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2nd Trimester
What are you putting in your birth plan?
Here is mine. It's long, but I figured I'd share in case anyone is working on theirs. I am 100% aware that any of these things could change if there is a complication, so this is more of a wish list. Part of these requests are due to the fact that I am going to try to have an unmedicated delivery, so I want the room to feel as relaxed as possible and I don't want to be rushed. Thankfully my doctor has been amazing from the get-go and encouraged us to write a birth plan. She said in most cases she's been able to follow through with most of the wishes of the parents.
LABOR
Room to have dimmed lights, soft music playing.
Not to be offered meds. Will request if I needed.
Husband, best friend, and mother allowed in room during labor.
Will be allowed to walk around, stretch, get in alternate delivery positions.
Intermittent monitoring to allow for movement.
DELIVERY
Only husband will be in the room.
Will not be rushed to deliver unless there is a complication requiring c-section. I will take as long as my body needs to do things naturally.
Episiotomy only of necessary. Nurses will use oil for perineal massage to prevent tearing and use hot compresses.
Will be allowed to squat, stand, lay on side ? whatever feels most natural.
I would like to view the birth using a mirror.
POSTPARTUM
Husband will catch the baby and announce the sex.
Husband will cut the cord and will be a delayed cord cutting until after finished pulsating.
Immediate skin-to-skin for atleast 30 mins after delivery. Infant procedures (bath, etc) will be delayed to allow for bonding and first breastfeeding.
Baby will be exclusively breastfed. Manual expression will be allowed if breastfeeding is not an option. Formula is not to be given unless there is a medical complication with the mother.
Husband and I will have at least 30 mins with baby alone before family/friends allowed in after delivery.
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Re: What are you putting in your birth plan?
ITA. I'm going to try and go drug-free, but I have an open mind about it.
Thank you for posting your birth plan. I am currently working on mine and was wondering on a couple things. You have answered those questions. Thank you!
My MIL has been a mother/baby nurse for 30 years and she said when women with birth plans like this come in, they usually end up in a c-section..Once their "plan" goes awry (which its guaranteed to do), the mohter usually gets all stressed out and natural labor doesn't happen as easily..
Its great to have things you'd like to have in labor but I wouldn't give this giant list to your nurses.. their main goal is to get the baby out safely.. You may want to look into an alternate birthing option like a birthing center or home birth as a lot of hospitals have certain guidelines of care they have to abide by..
A few things that are in mine but I didn't see in yours... (sorry, it's long)
-Please answer any questions we have with honestly and not in a round about fashion so we can make decisions based on the most accurate information (sidenote: sugar coating drives me insane, and won't make me happy while in labor!), -No students or residents to attend birth, -I request a hep or saline lock instead of IV so I can move as I wish, -Husband and mother in room, unless mother is requested to leave, -Birth equipment for laboring requested: ball, shower, massage, moving and position changes, -Birth to be photographed and videotaped (from head of bed), -Keep me informed of window of opportunity for pain relief, though I will request it if necessary, - no episiotomy unless medically necessary and ok'd by myself (encourage proper breathing to encourage slower crowning), -no forceps or vacuum, - allow shoulders to be born spontaneously, use local anesthetic for repairs after delivery, -husband will give baby first bath, -what to do if baby's health is in jeopardy
I used this website to formulate a wish list, and then tweaked it to meet my needs:
https://www.earthmamaangelbaby.com/free-birth-plan
Mine is pretty simple too. DH and necessary med staff in labor & delivery. If I'm feeling up to it my mom maybe during labor, but I certianly was in no mood to entertain with my previous 2 and kicked her out with dd1. She didnt' show until a few hours after delivery with DD2.
No narcotics. period. I will request epi when or if I want/need it.
Don't care about lights or music.
DD1 we had pretty imediate skin to skin and nursed right away. DD2 I was ok with them giving a bath first. (they asked first) Then she nursed like a champ as I ate a sandwich. ;o)
I'm pretty open minded and just want a healthy baby with as little intervention as possible. Thankfully I have had pretty textbook labor & deliveries with both so far.
'Til He returns, or calls me home,
Here in the power of Christ I stand.
Well, I never thought about having an actual plan until this post...I know a few things I want and don't want:
All the drugs they can give me first and foremost, absolutely no pics or video period, only want husband in the room during delivery by the head of the bed (no need to see what happens down there).
Other than that whatever it takes to have a helathy baby.
I'm looking into "rest and descend" and keep meaning to talk to my doc about it - outside of that- give me the drugs as soon as possible and I have a short list of people allowed in - and anyone else I ok on the go.
I'm really not all that worked up about it - I really want to avoid a c section and will be advocating that statment and telling my doc ahead of time - that being said - if someone tells me its necessary - then thats what we'll do.
I thikn Birth Plans let you feel in control and are a good thing - however - sometimes you need to be ready to throw it out the window. It didn't sound like any of the posters here were trying to plan a minute by minute blow - it sounded more like they were trying to allow for processes and things that may pop up. I know nothing about when / why episiatomies are given - so I can't speak to that - it was the only thing that really stood out to me.
Nope, I don't have a birth plan. A detailed birth plan like this isn't going to turn out as you thought and I don't want to get attached to something I idealized in my mind, when it will be NOTHING like what I expected. I don't think its a good idea to get too attached to a birth plan.
As for the episiotomy etc. my friend told the doc that if he cut her she would sue him (she's an attorney) and she ended up ripping all the way to her anus. Just sayin. I think its hard to put stipulations on hospital staff and yourself -- whatever will be will be.
And, besides, my hospital has skin to skin contact immediately afterwards anyway as a matter of policy and absolutely no visitors allowed until the family has moved to the maternity ward and out of labour and delivery. So I am not worried about that at all. This process is minimum 2 hours before they move you.
Also, you aren't taking into account how you will feel after -- you may be too exhausted depending on how your labour goes, to even try breast feeding right away...I dunno. I am just playing by ear and winging it for the most part.
Great birth plan - I'll be borrowing the ideas here when I chat with my midwife and doula.
I'll admit to overdosing on reading about birthing practices around the world and as a result really think it is important to have your beliefs know and so that your support network can advocate you. While it's important to also be open to change if the situation requires it - I've heard a lot of horror stories (my mother included) about how women have felt bullied into choices that they didn't want and at the time didn't need. I desperately wish my community had a birth centre as I want the support they would provide without needing to go into a hospital.
mine isn't very specific, it used to be until i realized it probably won't go as i had hoped/planned. basically, i want to try to have a natural birth, but i will do anything if that means that my baby is out safe and sound.
This is what I was talking about.....this is my birth plan from #1....
I am having a RCS so mine is a little different
Hold baby as soon as possible
Baby is carried to nursery by DH for weight bath ect...
Once I am stapled up and moved to recovery baby and DH join me asap for bonding time and BFing.
No visitors until we are settled into our room
DD is our first visitor and I want her to be in the room with us by ourselves to give us a family moment.
Keep the pain meds flowing
Love it
Of course .. in my case its more - they need to let me be annoying and not say anything about it 