Birth Plan: Portuguese Women’s Perceptions

Abstract

The Birth Plan (BP) is a document drawn up by the couple to express their wishes regarding their labour. It promotes the couples expectations regarding their delivery and allows better communication with health professionals. The use of the BP increases the autonomy and satisfaction of women. As midwives we wanted to know the perception of Portuguese citizens about the use of the birth plan. The study undertaken during the month of April 2018 was exploratory and descriptive. The data was obtained from a self-completed online survey containing 21 questions. The sample which was non-probabilistic and intentional targeted 150 Portuguese citizens aged ≥18 years. The findings revealed that 83.6% are aware of the BP, 64% have used it while 75% used it once. The BP was drawn up between 32-38 weeks of pregnancy. Most did not mention difficulties but some reported difficulties in discussing their preferences and a lack of information. When they presented the BP at the maternity ward, 10.1% said it was not accepted by health team. 79.3% considered BP as mandatory, while 54.8% wanted a single model BP. The BP appears to be a key element in the provision of antenatal care. The results show that citizens living in Portugal are aware of the importance of using the BP, recognizing it as a facilitating strategy to reorient the woman/couple in the birth process, promoting a closer relationship between formal caregivers and citizens.