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March 2012 Moms
What's your birth plan?
Hi everyone,
I am 24 weeks pregnant with our first baby! We are beyond excited, of course! I'm curious what everyone's birth plan is and why you've chosen it. I've read so many different stories and am honestly stuck on how I want my birth plan to be. I've read an epidoral can significantly slow down the baby's heart rate and can be dangerous- rare, but it can happen. I have also read natural birth stories where the new mommy has claimed the experience was so bad that they were emotionally scarred from it, some deciding not to have more children.
I was thinking of having my bith plan be as simple as... "Get my baby out as SAFELY as possible."
Share stories!!
Thanks in advance!!
This discussion has been closed.
Re: What's your birth plan?
I don't have one, at least not yet. I am a wuss for pain, so I am most likely going to get the epi. But then again, I am a wuss for needles, so it's a toss up. It will probably be a decision I make that day. When my Ectopic pregnancy ruptured, that was the most pain I have ever been in. The drugs for that hardly helped. In my mind, I am telling myself it will be similar to that.
As long as the baby and I are both healthy, that is all I want. If I could not be a pain, that would be a bonus.
BFP#1 6.12.10 EDD 2.20.11 MMC 8.10.10 D&C 8.11.10
BFP#2 7.17.11 EDD 3.11.12 DS Born 3.17.12
BFP#3 10.30.14 EDD 7.10.14
Umm.... go to the hospital when my OB tells me too. Maybe get an epi if I can't take the pain. Push when I'm told to until Liam makes it into the world. That's about it.
I know it's WAY too detailed but that's just me.
Seriously I'm not going to get too into planing this out... there are just too many things that can happen that I don't want to feel like I've lost control of what I want. And I know that sometimes feeling like I've lost control can really bother me. I know I will be getting IV antibiotics for my group B strep. I am not apposed to an epi, but if I don't think I need it I will try for a natural birth.
My OB asked me if I had any idea of what I wanted at my last visit and I pretty much told he the same thing. She seemed fine with that. I'm sure when we get closer she'll ask me again too see if I've changed my mind.
My birth plan is to go natural. However, I am not going to be dissapointed if, on the day of, I decide to get an epidural. I have a high-risk pregnancy, so I know that pretty much they can swoop me out of my room at any moment for an emergency c-section. I'm trying to be open-minded since it is our first child, but I know that I have a pretty high threshold for pain. I'd love to have a water birth, but again, because of my high-blood pressure, they'd never let that happen.
Me (33). DH (37). DD (2.2012). MCs x4. After 4 years & 7 months, due 4.2018!
Epi + whatever will get Liam out safe and healthy. Something interesting to think about that we were told on my hospital tour Friday night- The hospital I'm delivering at prefers no one to hold the baby except the mother for the first hour and/or until after the baby feeds (with the exception of nurses and doctors). They said to think about whether you want skin to skin or if you want the baby cleaned off before being handed over to you. They said the father should go with the baby to get weighed and measured and talk to him/her so they feel comfortable. Anyone think about that? Do you want the baby handed right to you after delivery? Skin to skin? Above the sheet? Too many choices.
Here is what I wrote about my birth plan in my blog after my first.
This time, I don't have much of a choice really so I'm just going to trust my team of doctors. If Baby A is head down, we'll try for a vaginal delivery. If not, c/s. If A is head down and B is breech, we'll do a breech extraction and I was told I would NEED an epidural because the dr basically puts their whole arm up there... so yeah. My birth plan is "do what you need to do!"
Our crazy, wonderful life
I am pretty opinionated about having a low-intervention, med-free birth. I plan on staying at home as long as possible unless my water breaks/I am GBS+. When I get to the hospital, I will consent to a bag of IV fluids but when the bag is empty, the nurses will unhook me from the various equipment so I can move around and find comfortable positions. I do not want to be told how to push, but just to do it as my body directs. No episiotomy. Wait for cord to stop pulsing before its cut. Skin to skin and nursing immediately after delivery unless there are complications. If LO is a boy, I want him circ'ed in the hospital. We don't have a nursery, so LO will room-in. No formula, no pici.
There are, of course, situations where interventions and even c-sections are necessary, so this plan would go out the window if that happened. I just hope and pray that everything goes well.
No one but me and my husband allowed (except medical staff.)
No cameras/pictures.
Other than that I will try to do it without the epidural (as I don't like needles or catheters) but I have a feeling I will end up getting one.
Other than that I don't really feel like I can make a plan as I have no clue what will happen. The last ultrasound he was breech....so we will see.
Here is mine. I looked at a bunch of different birth plans and birth plan templates. I just did mine as a word document and I'm bringing it with me to my next appointment so me and my OBGYN's can go over things. I was told to have a birth plan by the hospital and by my mom who's a doctor.
I'm diabetic so I have a regular OBGYN, a high risk OBGYN and an Endo.
~My Birth Plan~
Patient: Mother Monster
Coach: Family Friend
Other Support People: My mom
OBGYN:
Maternal Fetal Medicine Physician:
Endocrinologist:
My delivery is planned as a vaginal delivery.
Please note: I have Type 1 Diabetes.
Allergies: Neomycin and Latex.
Adverse Reactions: Shrimp due to the iodine.
Pain Medication
Don?t offer me any! If I want pain medication, I will ask for it but I will want to talk to my physicians as well as my mom before I will decide.
NO NARCOTICS! Tylenol with codeine makes me sleepy (as in I will want to sleep for 12 hours on low dose so I?m a light weight), however that would be the only narcotic pain medication I would accept.
Movement
I want to be able to move however I want to, within reason of course.
Fetal Monitoring
I want to be intermittently monitored, unless my doctors and I have decided otherwise.
Nutrition & Hydration
No food, just ice chips or popsicles, because a c-section is possible. I realize general anesthesia is not common during c-sections, but I realize I?m high risk and anything can happen so I would rather be safe than sorry and take my own preventative measures for my nurses and doctors, as well as my daughter.
Pushing
I want to push in whatever position I feel is best.
I absolutely DO NOT want someone telling me ?Good girl? while pushing! I will get extremely upset, yell things and throw a fit!
Episiotomy
I don?t want one. I would rather tear.
Delivery (Vaginal Birth)
I want my baby placed on my chest for skin to skin contact for warmth and bonding.
I want the cord cut after its stops pulsating.
I would like to breastfeed as soon as possible.
I would like my baby to have any assessments in my presence.
I want to give my baby her first bath.
Delivery (C-section)
I want my coach and my mom to be with me if possible.
I want the cord cut after it stops pulsating.
I want to be able to touch my baby right after birth.
If the baby is taken to the NICU, my mom will go with her.
If I can?t give my baby her first bath, then my mom should.
I want my baby in my recovery room with me as soon as possible.
I want to be able to breastfeed as soon as possible.
Postpartum & Baby Care
I want my baby to room in with me.
In the event that I cannot be with my child, my mother (Dr. Grandmother Monster) is authorized to make medical decisions on my behalf.
Vitamin K and the erythromycin drops are okay.
I DO NOT want my child to have formula! She will be breastfed only!
I DO NOT want my child vaccinated against Hepatitis B. I will do it at a later date after talking to my mom and my child?s pediatrician.
I DO NOT want my child using the diapers provided by the hospital. I will supply my own.
I DO NOT want my child bathed with any soap provided by the hospital. I will supply my own.
I DO NOT want my child given a pacifier from the hospital. I will supply my own.
Here was my plan with DS, which I intend on using with this one too:
1. Keep me healthy & happy; help me welcome a healthy baby into this world.
2. When I'm ready for an epidural, bring it to me.
3. Please communicate with my MIL/FIL after the baby arrives, who WILL stay at the hospital all night to meet their grandchild as soon as they can. Until it is time for me to push, they can stay in the room.
i've already had my tour of L&D and so i know what is standard policy and procedures for labor/birth/recovery and newborn care. that has helped me tremendously with my birth plan. for example there is no need to put things on there that they already do. i'm focusing on the things that are most important to me. i'm also going to hire a doula to make sure that my wishes are heard and implemented to the best of our abilities while staying safe and responsible. my goal is to get the final draft down to one page, it will be received better the shorter it is.
some things that are most important to me are:
no hep B vaccine for baby
discuss need for vit K before it's administered
no eye ointment
baby does not leave room, unless there's an emergency
delayed cord clamp
delay the PKU (metabolic screening) until approx 3 days after birth
absolutely no formula or sugar water given to baby
that's all i got right now off the top of my head.
I think its best to not have your heart set on one certain birth plan because you never know what is going to happen.
My only decision already made going in is, epi if possible and get the baby out! that is what we did with our first son and hoping it goes as smooth for DS #2:)
:::THIS:::: I did not have one with DS either. For me I feel like it is so unpredictable that I just go with the flow and what ever happens happens--as long as baby and I are safe: )
I have a lot of wishes, but we'll see how it all plays out. I would like to go w/o pain meds again, I would prefer no IV, I want to have the baby put right on my chest and to BF as soon as possible, I would prefer to tear rather than an episiotomy, I would like to help "catch" the baby and I would like DH to announce the sex. I would like to be mobile during labor and push however I feel comfortable (although I plan to stay home as long as is humanly possible without delivering in the car on the way). I would also a short labor and to push for less than an hour but I don't think they let you decide that.
ETA: and NO students or residents helping with my "repair work" - that was AWFUL last time.
This is also our birth plan.
Welcome Baby Grace to the world! (via emergency c-section @ 38w2d)
2/24/12 12:03pm 5lbs, 9oz Birth Story
Linky--> EP FB Group - March '12 FB Group <---Linky </b>
Totally agree with this. My mother has worked as RN in L&D for years and encouraged me to not have a detailed birth plan going in. She said that so many women come in with their births planned down to every detail and when it doesn't happen just the way they want, it's a terrible experience.
Sorry for the mega quote box, but
HOLY FVCK.
Welcome Baby Grace to the world! (via emergency c-section @ 38w2d)
2/24/12 12:03pm 5lbs, 9oz Birth Story
Linky--> EP FB Group - March '12 FB Group <---Linky </b>
I've gone both ways, with the epi and without the epi. (2nd time was just because there wasn't enough time to get it placed before "go" time) My plan is to get the epi as early as possible because it takes a while to place. Just for informations sake, what they don't tell alot of FTMs is that if you ask for the epi at 4cm, you have to wait on the anesthesiologist to get there, then sign some papers while they go over the possible risks, sit there while they prep you then practically double over and hold still while they place it (while your having contractions). Alot of times, bending over while they insert it can push you from like a 4 to a 6/7 very quickly. But, our plan is to ask for the epi early, and get the baby out safely as quick as possible!
(I took out the plan to avoid huge quoting)
Yeah, I'm all for plans believe me, I'm just worried that you might be disapointed MotherMonster, if things don't go your way. And they probably won't happen exactly the way you want them to. And I do think some of the things on here are a little nit picky like telling people what they can't say while you are pushing. I really don't think you are going to care when words people are saying, you are going to be focused on getting your baby out healthy.
I dunno, you might be surprised. I thought I wanted to be told when to push, but looking back on it, I would really rather do it on my own and ask for the encouragement if needed. I didn't like having orders barked at me.
Oh totally I agree! I really have no idea being a FTM lol, I'm just guessing here. I guess my point is just that you can have that in your plan, but people are going to say what they are going to say inthe moment. I don't think trying to dictate the words that people speak is a realistic thing to put down on paper. I think it will more then likely end in disapointment for the mother.
this is my 3rd baby. i've never had an epidural && i don't plan on having one unless i'm required to have a c-section. i'm fast when it comes to labor so it's been pointless to even try to get one. i did have iv drugs with my youngest son, i do not recommend it. with my oldest, i had nothing && i remembered everything. with my youngest, i slept through almost all of it && had to be woken up serveral times to push. so with my daughter, i'm going to go all natural unless like i said i have a c-section.
as far as being "emotionally scarred" from childbirth, i don't know anyone who ever has been && some of my friends have had some pretty scary experiences. as have i. but it has not stopped me from allowing my family to grow to 2 boys && a girl. :-)
people told me all kinds of horror stories when i was pregnant with my 1st, but after i had him, i was like aside from the complications i experienced which were excessive bleeding due to blood clots rupturing right after i had him, it wasn't what i had expected. instead of being freaked out, i was in awe of the 7lb 12oz baby boy they handed to me, who looked like he could be my clone. lol.
What a coincidence! That's my plan, too! Just add, "Try to avoid C-section unless medically necessary."
"Go Phils"
Norah Elizabeth - 3.19.12