Birth plans and playlists

NeonNoon

Are you going to have a written birth plan?  Care to share some of your choices?

STMs, did you have one before?  Was it useful?

Is anyone compiling a labor playlist?

Sharon&Paul

No birth plan. I did not have one with my other three either. Each labor and delivery was different, so I go in open to what is best for our baby. I never actually did a playlist either. My first was 36 long boring hours. The second was 5 hours and we had a great nurse to talk with. Time flew buy. The third was 6 hours and we spent a lot of time online.

mandyreads

I am just like PP. I never had a plan. Don't plan on it this time either except just to get this kiddo out with hopefully an epidural. Didn't have time last time.

Samuelismomma

I didn't with my son. I was induced though after they had just stopped preterm labor(figures) so wasn't exactly prepared. I want a mirror so I can see birth better this time. I cannot stand not seeing what is happening to me! Lol I also want my sons pic to look at . I know I am weird but his little face calms me! Hahaha

Tsuga76

I'm delivering at a hospital with midwives and have started working on a birth plan. @hikerlady‌ my plan sounds very much like yours, except the water birth - I don't think that's an option there. While a lot is pretty standard for the midwife practice I do want to make sure that I'm very clear, since it is still a hospital.

I've started working on a playlist - music is very calming for me and I feel like it will help. A lot of various acoustic (folk, classical, a little of what I think of as "yoga music"), and some quiet vocal tracks that I particularly love. Looking for stuff I can get a little lost in.

lcwed

I didn't have a set birth plan with DD because when I was diagnosed with Pregnancy Induced Hypertension it became whatever gets baby out safely.  I knew I would most likely be induced and strapped to monitors so my options were limited.  I was able to use the stability ball during contractions which was great since I did not have an epidural.  I think birth plans are great if there are things you are absolute about.  Just be sure to be flexible in case problems arise.

@Sammuelismomma I didn't have a mirror, but had my sister take a picture to see what everyone was oohing and awing about.  Worse decision ever.  I was expecting to see more progress based on everyone's reactions, but no.  It actually discouraged me.  Good luck with yours.  Are you getting an epidural?  I think I had an epidural, it wouldn't have bothered me as much.

niknak1208

I do not have a written birth plan this time or for any of my babies. I'll be at a different hospital this time around which makes me slightly nervous. So I'll probably do the tour this time. I work at this hospital but I'm in HR and not really in the actual hospital. Other than that our plan is to do an epidural like we did twice before.

I've never had playlists either. That sounds fun tho!

marijaa333

Here is mine so far:

1. No episiotomy unless there's a medical emergency

2. I'll probably want an epidural, but would like to try without one. If I do get one, I'd like the dose to be the minimum needed to take the edge off. I don't mind pain, I just want to remain somewhat functional.

3. If I can be vertical or near-vertical while pushing, that would be great. It seems obvious that gravity could help a lot here... I'm just worried about the epidural making that impossible.

4. The fewer people in the room, the better. Doula + nurse, or doula + midwife would be plenty. DH wants to be there and I appreciate the sentiment, but honestly, I think he'll just be traumatized. No filming, photos, etc.

5. If everything is going well, I don't want constant monitoring, i.e. I'd like to be able to move, and I've read constant monitoring increases chances of C-section.

6. If anything ISN'T going well, then I don't want to play Russian roulette with oxygen deprivation and the like - C-Section is fine (only if necessary), and the decision should be made quickly. I need to do much more research on this to figure out when and how to make that call if it comes to it.

7. I'm sure many of the above points will change, either between now and labor day, or on the day itself!

Would love to see other people's plans - past and future!

Sharon&Paul

marijaa333 said:

Here is mine so far:

1. No episiotomy unless there's a medical emergency

2. I'll probably want an epidural, but would like to try without one. If I do get one, I'd like the dose to be the minimum needed to take the edge off. I don't mind pain, I just want to remain somewhat functional.

3. If I can be vertical or near-vertical while pushing, that would be great. It seems obvious that gravity could help a lot here... I'm just worried about the epidural making that impossible.

4. The fewer people in the room, the better. Doula + nurse, or doula + midwife would be plenty. DH wants to be there and I appreciate the sentiment, but honestly, I think he'll just be traumatized. No filming, photos, etc.

5. If everything is going well, I don't want constant monitoring, i.e. I'd like to be able to move, and I've read constant monitoring increases chances of C-section.

6. If anything ISN'T going well, then I don't want to play Russian roulette with oxygen deprivation and the like - C-Section is fine (only if necessary), and the decision should be made quickly. I need to do much more research on this to figure out when and how to make that call if it comes to it.

7. I'm sure many of the above points will change, either between now and labor day, or on the day itself!

Would love to see other people's plans - past and future!

I would let your DH in the room. It is such a special time for the father and it means so much to them. I doubt if you asked many fathers if they were traumatized by the birth of the child they would agree. He might not know what to expect (childbirth classes could help), but he only has one chance to see his child born.

I know military fathers that were deployed and missed their child's birth. I think they would have given anything to have been there for that moment.

marijaa333

@Sharon&Paul Oh I'm not going to stop him. I just don't think he realizes what he's in for...

itsmevkb

Considering that my last labor was 45 minutes from my waking up in pain to arriving at the hospital about 4 minutes before delivering, I don't see the point in writing a birth plan.  Ha!

I actually had a checklist from the hospital with my first where I marked things that I wanted or didn't want (a mirror, an epi, visitors, etc.) but I haven't filled out anything like that with my other three births. 

With labor and delivery I'm pretty much a take it as it comes kind of a gal.

As for a playlist, I'm thinking I won't have time for that either.

topaz7777

I have to be induced, medical necessity, but I have a plan.

Plan A, Epidural and vaginal birth. 

After that, I decided things I'd be ok with if it makes my life easier, and things I'd be ok with if it keeps my baby from being at risk.  I mean I hate the monitors, but have to have them.  I hate the IV but have to have that too.  So that's why plan A is so simple.

Plan B, no Epidural and Vaginal birth (have to keep in mind that the meds aren't always possible due to availability of the DR and my clotting factor)

Plan C, C-section, epidural or spinal block if possible

Plan D, C-section under general anestesia...  Hey at this point, whatever it takes to save me and baby right?

Just keep in mind that Plan A doesn't usually go exactly as planned especially as you add more and more things to it.  Be a little flexible because Baby doesn't always have the same plan as you.  Hope everyone has a healthy delivery as close to your Plan A as possible!

NeonNoon

My preferences so far are:

Labor at home, preferably alone with some music, for as long as possible.  No medication at the hospital as far possible.  I want to move around and I'm thinking of the squat position for birthing.

Post-partum: BF/skin-to-skin ASAP.  Cord cutting only after pulsating has stopped.  H to cut it if he wants.  No Hep B vaccine.  Vit K and eyedrops OK.

I think I'll have H be my advocate rather than write up the plan with so much up in the air with any birth.  And I hope I'll have a firmer understanding of what I want after my birth classes and hospital tour next month!

supersarah77

I'm surprised so many people don't/didn't have birth plans!! I did with DD and will likely have the exact same one with this baby. The hospital I delivered at has a spot to post it clearly on the wall and all staff really did take the time to read and honor it. I don't remember everything but some things included:

- labor at home as long as possible

- No IV needle inserted when I arrive "just in case"

- Intermittent monitoring

- Don't bring up meds to me unless it's an emergent situation

- Labor in the tub, on a ball, use Hypnobirthing techniques, and exercises from doula

- just DH, doula, and medical staff in the room

- no episiotomy, just let me tear

- push in a squatting position, sit down for last push(es) in order to be ready for skin-to-skin more quickly

- no shots, bath, weighing, etc for first hour or two for skin-to-skin

Of course, not everything went according to plan but a lot of it did! I got stuck at 9cm for 10 hours, DD's heart rate dropped and I developed a 102 fever, so I got a "whiff" of pitocin to get me across the finish line. I ended up hemmoraging from the long transition phase so needed some interventions and closer monitoring for the blood loss and fever/potential infection. Other than that, it really helped to have some goals and ideas about what I would do in different situations.

mattandlora

Labor and delivery can be very unpredictable and decisions have to be made quickly. Rather than call it a birth "plan," I think birth "recommendations" or "guidelines" would be more realistic.

I had a very brief one with baby #1. I didn't want to do one at all, but DH asked me to. It was basically what I wanted my husband to decide for me if I couldn't make the decisions myself. (I'm the one with medical training, so he actually asked me to write it). I don't remember exactly what was in it, but I know it covered circumstances where I would accept a transfusion for myself and/or the baby, and circumstances where it was ok to give the baby formula and/or IV fluids instead of breastmilk. The entire thing was less than a page.

chucktgirl

I just want to say thanks to all of you ladies who have shared your plans/non-plans. I'm at the point where I need to start considering all of this, and seeing your plans have been both insightful and a little push to get things started.