Another "Critique my plan post"

hailyf · July 2012

It's still early, but I have typed up a plan that I hope to kind of mold over the next couple of weeks.

My goal was to make it as succinct as possible - right now it is under a page (3/4? or less)

Birth Requests

Labor
I would like:

to keep the room quiet and dimly lit
to move around/change position at will.
to have fluids by mouth and to eat lightly if I feel the urge.
a hep-lock instead of a continuous IV (unless medically necessary).
to minimize the number of vaginal exams.
to progress free of stringent time limits.
to have intermittent monitoring
to exhaust all other augmentation methods before pitocin
to not be offered any pain management medication
to be assigned as nurse who is partial to natural birth (if possible)

Delivery
I would like:

to change positions at will during the pushing stage and to try a squat bar if available.
to wait until I feel the urge to push, even if fully dilated.
My partner to help catch our baby if possible
to have my baby placed on my stomach/chest immediately after delivery
to avoid an episiotomy unless absolutely necessary

After Delivery
I would like

to have my baby placed directly on my chest, skin to skin (unless emergency prevents it)
to give the umbilical cord a few moments to stop pulsating before clamping and cutting.
my husband to cut the cord once it has stopped pulsating
to breastfeed my baby immediately.
to wait on all measurements and medications (aside from visual APGAR) until after mom and dad have bonded with baby/ breastfed.
avoid supplementation and pacifiers (and only offered after consent of both parents)
to stay with mom and dad unless medically necessary

Have at it.

sschwege · July 2012

Really, really good! The bullets are great, right to the heart of the matter.

My only suggestion would be to take your Birth Plan to your OB/MW and have them look it over. I think there are certain things that can be eliminated if you knew their stance on some of your bullets. If you haven't done so already find out their position on eating/drinking, episotomies, moving around while in labor, quiet & dimmed lights etc. If you get the answer you are looking for then just remove those bullets.

Oh and one more thing, you might also write something about self-directed pushing if that's important to you (as opposed to them counting, telling you to push harder, longer, etc).

mystrana · July 2012

sschwege:
Really, really good! The bullets are great, right to the heart of the matter.
My only suggestion would be to take your Birth Plan to your OB/MW and have them look it over. I think there are certain things that can be eliminated if you knew their stance on some of your bullets. If you haven't done so already find out their position on eating/drinking, episotomies, moving around while in labor, quiet & dimmed lights etc. If you get the answer you are looking for then just remove those bullets.
Oh and one more thing, you might also write something about self-directed pushing if that's important to you (as opposed to them counting, telling you to push harder, longer, etc).

I think that sschwege basically summed up what I would say!

overtonhayes · July 2012

Hey Haily! *waves*

Looks great to me! Most birth plans I've seen posted on here have a separate page for what the MTB wishes in case a C-section becomes necessary. I would think about doing one of those, and as PPs said go over the plan with your OB, but that's about all I can suggest. You've done a great job!

Also, a stylistic thing (which you've probably already taken care of, I know it won't show up in a copy & paste): I'd suggest putting your name, DOB, and some kind of identifier (the last 4 of your social? Your patient ID, if you have one/know it?) in the header, so you know that it's on all pages and your plan won't get muddled with anyone else's.

KateLouise · July 2012

My only other thought is that I would put "to not be offered any pain management medication" higher on the list and in bold.

Everything else you can discuss or change. You don't like the lights? Well turn them down.

But once someone blurts out, "we can get you that epi now." then they can't take it back. For a lot of people the power of suggestion is very strong, so I'd make that line a bit more important looking so that it doesn't get glossed over.

But other than that, it looks great

BLuvsE · July 2012

For the labor section - a lot of that stuff is stuff you can just do. If you want the lights low, turn them down yourself (or have your partner do it). If you want to move, move. If you want to eat, eat. If you want fewer cervical checks, refuse them. If they try to give you an IV, ask why? If not medically necessary, request a saline lock (hep lock is a dated term by the way).

Also check hospital policy - you may be able to remove the "if available" "if possible" lines if you find out that something is not available or not possible.

I agree with PP that you may want a separate sheet for C-section. Also might make sense to have a separate sheet if you have to be induced. A good friend of mine was just induced because of Pre-E and had done 0 research on induction methods. As a result, she had to just do what the doctors/nurses said and regretted some of the decisions she made when she got home and actually researched the options.

Last thing - for the ones that are important to you, make cute little signs to hang. I will be putting one on the door that says "Knock Please!" and one for baby's bassinet that says "I'm a Boob Guy! Exclusively Breast Fed!" and one for behind my bed that says "I will ask for pain meds if I want them...no need to offer!" I'm also planning to bring a fruit tray or something for the nurses.

Want a personalized experience?

Another "Critique my plan post"

Re: Another &quot;Critique my plan post&quot;

Choose Another Board

Search Boards

Want a personalized experience?

Another &quot;Critique my plan post&quot;

Re: Another &amp;quot;Critique my plan post&amp;quot;

Choose Another Board

Search Boards

Another "Critique my plan post"

Re: Another "Critique my plan post"