Birth Plan suggestions....

ileana23 · June 2011

I am 26 wks pregnant with myfirst baby and I've heard a lot of talk from other women who have had children that having a birth plan is super important. I'm just curious to know what questions are important to ask? I've seen templates online but there are a lot of questions I am unsure of and I'm trying to weed out the insignificant stuff from the important stuff. Any advise would help

tpandr08 · June 2011

You can use the one on thebump's website but in all reality, it is just a gudeline and unless you have a midwife or someone that's sole job is to reinforce your birthplan, there is a good chance it won't be used exactly how you want it. I spent hours on mine and made a million copies to take to the hospital stating I didn't want things like internal monitoring on baby, I wanted skin to skin asap, I wanted to give her first bath...etc...well, the last hour of my laboring I spike 104 fever and my birth plan went out the window because their #1 goal is to make sure mommy and baby are healthy and if not, do whatever necessary to make them healthy. I didn't see Riley for 6 hours after she was born and then she was in the NICU for a week.

Feel free to fill one out if you think it will help you/SO/dr's understand what you want a little better but do not be dissapointed if it is not followed perfectly!

Erica92 · June 2011

Well I guess first you need to determine what your priorities are regarding your birth experience:

- natural birth

- water birth

- no interventions/limited interventions/etc...

- are you ok with constant monitoring durring labor, intermittent monitoring, etc..

You need to figure out what's important to you and then I would google birth plans look at some samples (sounds like you already have) and then pick and choose the parts that you want included in yours.

BUT all that being said I think the MOST important part is having your provider (dr. midwife, etc...) know what kind of birth you want and be supportive of it! It's one thing to show up to the hospital with a piece of paper but I know lost of L and D nurses take one glance and file it away somewhere. So just take birth plans with a grain of salt.

This has become TOTALLY rambly and for that I apologize but I think the most important part of a birth plan is that you know what kind of Labor/birth that YOU want and that DH and your provider is on board!

Pelusa214 · June 2011

Same as above.

I spent hours & hours on mine, gave copies to everyone, and they just smile & nod & do whatever they normally do to keep you and baby safe & healthy. There were a few things that they did with no problem (like we didn't want the hep b shot or the eye ointment, no paci, etc.), but I don't know if we really needed the birth plan for that. It might've just been enough to tell them. I might suggest typing one up so that you solidify in your own mind exactly what you want, and make sure you and DH communicate that to your doctors. I think it would've been enough for me, though, to have DH just state what I wanted as it came up if I was unable to.

SailorGray · June 2011

Eh, you really don't need one. I discussed the important stuff with my doc beforehand. I am pretty relaxed, though. I am not judging those who do them b/c if you have preferences then they are great. I just don't want you to think it's something you need causing you extra stress.

orangecurls · June 2011

I would keep it really simple, with few items. I had my personal info at the top, then a few bullet points for each of these headings: Environment, Labor, Delivery, Newborn Care

Also reiterate your wishes to each staff person that is with you. 1 person may read your birth plan, but maybe not everyone.

Temp574971250006741 · June 2011

I spoke with my OB before hand about certain things I did or did not want to happen. But in the end I trusted the professionals to do what was best for baby and I. I had enough to think about let alone stress about making sure someone followed my precise instructions which may or may not benefit me and the baby.

MissBHaven1024 · June 2011

The Bump has a great birth plan and it's a good thing to have IMO because there are things that some pregnant women don't even think of because they aren't aware that they should be thinking of. Even if you don't choose to utilize it when it comes time to give birth, being aware of what the doctors and nurses might ask is good information to have. This will be my 2nd baby, and I'm still going to use a birth plan.

b.heather · June 2011

FWIW, my hospital did respect my birth plan and I ended up with a lot of accomodations that I otherwise would not have if I hadn't discussed my birth plan with my provider in advance (hep lock rather than IV, intermittent fetal monitoring, able to drink water during labor, no questions about "pain", etc.).

That said, things did not go as I "planned" and I did end up with interventions I hadn't originally intended as a result of a 37-hour labor, pre-e, fever, etc. However, I still felt the birth plan was well worth it.

Unknown · June 2011

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atomicbaby · June 2011

I am in the process of switching medical groups, because my initial doctor said there alternative birthing center offered water births and it turns out they DONT. SO I am making sure that my new hospital knows all of my wishes ahead of time in addition to having a plan the day of. Unless there is a life threatening problem I want to be the first one to touch my baby. Me and hubby, then midwife/medical team.

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