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March 2012 Moms
birth plan
has anyone started to think about their birth plan and if there are certain things you do and do not want. I was just doing some reading for my hospital and they have a lot offered that I can ask for but I am not sure what would be good to try and what not to worry with.. I plan on having a epi but I would like to hold off I think and not get it as soon as I walk in the door and see how other methods work. there is just alot to choose from and it is overwhelming.
I would like to know what you have decided to try and and if you are a 2nd time more what did you do in the past?
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Re: birth plan
I walked in with no birth plan and my nurses cheered - true story. I told them I wanted an epi when the pain got unbearable (4cm for me!) and the rest I just went with the flow and made decisions as they came. Worked for us and was much less stressful because I wasn't focused on having a specific birth that in reality I have very little control over.
I plan on doing the same this time around.
I didn't have a birth plan for my son. Pretty much my idea was to go to the hospital when contractions got strong/close enough (labor at home as long as possible). By the time I got there I was already 7 cm and it was VERY hard to stand through a contraction, so I asked for the epi as soon as I got in- which was good, because it can take an hour or better to draw the blood, make sure you don't have any infections, THEN they call the anesthesiologist (sp?). After that it was cake.
A few things you need to look into and consider:
-If your hospital offers a 'walking epidural.' Not many do, but it allows you to still walk the halls if you'd like to dilate more vs. being confined to the bed. If my hospital offered them, I would have definitely had one.
-The excercise balls are great for comfort, but even if you want to hold off on the epi, you might still want to to the initial blood draw when you arrive. Plus, your H might have to help you with back rubs as far as pain management goes.
This is 100% my birth plan and I am so happy to read this. The few close friends who have asked if I had thought about it look at me like I have 12 heads b/c I don't have a bulleted list of details.
I know I want an EPI. I know I don't want it immediately. I only want a C-section if one of us is going to get hurt... Other than that I plan on listening to the awesome L&D nurses. Got to meet a few on Friday's visit and they were all so fantastic!
I didn't have a birth plan except that I wanted to hold off on the epi until I really needed it. I got to 6 cm and had started throwing up when I decided it was time. My nurse was great and helped me more than I could ever have imagined. Even after the epi, she had me pushing in different positions (which was my concern about the epi).
The only thing I will do differently this time is I'm not going to stop for food on the way to the hospital. I now know why they limit a lady in labors food intake. I also may try to see if they will hold off on pitocin if my water breaks again.
That is one of my huge fears regarding c-sections! I would just be crushed to know our families had already held my child before I'd gotten the chance! Glad you were able to avoid that
What a great "birth plan"!!!!
This was essentially my birth plan as well - go with the flow and see what happens. My "birth plan" was to have a latex-free delivery, as DH is allergic to it. I was open to anything else.
DD2 was a planned c/s and DS3/4 will be a planned c/s as well.
I tried to write one out and realized that there are going to be very few things I can control so I gave up. The only things I had written down were: 1. No cameras 2. No video 3. Nobody (other than husband, medical providers and medical students) allowed in during labor and delivery and afterward until I say so.
That really had nothing to do with the "birth" itself. The people at the hospital do this many times a day. I am just going to follow their lead I think and ask for the epidural when I can't handle it anymore.
I am happy to see most people do not have birth plans. Doctors HATE birth plans. Why? Because you can't control everything! Everyone's goal is to have a healthy mom and healthy baby. C-sections aren't done just for the hell of it, but if they are really needed. Sometimes internal monitoring is needed because there is a question about how the baby is doing. Pitocin is not evil! It is used when a labor is slowing down. Why? So mom and baby don't get infected and sick waiting for the contractions that are coming every 7" (for example) to work.
Here's my "birth plan" :
-please give me an IV ASAP, give me pitocin if my contractions are spacing out, give me an epidural ASAP
-if I have to have a C-section, that's life.
-Get the baby out!!!
This has been my plan up to this point and I have also been looked at like I'm crazy so you guys are making me feel much better about this decision!
This is my exact reason for not over-thinking things and actually thinking I can plan it. I mean sure I can go in with what I would like to happen, but realistically that will not be the case! I would hate to be disappointed b/c birth didn't go MY way. I know there are 2 of us involved that day so it is not all about me
Oh and someone mentioned C-sections being for emergencies only... I thought this until my aunt had 3 kids. ALL of hers were C-sections planned from day 1. I just do NOT understand that.
I plan on holding off at home (or work) as long as I can stand the contractions (goal 5-6 minutes apart). If I feel I need an epi, then go for it, otherwise no. If I need a c-section, its fine.
The only thing I want is to have my baby placed on my abdomen for a brief moment once he is out. After that, they can have at him for labs, assessments, etc...
My birth plan was as follows:
I want an epidural.. not right away but I don't want to wait that long.
Keep me and baby happy & healthy.
And ditto pp's- the nurses cheered for mine too. I also didn't take a birthing class because I knew I wanted an epidural and I just wanted to go with it. They helped me learn what I needed to know there.
My hospital gives you a form to fill out about your birth preferences. Other than that, I probably won't write anything else. I will be discussing my preferences ahead of time with my midwife. My preferences include:
No IV unless I become dehydrated due to being unable to keep down liquids. A saline lock is acceptable.
No one is to offer pain medication. I will ask if I want it.
I would like limited vaginal exams.
I wish to have intermittant rather than continuous fetal monitoring.
I wish to avoid Pitocin. If Pitocin becomes necessary, I will not consent to rate increases more frequently than 30 minutes.
I would prefer for my water to break spontaneously rather than artificially rupturing it.
I want baby on my chest immediately (assuming there is no resuscitation required).
I want to wait until the cord stops pulsing before it's cut.
I really don't think this is such an unreasonable list. Maybe some people will think I'm being high maintenance, but this is the birth of my child. I don't really care if someone thinks I am inconveniencing them. And of course I am willing to be flexible if the need arises. Most situations aren't big enough emergencies that would mean "We have to do a c-section NOW!" I'm aware of common situations which would require such an immediate c-section, and wouldn't hesitate for a second if needed. Otherwise, if my midwife suggests interventions, I will be asking lots of questions to make an informed decision.
My biggest complaint about my DS's birth wasn't the fact that interventions took place. It was that I felt like I wasn't part of the decision-making process and that I was pushed into things without being fully informed. If I make informed decisions, I think I will be able to be at peace with however my next labor/delivery turns out, whether it be a med free vaginal birth or a c-section.
ok, so i'm usually the one who is different in the crowd, so keep that in mind when you read my response.
i think that women are very much in control of their birth. i think the experience can be very much of what you make it. is it possible for things to happen out of your control? yes, but isn't that true with everything in life? there's nothing wrong with making a plan of what you would like to happen. if it can't go that way for one reason or another, than the important thing is to be flexible and trust your care provider.
as a home birth mw i have attended hundreds of out of hospital births and about 20-30ish hospital births. in most cases if mom and baby are healthy and low-risk then there is no reason to think that she can't have the experience that she wants. part of getting what you want is to put your energy into positive thinking. does that work all the time? no. can it work some or most of the time? i believe it can. is it worth a try? i think so.
i have had my heart set on a home birth for 10+ yrs now and i'm slowly realizing that it is probably not going to happen for me, as i am becoming high-risk. since i am most likely going to have a hospital birth i am DEFINITELY going in with a birth plan, a doula and family. imo, i wouldn't attempt something as big as birth without a plan.
Maybe she had medical reasons? (hoping) I know a couple of people who planned on c/s from day one, but those were for medical reasons, not just because. I do not understand elective c/s at all either. I've planned mine, but they were repeat c/s, as I was not a good candidate for a VBAC.
This sounds up my alley. I haven't started thinking about it but I'm hoping I'll be able to do something really similar to this.