Prepare
“Prepare” is the Mercy Perinatal podcast dedicated to helping parents prepare for the journey of pregnancy, childbirth, and early parenthood. “Prepare” is hosted by Dr Rangi De Silva (specialist female obstetrician and gynaecologist) and Alison Abboud (registered midwife and nurse) who are joined by special guests along the way.
We know that becoming a parent can be an exciting but daunting experience. We've created this podcast to provide parents with the information and resources they need to feel confident and prepared every step of the way. Our expert hosts and guests will share their evidence-based knowledge and experience on topics ranging from pre-conception, pregnancy, birth and postpartum. We want to empower parents with the tools and knowledge they need to make informed decisions about their pregnancy and baby's health.
We are thrilled for you to join us on this exciting journey of parenthood with "Prepare."
Prepare
The Flexible Birth Plan: Your Guide, Not Your Script
In this episode, Ali and Rangi discuss birth plans — and more importantly, the value of having a flexible birth plan.
They cover the essentials of creating a birth plan, starting with the reminder that there’s no one right way to do it. Your birth plan can be as general or as detailed as you like — it’s entirely up to you.
Key points they explore include:
- Pain management options
- Labour and delivery environment (e.g. music, scents, lighting)
- Support people during labour
- Medical interventions - being informed and making choices
- Postpartum considerations, such as skin-to-skin contact
- Care for other children during birth
Above all, they emphasise that it's perfectly okay to deviate from your birth plan. Think of it as a guide, not a script.
Also mentioned in this episode is The Birth Book by Professor Stephen Tong — a helpful resource to prepare for the big day. You can find out more about it here.