Birth plan thread

rachel0428

I’d love to hear what/ if others are doing for a birth plan. I honestly wasn’t sure if I was going to do much for a birth plan, as we’re having a hospital birth and I was just going to roll with it and things can certainly change during L&D, but now thinking it might be good to think through some decisions ahead of time. Any suggestions/ tips? Thoughts about getting/ timing of an epidural? Anybody having a doula present? Thanks!! 

elksamm

My plan is to evaluate at 39 weeks if we should induce, being AMA it’s an option that my OB will discuss, she said it’s up to me as long as everything looks good. I’m definitely getting an epidural if time permits and H has to stay by my head. No one else will be in the room during delivery. My mom will be home with DS and hopefully she’ll be able to bring him to the hospital after we get to the mom/baby unit, but not sure what covid measures will be in place. That’s all I got. 

No doula as I’m not trying for med free. 

As far as timing of epidural I’ll get it when the pain is significant but not so intense I want to tap out. Last time my water broke and contractions were super intense and consistently 1:30 apart and I was only 2 cm dilated. I got the drug they offer to put in your IV and that didn’t do anything but just prolonged getting the epidural. Once I got the epidural the pain went to zero and I was fully dilated 5 hrs later. Keep in mind it takes about 45 min to an hour to order the epidural so maybe don’t wait until you feel like you absolutely can’t take it anymore. 

fifilala516

No one is allowed in the delivery room except DH. I plan on asking for an epidural as soon as I can. I am trying not to be too rigid or have too many expectations - I will do whatever is the best/safest decision for me and the baby, whether it be a c-section or vaginal birth. 

I also do not want to labor longer than 24 hours, and will ask for a c-section at that point if I have to. 

Lisa3379

I'm definitely a roll with it type of person. The only things that are really important to me is having my husband there, being able to eat before I get my epidural, and trying to thread that needle of getting the epidural late enough to eat and late enough for it to not wear totally off before go time, but early enough so the contractions aren’t too bad to place the needle easily. I also want to get imaging done of my back before the epidural if possible to help them place it so that the risk of it wearing off is as minimal as possible. 

magalina_h

I am having a hospital birth. My ideal plan is to labor at home as long as I can before going to the hospital. I plan on getting an epidural, but I hope to make it to 7ish centimeters before getting it. I want to be able to walk and move around through the majority of my labor. Only DH is allowed in room (though our hospital does not allow any other visitors right now either. I am sad that I don't think my son will get to officially meet his sister until we get home). I would prefer to tear naturally than have an episiotomy. They tried to do an episiotomy with my son and I told the nurse to put the scissors down! (She was shocked I even noticed). I didn't have any tears or require any stitches. 

One thing to consider - epidurals can wear off. I've known of friends who've gotten them at 2 or 3 cm and had them stop working by the time they were in transition. 

My epidural with my son was perfect because I could still feel my contractions, but no pain. I didn't get one until I was 9cm, because that's when I got to the hospital. So I know I can make it through the majority of labor without one. I tried doing just fentanyl first, but it did nothing for me. I also only had to wait about 30min to get mine once it was ordered. 

claire54321

With my son, I got my epidural early.   I was induced and contractions were really close together pretty immediately.  The epidural definitely wore off and towards the end they did not want to redo it as it could slow labor.  We ended up with a non emergency C-section  since I stopped progressing at 9 cm and my water had broken much earlier.  

This time I do not have any expectations and feel like I cannot really plan either way.   I am a candidate for a vbac as long as I go in to labor on my own, and would prefer that done it will make caring for a newborn and 2 year old so much easier postpartum.  My doctors will not induce if you have had a previous C-section.  So if not, I will schedule a repeat C-section during week 39.  My son was 9 lbs at birth so hoping this baby will be a little smaller! 

rachel0428

Thanks guys! It’s helpful to hear different experiences. I know a lot can change still and who knows, baby may end up not being in the right position for vaginal birth (he’s currently transverse), but I think I’m hoping to do something similar to your last delivery @magdalina.h .. labor for awhile at home and try to wait on the epidural until 7+ cm. Will try to avoid iv pain meds. Just DH in the room too. But we’ll just roll w it and of course do what’s safest for the baby. 

AshleyGemini24

With my oldest I was induced and had an epidural and was confined to the bed and couldn't feel to push. I liked not having the pain, but to me it came at the cost of not habing control of my own body. So with the last two i was induced but chose pain med free. I was able to move and I feel it helped alot.  But it hurt alot too. So this time I'm very indecisive as to wether or not to do the epidural. I know I can do it, but no so sure I want to. Amd i for sure dont want to be confined to the bed. Also despite the convenience of beimg induced amd being able to set up child care, I'd like to let little man decide when he's ready to meet us. And allow myself to go into labor naturally. 

Lisa3379

@AshleyGemini24 it sounds like you should have what I had by accident - my epidurals wore off to varying degrees both times. I feel like I did have some pain relief for sure, but I was also able to feel everything and push. Don't know how you control that one though, haha. 

travistori

I don’t have specifics yet, but my first two were hospital births with induction (Pitocin drip) and epidurals. I was in early labor both times; 4cm with my first and 6 cm with my second on arrival for my induction. My body responded very well both times and my first was born about 12 hours after start of Pitocin with like 3 pushes, my second was 5 hours after Pitocin with one push 😂. With my first I got the epidural after I was miserable and wish I had done it sooner because the Pitocin gave me back to back contractions and they were strong, so it was hard to stay still. For my second I got it as soon as I could after the Pitocin drop was started. It was much easier than the first.

I have decided to go the more natural route this time as long as I stay low risk! I have a midwife and a birthing center and will either birth in the water or wherever I feel up to it in the birthing suite. I’ll labor a lot at home also before making my way to the birthing center. Nervous and excited but trying to trust my body to do what it knows how to. 💕

blackhottamales

I want to add before I share my birth plan: Everyone reacts differently to epidurals.  I WAS so nervous that my epidural would wear off but my water broke at home I went in and after 6 hours i was still at maybe 1cm so they added Pitocin.  Even then 3 hours later i was maybe at 2 or 3cm but no real movement.  I was puking and over it so i asked for the epidural even knowing it was so early.  I went from 3cm to fully dilated in 3 hours once i had the epidural.  What my body needed was to relax and once I had the epidural that's what it did.  So just know that happens too and getting an epidural early isn't always the worst thing.  

My Plan:

• Hospital Birth
• Only DH in the hospital
• No episiotomy 
• Try to labor as long as possible without epidural
• Hoping to get a room with a tub (one wasn't available last time) to labor in tub. 
• Golden Hour
• Baby will go to the nursery at night (this was a lifesaver so actually get some sleep) 
• Nursing, but I'll bring a hand pump because the first lost too much weight in the beginning so we'll start bottle feeding sooner than later.    
• No visitors at the hospital

AshleyGemini24

@blackhottamales what is golden hour?

blackhottamales

@AshleyGemini24 for me it's:

• delayed cord clamping
• skin-to-skin contact for at least an hour
• the performance of newborn assessments on the mom's abdomen
• delaying non-urgent tasks for at least 60 minutes

It's often standard at hospitals now, but I still mention it so MH knows and can challenge anyone who tries to stop my wishes.  

pedsoncrn461

I call mine birth preferences as anything can change based on how baby is doing.
1. Avoid c-section unless baby is at risk (I have a genetic disorder and an incision on my uterus will mean that any future pregnancy would be high risk for rupture and I'd like more than one child)
2. Skin to skin, delayed cord clamping, breastfeeding in the first hour.
3. Only hubby in the room during labor and birth
4. As far as pain management I am meeting with an anesthesiologist closer to delivery as I had a CSF leak after a previous lumbar puncture and so want to meet about options ahead of time. If I do get an epidural I want to be able to move around as long as possible.