Birth Plans - Anyone NOT have one?

beachybride1

I don't think I am going to put one together, I have an idea of how I want to approach some things, and I figure we'll play it by ear and tell the nurses and doctors as we go....

Anyone else not have a formal birth plan written out or is this incredibly naive?

Ricky Bobby

I do not have one and I am not planning on having one.

Bellisimo

I never did and found that I never needed one. 

sweetpea7628

I didn't have a formal birth plan and it's a good thing I didn't.  Nothing went as I "planned".  But my baby got out safe and that's all that mattered.

Roosky

My doctor won't do one...she says that

1.  It gives you false hope that there's a "perfect" birth and

2.  it will confuse the staff when you write one thing and then change your mind during labor.

alli&pat

i don';t have a birth plan and do not plan to have one.  my only wish is that i enter the hospital with an "inside baby" and leave the hospital with an "outside baby."  i don't want to set up all these wishes/plans/desires and then feel disappointed if thats not the way my birth goes.  plus, i need to play it by ear and feel comfortable making decisions as they come along.  i know there are certain things i'm considering and certain things i'm opposed to, but certainly i can just tell the staff when i check-in at the hospital.

angeltex

Didn't have one with my first and almost wish I had.

Runnerwife

My plan:

Get what I need when I need it. 

smiley007

I don't have one... same thing, I have an idea of how I would like things to go... but we'll wing it. 

mommacaz

I didn't have a formal plan, but filled out the one the hospital provided..it was mainly tick boxes...

momquixote

Our hospital will not even look at one/accept one.

a_chance2007

i dont have one.. i dont really plan on making one.. i mean i know how i want some stuff.. and i dont want to make one and say this is how i want to do it.. because if something happens i dont want to upset my self with "but i didnt want it done this way"

momma trixie

Seems like a concensus (sp).  I dont have one either but my Dr. said I didnt need one because they will ask when I get to the hospital all the stuff that might be on it. 

Jason'swife

I don't need one. We're having the little stinker at a birth center with a midwife. We see the same two people every time we're there, so they know exactly what we do/don't want. Plus, we'll all be in the same room the whole time, so they obviously won't do anything to him after birth without running it by us first.

beachybride1

okay so I am not a weirdo!!  Thanks for the feedback.....

Mike&Care

Nope, it's not necessary. I think I'd be embarassed to whip one out while in labor. Nothing goes according to plan. Go with the flow!

kenandlaura06

Not me...my plan: birth this baby in the safest, healthiest way I can.

tara_lee_anne

I'm not bothering.  I am just going to trust my doctor and nurses and pray that I come home with a healthy and happy baby. 

I guess I feel like most of the birthing plans I've read are saying that you don't trust your doctor or nurses to do what is in the best interests of you and your baby.  Kind of like someone walking in telling you how to do your job when they have zero experience in your industry.  But that's just my opinion... 

Belle15

I'm not going to do one.  My midwife mentioned if anything to do a wish list.  This way if you have your heart set on something (say no meds) and you change your mind you don't feel horrible.  I'm not going to do this either, but if I was using an ob/gyn I would probably consider it. 

courtneyaok

iheartrubberduckies:

I do not have one and I am not planning on having one.

Same here -- my only concern is to BF asap, and the hospital takes note of that when you register.

Kitten80

So far I don't have one (other than: go into labor, hope DH is back from business trip - if not, call and yell at him, go to hospital, follow Dr. orders, have baby, love baby, sleep).  My doctor has not given me many things we will have to decide ahead of time other than do I want pain meds?  I was thinking of taking the hospital 1-day course to see if they give any other things I will need to think about specific to the hospital.  Glad to see I am not the only one who hasn't written it all out in detail.

MrsEbaby1052809

I'm not planning on having one, just going to take things as they come, I have some ideas of what I want and figure I can let it be known when needed and change my mind as needed

bakemeacake

Nope, no plan.  Thus far nothing has really gone as expected so whatever happens happens.

TimsMayBride

I don't plan to have a plan, which is strange considering how much I like to plan!  I think it might set me up for disappointment, we'll see.

Mxbabygal

i didn't have one when had my baby last wed.?

flutiefrostie

My birth plan is as follows

1. Get the baby out safely.

The end.

PS I don't want to feel it.

 

The only things I care about are BFing right after delivery and the baby not getting formula. The hospital already does that (plus lots of other pro-breastfeeding things) because they're a baby-friendly hospital. 

kyoto

I did not with my daughter, and will not have one with this baby either. My doctor knows I want the drugs, so that's really all that matters. I'm perfectly capable of speaking up and telling them at the time what I want. For instance - when it was time to push, I asked if it was OK to turn down the lights. Doctor said 'sure'. No birth plan needed.

MissesRootbeer

I had one written out but didn't even end up taking it to the hospital.  When I was admitted they asked if I had any wishes and took note of that.  They didn't do anything without our permission so it all worked out.

pkate98

I don't have one

inaudiblemelody

i'm gonna go with the flow... i have an idea of what i want, but i am not gonna commit to anything until i know how i am feeling

thatgirlang

My dr and the L&D nurses seemed to have a very low care factor for birth plans! You should know what you want and understand what's happening when they make options available to you. And the staff will go with your wishes and make you comfortable as best as they can... but as for an actual written plan that they all take the time to read and oblige- yeah right.

kdhudon

I didn't have a birth plan with my first two pregnancies, and we made out just fine.  I delivered both babies with no medication, and had very good experiences.  The staff was great about asking me what I wanted and respecting my decisions.  I did make a birth plan for this pregnancy - partly because I had the time to do it, and partly because we're having twins which gives us more to think about, but I think everyone should do what is right for them personally. 

Everyone needs to remember that the plan is not a plan of how you want the labour and birth to go, but rather a tool that helps you consider the many aspects of labour and delivery and as a jumping off point to think about what your preferences are, what you may be willing to accept, and what you are absolutely not prepared to do.  I realize that I can't control my labour / delivery but I feel more prepared to make on-the-spot decisions because I've already done my research and discussed "what if"s with my doctor (and my husband) so we're all on the same page and won't waste precious time.

rcp126

Roosky:

My doctor won't do one...she says that

1.  It gives you false hope that there's a "perfect" birth and

Same here.  My dr says she pretty much lets me call the shots unless there is an emergency.  She did not want anything in writing because of the various workers at the hospital that would just shuffle it around.

kdhudon

Also, I should mention that my Dr. is awesome!  She gave me her email address, and I sent the birth plan to her and she made comments on it (i.e. what she recommends, things that are offered or not routinely offered or recommended, hospital policies, etc.)     

msmrisk

I'm also not writing one up either. My mommy friends gave me the advice that what happens just happens and speak up if you're not happy about something. As said in other replies, hosp usually notes any major wishes. Just have your ideas in your head (and DH's), speak up if needed and push that baby out!

Sammy-Mae

The only thing I have told my doctor and he has informed the hospital staff, is that I do NOT want forceps used. ?They are to be avoided if at all possible. ? I know too many moms who have had serious issues because forceps were used that I just don't want them. ?He was totally cool with that and said that he felt the same way about them.

kusigk

So many things can happen and change. In the heat of the moment with my daughter, anything I had thought of was completely thrown out the window. I had candles, music, hard candy, anything I could think of with her...she was in distress b/c the cord was around her neck so the 10 hours of labor were spent on my right side waiting for one contraction to go bad and end up w/a C-Section. All went fine and all I did was do what the nurses told me to do.

#2 is due anyday and I haven't even gotten beyond the epideral and who is taking care of our daughter as far as planning goes.

DaisyAdair

I don't have one.  After touring the hospital and talking with the nurses, I knew our ideas on things were the same.  Same with my OB. 

I figured since we were all on the same page, there was no reason to make a plan.

jessloveschase08

I don't think I'll have one. All I know is that I will probably get an epidurayl (sp?).

eaa18

I dont really have one, there are things like vacume, forcepts and c-section that i wouldnt want them to do unless its a last option, but usually those things are anyway, i trust my dr, she has been in practice for enough years and delivered my first without any problems, she is good at making rational decisions and she has always been upfront and honest with me, i have a lot of faith in her to make the "right" choices for me and my baby's health.

Clevelander

My sister is a NICU nurse and she sayd that women with birth plans = disappointed women. No birth goes according to "plan" I just have general ideas. Like an epi, who I want there etc.