Manitoba Health

Baby Friendly Manitoba: Information for Parents

Getting Ready to Breastfeed

Go to prenatal classes to learn about pregnancy, birth, and parenting.

Every RHA has classes; check their websites for listings:

A Birth Plan for Labour and Birth Can Help

Your birth wishes are a written outline of the things you would prefer to do or have happen during your labour, birth and the days following birth (see page 61 for a sample). It can be a useful tool for you and your support team as you work together. During your prenatal visits, talk to your health care provider about the things you would like, but be aware that for a number of reasons, it is not always possible for all of your birth wishes to be followed.

There are many reasons why you may want to write out your birth wishes:

To outline what you would prefer to happen during your labour and birth. Examples include walking as much as possible or having no medication unless asked for. Other examples are being in a semi-sitting position for the birth or touching your baby’s head during the birth.
To outline what you would prefer to have happen if your labour or birth needs medical help. For example, being awake for a caesarean birth.
To outline the care you would prefer for your baby after birth, such as holding your baby skin-to-skin until after completing the first feeding.
To help you and your support team work together.

Be flexible. Sometimes things happen that you cannot control and your plan has to change.

A short plan – about one page – is easiest for everyone involved in your care to read.

See: Baby's Best Chance (pages 60-61)

Birth Supporters

During labour and birth you can choose to have your partner and anyone else you want to be with you. Having someone with you and your partner during labour has been shown to lessen the amount of pain medication needed and to shorten labour. Before your baby’s birth it is helpful to decide who you want to be with you.

Choices for Birth Supporters:

Your partner, close friend, relative, or parent.

A labour companion or doula. (A doula provides emotional and physical support to you and your partner before, during, and just after birth. A doula does not provide medical care. The cost of a doula is not covered by the Medical Services Plan).