Birth Plan..

atizon

So I am in the process of filling out my birth plan..and wanted to know a few things that you might be including.

I definitley going to put no pacifier and no formula. Still thinking about other things that were brought to my attention for instance delaying cord clamping I have no idea yet.

I know everyone has there own opinion. But I was wondering what else so I can put more thought into what to add to my birth plan. I've had people mention vaseline in the babys eyes and so on.

TIA!

nic326

My birth plan? To get to the hospital and have a baby. You can plan every detail as much as you want but when it comes right down to it, anything can happen. I wouldnt necessarily throw formula as a backup out the window either. I had issues with my milk coming in (it didnt for a couple days) and had to FF, otherwise what do you do - let them starve? Once baby is here you are pretty much on their schedule and seeing to their "demands"

KariChadDora

Just a quick fyi, it's not vaseline they put in the baby's eyes, it's an antibiotic eye ointment to prevent an infection that could be picked up when passing through the birth canal (AKA your vagina). 

 You can indicate if you want pain meds during labor/delivery, an episiotomy or to tear naturally, a mirror to watch the birth yourself, whether or not you want to do skin to skin immediately after baby's delivered or if you would rather they clean up the baby first, whether or not your DH wants to cut the cord, who you want present in the room during birth and how soon after for visitors or if you even want visitors, whether or not you want the baby to room in or not, etc... the list can go on and on.

MrsG.060708

I didn't have a written plan, but when I was admitted, we made the staff aware that DH was to cut the cord and that I was to nurse as soon as possible after birth (I nursed within minutes of DD being delivered). Those two things were the most important to me (other than the Drs doing what needs to be done to keep DD and I safe through everything).

liv97

some other things to think about:  think about whether you want the baby to be in the nursery (if the hospital even has one).  cloth or disposable diapers.  whether you want circumcision.  whether you want the baby taken out of your sight at all.  do you want immediate skin to skin. 

SailorGray

My plan is to go, have baby and come home. From my own personal experience, they don't just do things without talking to you. I was asked about the epi.  They asked if H would be cutting the cord.  They asked about cord cutting in general. I had to sign forms for circumcision. They encouraged BF and skin-to-skin contact, so that wasn't an issue, etc. From my own experience (I keep saying this since I know hospitals are all so different), they are pretty up on the trends and know what moms these days prefer. 

The only thing that my hospital did that I wasn't too on-board with was give DS a pacifier.  I was convinced from my research on TB that it would cause BF issues.  In the end it was aboslutely nothing and I don't even know why it bothered me.  The little guy was upset and the sucking soothed him. 

 

SailorGray

liv97:

some other things to think about:  think about whether you want the baby to be in the nursery (if the hospital even has one).  cloth or disposable diapers.  whether you want circumcision.  whether you want the baby taken out of your sight at all.  do you want immediate skin to skin. 

I don't think I would even dream of asking them to put him in cloth while still in the hospital, esp. with the meconium. I am a CD mommy, too. Maybe that's just me, though. 

ERINPETERSON

I hear a lot of people create birth plans and then they fly out the window when its all said and done with. Its true you want everything to go the way you'd like it too but a lot of the events during delivery are unpredictable. I say go with your strongest wants and let the rest just fall into place. Goold luck to you!

liv97

SailorGray:

liv97:

some other things to think about:  think about whether you want the baby to be in the nursery (if the hospital even has one).  cloth or disposable diapers.  whether you want circumcision.  whether you want the baby taken out of your sight at all.  do you want immediate skin to skin. 

I don't think I would even dream of asking them to put him in cloth while still in the hospital, esp. with the meconium. I am a CD mommy, too. Maybe that's just me, though. 

our hospital only used cloth unless you really put up a fuss, and we started with our own cloth from the second we got home, so it is an option.  no meconium problems either in the hospital or at home.

laurynfaerie

SailorGray:

liv97:

some other things to think about:  think about whether you want the baby to be in the nursery (if the hospital even has one).  cloth or disposable diapers.  whether you want circumcision.  whether you want the baby taken out of your sight at all.  do you want immediate skin to skin. 

I don't think I would even dream of asking them to put him in cloth while still in the hospital, esp. with the meconium. I am a CD mommy, too. Maybe that's just me, though. 

My hospital only uses cloth diapers. I'm planning to use disposables at home. I thought they were nuts when I heard that, because of the meconium thing. It's weird right? Don't most hospitals use disposables?

liv97

lisajay09:

I prefer to let the doctors and nurses do what they have experience doing to make sure my baby and myself are healthy and safe.  Until I have an MD or a RN next to my name, they know a hell of a lot better than me....but maybe that's just me

this attitude makes me so sad. 

If you're totally happy abdicating all decisions wrt your birth and baby that's fine, but this is YOUR birth, YOUR body, and YOUR baby.  To not research your options and question your providers is allowing someone else to control those things, and at least for me, that's not acceptable at all.  not to mention there are MANY reasons not to blindly trust OBs (and to some extent RNs) because there are so many competing interests in hospital births.  

OP, don't let anyone shame you into not advocating for yourself and your baby in whatever form it takes.  

JenWhite123

liv97:

lisajay09:

I prefer to let the doctors and nurses do what they have experience doing to make sure my baby and myself are healthy and safe.  Until I have an MD or a RN next to my name, they know a hell of a lot better than me....but maybe that's just me

this attitude makes me so sad. 

If you're totally happy abdicating all decisions wrt your birth and baby that's fine, but this is YOUR birth, YOUR body, and YOUR baby.  To not research your options and question your providers is allowing someone else to control those things, and at least for me, that's not acceptable at all.  not to mention there are MANY reasons not to blindly trust OBs (and to some extent RNs) because there are so many competing interests in hospital births.  

OP, don't let anyone shame you into not advocating for yourself and your baby in whatever form it takes.  

Agreed!  I have a birth plan - I think of it more as birth preferences. 

SailorGray

Wow, I am surprised that some hospitals only use CD.  I have never heard of that. Being a CD mom, I think it's great. 

varkeyr

I have never had a birth plan.I also know that birthing can be unexpected. My third son came so fast that my doctor almost missed the birth.

My doctor and I discuss what I would like to happen, but I know that sometimes the unexpected will happen. He delivered my daughter and kept me very informed as what was going on. He knew I didn't want a c-section, but also wanted to make sure we had a healthy baby.  He views c-section as a last resort.

I do know that the hospital  has some procedures that are not optional. One being that I have to have an IV. Some of the options that I do have I let them know right away.

 

JenWhite123

varkeyr:

I have never had a birth plan.I also know that birthing can be unexpected. My third son came so fast that my doctor almost missed the birth.

My doctor and I discuss what I would like to happen, but I know that sometimes the unexpected will happen. He delivered my daughter and kept me very informed as what was going on. He knew I didn't want a c-section, but also wanted to make sure we had a healthy baby.  He views c-section as a last resort.

I do know that the hospital  has some procedures that are not optional. One being that I have to have an IV. Some of the options that I do have I let them know right away.

 

 

Really?  I'm shocked by that!  Many women have been lead to think they have to have an IV or continuous fetal monitoring, but that is NOT the case at my hospital.  Even if I had tested positive for GBS, I wouldn't need a continuous IV.

MeganS1783

We dont know the sex of our baby yet, so I want my DH not the Dr/nurse to tell me what we have. Other than that have a shorter labor than last time. Good Luck

bensonba

You can always search birth plans on google.  There are some general outlines out there you can follow.

atizon

thanks ladies for all the info. I definitely am thinking of a few mentioned above. I know you really can't plan it but like someone mentioned above it's a preference plan. Regarding no formula obiviously I won't let my baby starve but I would like to bf as soon as possible (if I can) if I don't produce milk then of course I''ll give my child formula. But what I meant is I don't want them to give him formula right away.

I'll be looking into the birth plans they have on the internet. thanks again!

 

AggieGrl

atizon:

thanks ladies for all the info. I definitely am thinking of a few mentioned above. I know you really can't plan it but like someone mentioned above it's a preference plan. Regarding no formula obiviously I won't let my baby starve but I would like to bf as soon as possible (if I can) if I don't produce milk then of course I''ll give my child formula. But what I meant is I don't want them to give him formula right away.

I'll be looking into the birth plans they have on the internet. thanks again!

 

Just so you are prepared...I had DS in a very pro-BFing hospital via c-section.  He ended up getting formula without my consent pretty much immediatly.  He was born with low blood sugar and the doctors felt he needed it while I was being closed up.

Of course, when you have a c-section A LOT of things don't go the way you expect them to.  It happens.  Good luck!

forensicmama

atizon:

thanks ladies for all the info. I definitely am thinking of a few mentioned above. I know you really can't plan it but like someone mentioned above it's a preference plan. Regarding no formula obiviously I won't let my baby starve but I would like to bf as soon as possible (if I can) if I don't produce milk then of course I''ll give my child formula. But what I meant is I don't want them to give him formula right away.

I'll be looking into the birth plans they have on the internet. thanks again!

 

Your colostrum is enough to feed a baby. Just the few ounces you make before your milk comes in (four days pp average, if I remember right) fills up her tiny tummy and keeps her satisfied. I'm sure that it'll go great as far as BFing goes and asking for no formula or sugar water or pacifiers or water be given to your LO after birth is a great start. My hospital where I had DD was very pro-breastfeeding and helping moms and babies get healthy starts with BFing. I was really blessed as I wasn't versed on all of these things and we had a great start together. She nursed like a champ from day one. You'll do great.