did you use an official birth plan

ladylisalt

I know not everything goes as planned...esp. a birth plan. However, did you really make one on paper? Did you use a sample one you found or did your OBGYN have a form you fill out? Just curious if people really use them or not.

kd&cd

I made and somewhat followed a birth plan. Mine had my "wants" and "non-negotiables" for labour, delivery, 1st hour after birth and Recovery. When we got admitted it was the first thing the LD nurse and I talked about. It was important to me that I knew that they knew what I was not ok with and that they would do their best to accommodate my wants. It also led to fewer questions during the process, which was very nice. A lot of my plan went out the window except my non-negotiables. I will do one again for #2 and recommend doing one to every expectant parent!

waldothewiener1

Nah. At my practice I saw a few different doctors and midwives at my appointments and some asked me what my plan was, which was to go natural but I was flexible. Also breastfeeding was important to me so I wanted to try that immediately, and those two things I did. I'm a go with the flow kind of person.

caballablanca

My plan was to get to hospital and get baby out the safest way. I'm 2 for 2 now.

giggler25

The hospital I delivered at provided a sample birth "preferences" sheet and encouraged everyone to fill it out.  I typed up my own though based on the sample the hospital gave and a conversation with my birth doula (who suggested a couple things not on the hospital's list).

jannzone

i filled out a template but didnt really use it when the time came. my opinion is that its more important to know what your prefetences are ahead of time and hv someone there to support u with the things u really want/dont want

JubilantSquirrel

No. And I'm glad I didn't spend time making one because our baby was born about 10 minutes after we arrived at the hospital. The only thing I had planned on was an epidural, but since I was *this* close to giving birth in the car on the side of the freeway, there wasn't time for one.

 

ladylisalt

JubilantSquirrel said:

No. And I'm glad I didn't spend time making one because our baby was born about 10 minutes after we arrived at the hospital. The only thing I had planned on was an epidural, but since I was *this* close to giving birth in the car on the side of the freeway, there wasn't time for one.

 

Omg your scaring me. lol Glad you made it to the hospital. 

azaretsky

I did have an "official" one for my first child. It seemed important to think through all the questions and have an opinion or a plan. I used a template I found online that was pretty detailed. I have no idea if anyone actually read it, but I did discuss the few key points with my OB and nurses. 

The second time around, we just winged it I think if there are a few important things that you definitely want or don't want to do, those need to be discussed. Otherwise, things will go the way they will go. For example, I wanted to hold both DS and DD as soon as they were born, we did cord blood banking for both of them, my husband was to cut the cord, I was to try to go natural with the first one, etc. 

JubilantSquirrel

ladylisalt said:

JubilantSquirrel said:

No. And I'm glad I didn't spend time making one because our baby was born about 10 minutes after we arrived at the hospital. The only thing I had planned on was an epidural, but since I was *this* close to giving birth in the car on the side of the freeway, there wasn't time for one.

 

Omg your scaring me. lol Glad you made it to the hospital. 

Sorry! No need to be scared, I just went from 1.5 cm to a baby in 3.5 hours, definitely not the norm, especially for FTM.
You don't have to make a full birth plan but maybe write down some things you really want to happen, like skin to skin immediately or breastfeeding immediately.

jenn43

We had a birth plan- it was actually pretty helpful, because then DH and I were on the same page.  I also went over it with my midwife ahead of time - she actually asked to see it.  It was great having everyone know my preferences ahead of time, so I could just focus on labor and not worry.

ladylisalt

JubilantSquirrel said:

JubilantSquirrel said:

No. And I'm glad I didn't spend time making one because our baby was born about 10 minutes after we arrived at the hospital. The only thing I had planned on was an epidural, but since I was *this* close to giving birth in the car on the side of the freeway, there wasn't time for one.

 

Omg your scaring me. lol Glad you made it to the hospital. 

Sorry! No need to be scared, I just went from 1.5 cm to a baby in 3.5 hours, definitely not the norm, especially for FTM. You don't have to make a full birth plan but maybe write down some things you really want to happen, like skin to skin immediately or breastfeeding immediately.

No, I understand. I know that dosent happen all the time. Sounds great though that you had a short delivery.

britab

I did not have anything written down but spoke to my doctor ahead of time about what I wanted. I wanted to wait and see on the epidural. I did end up getting one. It was wonderful. They encouraged skin-to-skin right away, which I wanted, but the cord was around her neck, so we couldn't do it. She still loves me and nurses like a champ.

I did take a birth class at my hospital ahead of time, so I know their standards. They encouraged movement, various birthing positions, drugs your choice, clear liquids and jello during labor. I had great nurses and a good experience.

I did not find the hospital to be evil like some people think and "The Business of Being Born" wants you to believe. They wanted me to have a healthy baby and were attentive and not pushy at all. When it was time to push I was freaking out and the nurse calmed me down.

rae_dylanzmom

My first birth didn't lend itself to a birth plan. I think a plan would have actually made things worse (I was a home birth transfer, so sort of a different/antagonistic situation for the hospital nurses).

That said, I do think there is value in having an idea of what is important to you and sharing that with your support (spouse, friend, nurse, OB). But I think it is very important to not get too attached to anything on that plan.

This time around, I seem to be anti-planning. 1) I switched hospitals this time to a place where I don't feel the need to 'defend' myself with a birth plan (their practices feel naturally much more in-line with my sense of priorities) and 2) I learned that I don't really have much control over what will happen, so letting go of expectations feels better for me.

cornflwr33

I did not set up a plan.  I knew I would most likely do an epideral... although it scared me (it wasn't nearly as bad as i expected)>....  I knew it doesn't always goes as planned but i didn't expect me to be in labor for 20 hours, then pushing for 3 only to end up with a c section.  But both my baby girl and I came out healthy and okay: )  I decided to just go with the flow.....  When the pain got too bad for me- i asked for a epideral which it turns out i needed for the c section anyways

coffee89

I researched all of the options, and me and DH discussed what was important for us. We never wrote it out and that turned out just fine. My OB and all of the nurses were good about listening to what I wanted and not pushing anything, we had a very open line of communication the whole time. My birth went nothing like how I had imagined and planed for, but the most important thing I wanted was to get baby and me out of that experience as healthy as possible and that happened.

Plenty of people told me that in the moment of labor I wouldn't be able to advocate for myself and that my husband wouldn't be listened to but nothing like that happened. I don't regret not having one written out in the least.