did you have a birth plan?

southernbelle82

Amrice78:

FWIW - my nurses loved me

well who doesn't???

Amrice78

southernbelle82:

Amrice78:

FWIW - my nurses loved me

well who doesn't???

Aw thanks Southern : - )

southernbelle82

I should add too that my friends who are L&D nurses have said it's not that someone has a 'birth plan' that they can't stand, it's the type of patient that can accompany the highly detailed birth plan. 

lanie26

Larks once again has stolen my brain. GIVE IT BACK.

I think its insulting to say that women who have preferences are silly or imply that their priority was not a "healthy baby."

Please.

KKM

lanie26:

Larks once again has stolen my brain. GIVE IT BACK.

I think its insulting to say that women who have preferences are silly or imply that their priority was not a "healthy baby."

Please.

Who said that?

lanie26

KKM:

lanie26:

Larks once again has stolen my brain. GIVE IT BACK.

I think its insulting to say that women who have preferences are silly or imply that their priority was not a "healthy baby."

Please.

Who said that?

The 900 people above me saying "no I didn't have a birth plan. All I wanted was a healthy baby." ?

Temp146997687502158

CMM05:

Honestly, I think they are a joke. I mean, you should know going in if you want pain meds, but you have NO control over how your labor goes. I just find it interesting that a lot of girls spend so much time on this detailed, "perfect" labor plan. But.....as we all know....the baby comes on its own time and you have absolutely no control over how your labor will progress.

 The thing is that you do have some control. It is your body, your baby and there is a lot that you can do to control your birth experience.

southernbelle82

lanie26:

I think its insulting to say that women who have preferences are silly or imply that their priority was not a "healthy baby."

Please.

I don't think anyone thinks that by having a 'birth plan' or 'preferences' your priority wasn't/isn't a healthy baby.  I'd like to say that if that's the impression you (or anyone) got from me, that was not my intention and I apologize. 

I know for me, I said that I wanted a 'healthy baby' b/c that was my only 'preference' at that point.  I was terrified of the c/s and that wasn't what I had 'planned' so I just wanted both of us healthy. 

Luckystar2

No I didn't.  I can see having one if you wanted to go natural or if your hospital didn't do things you liked.  But I didn't want to go natural, and my hospital already had standard things they did that were my preferences.  Like, they put baby on your chest immediately if they can, baby rooms in, no pacis given, etc.  My dr's office rarely does episiotomies and would rather you tear.  Those were really my only preferences so I didn't need to spell them out since they were already covered.  However, even though that's the routine, it didn't work out that way.  DD was in some distress and I had to have a episiotomy, she wasn't put on my chest immediately afterwards.

becky&dane

No.  The only thing I knew going in was that I wanted an epi!

amygauntt@windstream.net

Not really, both my doctors & the hospital knew I wanted a pain med free water birth, and do everything in their power to avoid a c-section. It went perfectly based on that. I did end up needing pitocin, but that wasn't a big deal.

mrsain1105

I had a plan to try for a med free birth.  But because I had never had a baby before, I wasn't very firm on that - I mean I went into it saying that I very well may change my mind.  It turned out that I was induced, took the epi 8ish hrs into it, induction failed, and I ended up with a C.  Not at all what I had hoped for - but that probably had a lot to do with me.  I could have refused to be induced at 41 weeks and insisted on waiting until 42, but I was extremely anxious throughtout my pregancy, partially due to a prior m/c, partially because that's who I am.  So, when it came down to it, I felt more comfortable just following the doctor's recommendations.  Who knows how things would have turned out if I had refused the induction or been able to deal with the pit contractions without meds - I do wonder sometimes, but there isn't anything I can do about it now.

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goodtobethelarkster:

Two things about how this discussion typically goes on the Nest irk me:

1) I really, really wish it were called a "birth preference sheet." The term birth plan is unfortunate.  It's not a plan like "water breaks at 7.31p, contractions five minutes apart by 10.35p, supportive kiss from husband at 12.05a" or whatever.  It's a list of preferences.  Would you like to shoot for a med free birth?  Do you want the epi as soon as humanly possible?  If you end up with a c-section doyou want your hands tied down?  Do you want the hep B shot for DC?  Do you want to assist in DC's first bath? 

2)  I hate it when birth plans are called a joke.  A woman's preferences about how she'd like her birth experience to go are not a "joke" and it's dismissive to call them that.  Sure it's high maintenance to make a list of 437243 highly specific things or show up with a 75 page plan.  But having a one page list of stuff like "Please put the baby on my chest right after birth if at all possible" or "Please do not offer a pacifier" is neither pathetic nor funny.  Like everyone is saying labor can get crazy.  You might not be in a position to articulate your wishes.  Articulating them ahead of time and in writing in a reasonable fashion can make sense.

Thank you. 

Ali212

No.  At least not in the way many people on these boards have them.  I wanted/hoped for a natural birth (i.e., NOT a c-section but not natural in the sense that I wanted to be medicated) but absolutely planned to use medication (epidural).  That was really about it.  I wanted things to go as they went and wasn't terribly stuck on anything (except getting the epi!).  I also knew there was a chance I could end up with a c-section and that was fine...just wasn't my 1st choice. 

I had imagined a worst case scenario for my labor - long, painful, etc - and I was amazingly surprised.  I had a quick labor (2 hours), did not have a c-section and it was not particularly painful (thank you epidural).  I don't attribute that to not having a plan since I just got lucky but was pleased with how it worked out.

 

kelly&marty

I was induced (because of GD and potentially big baby), and knew it could result in a c-section (which it did). I didn't have a birth plan written out, but our hospital has a detailed form you fill out ahead of time that is sort of like a birth plan. My main things were just breast feed asap, and other than that, go to hospital, have baby. Things got complicated when the induction failed, but all along the way, they would ask us what we wanted next, and overall were great about communicating with us and asking questions, so I have no complaints about the process.

14years

goodtobethelarkster:

Two things about how this discussion typically goes on the Nest irk me:

1) I really, really wish it were called a "birth preference sheet." The term birth plan is unfortunate.  It's not a plan like "water breaks at 7.31p, contractions five minutes apart by 10.35p, supportive kiss from husband at 12.05a" or whatever.  It's a list of preferences.  Would you like to shoot for a med free birth?  Do you want the epi as soon as humanly possible?  If you end up with a c-section doyou want your hands tied down?  Do you want the hep B shot for DC?  Do you want to assist in DC's first bath? 

2)  I hate it when birth plans are called a joke.  A woman's preferences about how she'd like her birth experience to go are not a "joke" and it's dismissive to call them that.  Sure it's high maintenance to make a list of 437243 highly specific things or show up with a 75 page plan.  But having a one page list of stuff like "Please put the baby on my chest right after birth if at all possible" or "Please do not offer a pacifier" is neither pathetic nor funny.  Like everyone is saying labor can get crazy.  You might not be in a position to articulate your wishes.  Articulating them ahead of time and in writing in a reasonable fashion can make sense.

I could not agree more!  Exactly.