I spoke Swedish all the way thorugh but I am a little worried that as I don't speak Canto or Mando, I might not be able to communicate my needs/wishes when we're in the thick of it. What is the standard of their English at the QMH? Is it worth hiring a bilingual doula to be your advocate?

they do not allow doula in QM - the standard of english varies but generally is ok - sometimes the bedside manner is lacking a bit but if you are pleasent to them they are back and keep in mind they are super busy - and also that you are in the best place for medical treatment - my son had a difficult arrival into the world and needed intensive care and im SOOO pleased we were in QM as if we were in another hospital we would have had to be transferred and who knows what would have happened in that time..... best medical care for costs of next to nothing ..its a good service..

I had my baby at QMH 10 days ago. I gave the nurse my birth plan when I checked in. I took a few copies but only needed one - it was put straight in my file.


I had 2 doctors, the ward nurse and the anethetist all come to my bed and run through the plan with me. (I was in for a necessary c-section, so we had time for this). They told me what could / could not be done - i.e. husband cannot cut the cord in a c-section.


After delivery, the ward nurses kept referring to the plan with me. I was very ill the first day from reaction to the morphine in the spinal block, so the baby needed to be in the nursery. Because I had put in my plan that the baby was to be with me at all times, they kept coming to ask me if I was happy with the changed arrangement.


I also put that I wanted to exclusively breastfeed with no artificial teat/formula given. I actually had no colostrum for the first 48 hours, and asked them to give my baby formula after the first day. Again, the ward nurse came (in the middle of the night) to make sure I knew what I was consenting to. She came back and taught me how to cup feed my baby.


Although the environment is pretty hustle bustle, I found the QMH staff and ward great. The follow up post natal care has also been kind and thorough. I had no problem with the standard of English with any of the staff.


Good luck - you're in good hands.