Anyone want to review my Birth plan?

julybride_07

What did I leave out, or what do I need to get rid of. TIA 

 

Birth Plan

First I want to thank you for being a part of such a special event in our lives. I was diagnosed with Gestational Diabetes at 26 weeks. I have been able to control my sugars through diet, I do not take any oral medications, or insulin. We are expecting another boy and will be naming him Ethan Leigh P.

Labor Wishes

1. I would like to have a ?natural? child birth. I am not opposed to drugs (after 8 ? hours of laboring with my 1^st son I received an epidural), however I would like an epidural to be the last choice for pain relief if I end up deciding that I would like to use drugs to help me deal with the pain.

2. I would like to be able to use my birthing ball, warm showers, walking, and changing positions to help labor progress.

Delivery Wishes

1. When it comes time to push the only people who I would like to be in the room with me is  (husband),  (mother-in-law),  (mother), and (friend).

   (I took the names out for security reasons)

2. I did not have an episiotomy with my first son (I tore naturally), and I would like to do the same this time.

3. Please wait to cut the umbilical cord until it stops pulsing

4. My would like to cut the umbilical cord.

In an Emergency

1. If a cesarean section is required, we would like my husband to be present during the surgery

Post Delivery

1. If it is possible I would like him to be placed on my chest once he is born

2. I would like him to receive the Vitamin K shot

3. I have not decided if I want him to receive the Hep B vaccine yet please ask me about it after he is here.

4. I would like my husband to be the first person to hold him after he has been cleaned and checked by the nurses.

5. I will be breastfeeding, and would like the baby to be in the room with us full time.

6. I would like all assessments to be done in our presence (we do not want our son's temperature to be taken rectally).

7. We would like our son to be circumcised, and my husband would like to be present during this procedure.

 

Izabella22

For post delivery - do you want them to delay newborn procedures to breastfeed first?  You can ask them to perform most of those while baby is with you as well.

The labor wishes could probably be simplified to say something like: Please do not offer pain medication, will request if needed.

julybride_07

Izabella22:

For post delivery - do you want them to delay newborn procedures to breastfeed first?  You can ask them to perform most of those while baby is with you as well.

The labor wishes could probably be simplified to say something like: Please do not offer pain medication, will request if needed.

I do but I wasn't sure how to word it, or that I could even ask that. 

 

KitKat83

Sounds like a very reasonable birth plan to me!  States your wishes, gives the medical team some insight, and I can't see how it could possibly set you up for failure or disappointment.  I might have to steal it for myself ;-) 

Izabella22

Doesn't hurt to ask, a lot of hospitals will delay procedures and can get apgar scores while the baby is on your chest.  If you go over your birth plan w/ your Ob they should be able to tell you. I found a lot of things I was going to request (no routine episiotomy) are just general procedure at my hospital.  I snagged my birth plan off the natural birth board and modified it for what fits us best but have at it if you like...

 After dealing with two pregnancy losses, we are so excited to finally meet our precious baby! We are hoping for a low-intervention, medication-free birth, though our number one goal is a healthy mom and baby.

Internal Exams:

?         I would like limited internal vaginal exams

?         During a vaginal exam, please leave my membranes intact

Pain medication:

?         Please do not offer pain medications. We will request them if desired.

Labor: 

I would like to?

?         Walk, change position, and have a quiet environment with dimmed lighting

?         Use Doppler monitoring or telemetry

?         Utilize the tub for pain-management

?         Prefer no restrictions on laboring or pushing time

?         Push instinctively, not guided

?         To help avoid episiotomy and prevent tearing, please use: hot compresses, oil, perineal massage, encourage me to breathe properly for slower crowning

Birth:

?         I would like the option to use a mirror to view the birth

?         I would like the option to touch baby's head as he crowns

After Baby is Born:

?         Postpone interventions for breastfeeding and bonding

?         Wait for the umbilical cord to stop pulsating before it is clamped

?         Husband to cut the umbilical cord

Third Stage/Placenta:

?         Spontaneous delivery of placenta without the use of Pitocin or controlled traction on the umbilical cord 

Infant Care:

?         Delay eye prophylaxis and vitamin K until breastfeeding and bonding are complete.  I would like to hold baby during these procedures.

?         Hep B vaccination will be done in the pediatrician?s office

?         Baby is to be exclusively breastfed.

mkays25

Julybride_07:

Izabella22:

For post delivery - do you want them to delay newborn procedures to breastfeed first?  You can ask them to perform most of those while baby is with you as well.

The labor wishes could probably be simplified to say something like: Please do not offer pain medication, will request if needed.

I do but I wasn't sure how to word it, or that I could even ask that. 

 

This is how I have it on my birth plan.

-I would like immediate skin-to-skin contact with baby for at least an hour and to nurse as soon as possible and as often as possible. Any measurements, tests, or procedures that cannot be done on my chest can wait.

Though I'm not sure if it is totally necessary since my hospital promotes skin-to-skin anyway. I agree with pp about shortening your drug preferences, if you do want a natural birth, it might be best to not have your previous experience with it on your plan. And since you are planning alternatives to pain meds, what about intermediate monitoring and a saline lock instead of an IV?

Some things that you might not need on your plan- the request for Vit K shot. At least where I live it is state law to give it, so not necessary to have on your plan. Also at my hospital they ask you about the Hep B vac when you register and have you sign off whether you want it or not. For both of these you may want to call your hospital and ask about their procedures.

All in all, very good plan, short and sweet. I like how positive you make it!

bigbear

Looks like a good and reasonable plan!

I have one question, just out of curiousity. Why do you not want the temp to be taken rectally? In my birthing class it was advised to always take the temp that way for up to one year b/c that is the most accurate temp (ear, mouth, arm pit are just not that good that early on) and the temp of 100.2 is already considered dangerous for little babies... I"m just wondering what it is that I don't know...

thanks!

JenJH923

that sounds reasonable. I too wonder about the rectal temperature thing, as they will probably give you instructions when you leave the hospital to call the pediatrician for a high rectal temperature. That being said, at the hospital I work at we (The nurses) do not take the temperature rectally, but the pediatricians do. 
Also, I often have people who ask if the father can be present during the baby's circumcision and some doctors do allow it. I wonder what the reasoning is for that, I never ask my patients but if you're looking for feedback I figure you'd be the one to ask!

julybride_07

bigbear:

Looks like a good and reasonable plan!

I have one question, just out of curiousity. Why do you not want the temp to be taken rectally? In my birthing class it was advised to always take the temp that way for up to one year b/c that is the most accurate temp (ear, mouth, arm pit are just not that good that early on) and the temp of 100.2 is already considered dangerous for little babies... I"m just wondering what it is that I don't know...

thanks!

I am a recent nurse grad and in my peds and ob class I was taught to not take the temp rectally because of perforation and other damage that can occur. I never took DS  #1's temp rectally and I won't have them take this LO's temp rectally. This is just my choice though. :-)

julybride_07

Izabella22:

This is how I have it on my birth plan.

-I would like immediate skin-to-skin contact with baby for at least an hour and to nurse as soon as possible and as often as possible. Any measurements, tests, or procedures that cannot be done on my chest can wait.

Thanks for the wording! :-)