My Midwife has asked I fill out a birth preference form to go in my chart for when I have DS. I remember doing this with DD but I am drawing a blank on a lot of things and am just interested to read what others are leaning towards.
Here area a few of the questions that I'm stumped on.
Re: What are your birth preferences?
Here's mine. We're having a water birth so keep that in mind. I'm actually just finishing this up to go over with my midwife at my appointment today. GL!
Labor:
We would like to have an unmedicated, natural childbirth. We plan to use breathing techniques, massage, relaxation, water and movement to cope with the pain. Please do not offer any medications unless we ask for them.
We would like to avoid induction, especially with the use of drugs like Pitocin. Instead, we will try natural methods such as walking and changing positions.
During labor we would prefer:
Minimum time attached to fetal monitoring
Freedom to move around the room
Freedom to eat or drink
Avoidance of an IV and excessive vaginal exams
Keeping the lights low and maintaining a quiet environment
We would like to labor in water.
Delivery:
We would like to deliver in water.
We would like to avoid an episiotomy.
We would like the baby placed on the mother?s chest after delivery.
The father would like to cut the umbilical cord.
Post-delivery:
We would like to begin breastfeeding as soon as possible after delivery.
Please delay routine exams of the baby so that mother and baby have time to bond.
Please perform exams and procedures in the room with the mother. We would like to keep the baby in the room with us at all times.
We do not want to do a circumcision.
We plan to exclusively breast-feed our baby. Please do not give him bottles or pacifiers.
Induction: walking around, changing positions, nipple stimulation (even with a breast pump naturally produces oxytocin which will stimulate labor)
Delivery: Wait to cut the cord until it stops pulsating. This has been proven to aid baby in respiratory factors.
Thank you for sharing this....great guide.
To OP I would definitely make one of these. You can find the templates all over the internet. You should have a say. A lot of people and medical professionals will tell you no one follows them. That is because we tolerate that. No one can predict exactly what will happen in birth but you definitely should have a say of your preferences and know they will be honored. I cant imagine not having a birth plan. GL!