Birth plan?

MsZoeB · December 2009

So I am at the point where I am starting to really think about the hospital, labor etc.

I have started to look at hospital bag lists and think about what to include in ours.

One of the items recommend is a birth plan. Did you have one? Did you follow it?

How did you go about creating a plan? Was this reviewed with your doctor during one of your routine appts.?

I feel that I am preparing for baby but not labor. Call me naive, but I guess I felt that I would make decisions as they came. I sort of work better that way especially when I have noooo idea what to expect.

mrobin73 · December 2009

I asked my doctor about birth plans, and they said that they like to go over them in the office ahead of time so you can discuss them when you're not under the stress of labor- and also b/c some of the things that you include in birth plans aren't realistic or safe options (things you read about in books, hear about from others, etc.) At your next appt- ask your doctor what they prefer.

MelissaSue81 · December 2009

MsZoeB:
I feel that I am preparing for baby but not labor. Call me naive, but I guess I felt that I would make decisions as they came. I sort of work better that way especially when I have noooo idea what to expect.

This is exactly why I think birth plans are useless. How can you plan for something when you don't have ANY idea what is going to happen? Even if everything goes 100% "textbook".. you have never done it before..

Are you taking a childbirth class? If you take the one at BSB, Cindy is really great and she gives you an outline for a birth plan.. Its not a bad thing to think about what you want/don't want.. but just be prepared to be flexible!

ArcticFox · December 2009

I didn't have one.. I was open to having the epi under lots of pain (and boy did I need it), stuff like that. I also didn't have my DD get the hep shot at birth, but they ask you right there.. so I didn't have a birth plan written out beforehand or anything. Also I asked my OB about my DH cutting the cord and he said just ahve DH ask when it's time. I'm not sure what the birth plan would have done for us just since i felt well informed during labor.

Mrs_Hark · December 2009

my birth plan was simple: whatever happens happens. as long as there is a healthy mom and baby in the end i didn't care how we get there.

i agree with Melissa, having never done it before you cannot know what to expect or plan for the unknown for that matter. i think your plan to make decisions as needed is the best plan to have.

i'll never understand the mindset of moms who are adament about not doing this or definitely doing that during L&D.

jewelsonu · December 2009

My birth plan was get to the hospital, get the epi, have a baby. What happened in between those things was anyone's guess. So needless to say I didn't have a real one. When I told the L &D nurse that i didn't she said "good b/c then you won't be upset if things don't go accordingto plan". In my opinion there really wasn't a need for a plan since I was getting an epi

mrobin73 · December 2009

Mrs_Hark:
i'll never understand the mindset of moms who are adament about not doing this or definitely doing that during L&D.

The biggest parts of my plan are 1) Drugs are good- no need to ask twice, but due to allergies to certain anesthesias- they need to know ahead of time which are ok for me (I'm malignant hypothermic- so in case of a C-section, most types of general are NOT an option.) and 2) HT is NOT cutting the cord but would feel he HAD to if the Dr. asked him to (he'd probably pass out, so he's to stay by my head at all times!) Other than that- whatever happens, happens.

TinaL99 · December 2009

I'm with you on this. I want a healthy Mom and baby at the end of all of this. The only thing I really want to avoid is an induction, if possible. If I want an epi, I'll ask for one. If a c-section is needed, then so be it. I think we'll do better making decisions in the heat of the moment, after talking to my Dr.

And my Dr. told me that a plan wasn't necessary and that she basically does whatever I want as long as it's medically ok. I will tell her a few things beforehand, such as to have DH announce the sex to me and to put the baby up on me right away, etc.

skroops · December 2009

Mrs_Hark:

my birth plan was simple: whatever happens happens. as long as there is a healthy mom and baby in the end i didn't care how we get there.

i agree with Melissa, having never done it before you cannot know what to expect or plan for the unknown for that matter. i think your plan to make decisions as needed is the best plan to have.

i'll never understand the mindset of moms who are adament about not doing this or definitely doing that during L&D.

Yep, I agree with this too. And I have never even heard the term "birth plan" besides the nest. I think it's great to be informed about things and know what your options are, but I think it's also good to have a "go with the flow" attitude and just see what happens.

olivia_eve · December 2009

I think it's good to have an idea of what you would like, and discuss that with your doctor. For instance, my doctor knew I wanted to try and go drug free if at all possible, and that I also was wary of pitocin. I also told this to the doctor who was on call during my labor, and she was great about respecting my wishes. However, I wasn't so committed to a plan that when I ended up getting an epidural I was upset. I think some of this depends on what kind of person you are, and how strongly you feel about these things. I'm not the kind of person who could just go into it and wing it, so having that conversation was helpful. But I didn't type up a whole plan with bullet points.

emiliemetcalf · December 2009

I have a 1 page worksheet that I use with my doula clients. You basically just circle the things you would like uder the best circumstances. I would have to email it because its in Word.

The best part about having a birth plan for my labor was that my doctor was really good about explaining things that happened. He would refer to the plan and I say, "I know you wanted...but" and this gave me the opportunity to ask questions. I wanted to go med free and ended up with pitocin and an epidural after 13 hours of med-free labor, but I feel like I at least got the chance to make an informed decision about different drugs and necessity of interventions.

xKimx · December 2009

I had a birth plan and it was very important to me. I did a LOT of research & prep for labor & delivery and many of my beliefs went against what the typical hospital delivery consists of. I felt extremely prepared & very informed. It was nice to have the plan written out because there was a change of shifts part way through my labor so I didn't have to explain anything while in hard labor. I'd be willing to post it or send it to you if you are interested.

Of course my "main objective" was a healthy mom & baby. I don't know of anyone who doesn't want that.

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