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February 2013 Moms
a13049
member
Birth Plans
a13049
member
I was originally under the impression that the birth plans were really for mothers who were giving natural births and since I am more comfortable with an epidural wasn't really aware of all my options...Now after some research I am seeing there are still alot of things to be decided and was curious what are some of the areas you are putting in your birthplan or just planning on sticking too when you go in? Can you give me some background on why you have choosen that path?
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Re: Birth Plans
When I gave birth in the hospital I had a birth plan, but I was also having a NB. But aside from my natural birth preferences, it was important that my MW and nurses were on the same page about what I wanted to be done with my baby after the birth (eye goop? Vit K? cord cutting? immediate nursing? formula? pacis?).
Now, everything that was in my birth plan was basically ignored and they ended up giving me routine pitocin for my placenta even though I didn't want it (and without telling me) and my baby was given a paci despite me telling them not to, but whatever. Needless to say, I chose to have the next baby at home.
Things to consider in your birth plan -
What intervention are you comfortable with? What are your pain relief preferences? Are you comfortable with an episiotomy? Do you want a mirror while pushing? Do you want to try to push in different positions? In the event of a c/s, who do you want there with you? Do you want baby to stay with you while they sew you up, if possible?
Even if you never give this plan to your doctors or nurses, I think it's important for you and your partner to make decisions about these things prior to the birth just in case they come up and then ask your doc what they are willing to do at your prenatal visits. You'd hate to be surprised with a c/s and really want your mother there with your DH too and then all of a sudden be told that she can't come. At least you can go into it knowing the expectations.
1. No episiotimy sp?
2. No mirror i regret this one now, and will request it this time
3. Labor naturally as long as possible.
That's really all I can remember. I think the most important part is to really talk to your doctor about what you want and make sure you are on the same page.
Diagnosed w/ Endo 9/18/09
On continuous BC until April 2010
Make a pregnancy ticker</div
DS1: Quinn - 10.22.10 and DS2: Cole - 01.18.13
I had done one in advance because of the class I took, and I was glad I did because they asked for one before they induced me.
I knew I wanted to breastfeed, so to me, besides having the baby in the room with me at all times and not in the nursery (unless the baby was being tested for something) my most important things to tell them were that the baby was not to get formula or a bottle at any time (unless medically necessary for some reason) and that the baby was not to have a pacifier. These two things can complicate breastfeeding (I learned this in my BF class). Worked like a charm! They followed my plan, and luckily for me, the baby was nursing fine immediately without any issues.
I didn?t have one and don?t put much store in them tbh.
In most aspects of my life I?m a control freak, hate surprises and try to plan as much as I can get away with. However for the birth of DS I wasn?t willing to risk having the stress and associated feelings of dissapointment and or of failure if "My Birth Plan" didn?t work out, which was just as well!
It?s pretty obvious to most anyone that anything can and often does happen during L&D. So I think as a PP said - as long as the end goal of a healthy baby and mother - is kept paramount, then I?m sure eveything else will fall into place.
Any really strong feelings ref painkillers, an episiotomy, skin to skin, etc shld be gone over with your birth partner so they can advocate for you. A few bullet points - say 5 or 6 should be enough, but huge detailed plan just isnt realistic.
When push comes to shove! Mother Nature won?t be told what to do
I was planning on going natural the first time, but ended up with a 17 hour, dry, back labor, so I had the epidural. My birth plan was still useful though. Here are some key points:
No episiotimy (sp?)
Baby directly to mother unless there is a problem
Delayed eye ointment & vitamin k shot until after BFing attempt
In case of c-section: stitch to allow for future VBAC, father goes with baby while I recover
This time I will add allow eating and drinking during labor to my birth plan. I had a long labor and vomited a lot during the labor. I was starving by the time I got to recovery and it was 5am so it took forever to get food to my room.
For #2 I was much better prepared about what I wanted and didn't want, so one of the first things I said when I got to L and D was " I'm not sure the proper time to discuss this but I just wanted to say I would like an epidural...it doesn't hurt yet, but I want one, and if at all possible I'd like to avoid an episiotomy." Anything else was negotable for me.
Actually it all was negotiable it if was medically necessary, but my decision came from my experience with my first. Super painful, no epidural because the nurses said it was too late to get one (I was dialated at 7 upon arrival) and I ended up getting an episiotomy that time, which sucked.
At one time I was intrigued with L and D nursing, but I think that was just because I was pregnant during nursing school. I think it takes a special person to work L and D. I wonder if I'd have the patience. It's difficult when someone needs a life saving procedure and because they don't understand the ramifications of not doing it they refuse. This is my first birth as a nurse and I plan to let the L and D nurses guide me, I work in ER, I don't see or deal with much of what they deal with(we only get preggo people before 20 wks). I'll let their expertise guide me.
At one time I was intrigued with L and D nursing, but I think that was just because I was pregnant during nursing school. I think it takes a special person to work L and D. I wonder if I'd have the patience. It's difficult when someone needs a life saving procedure and because they don't understand the ramifications of not doing it they refuse. This is my first birth as a nurse and I plan to let the L and D nurses guide me, I work in ER, I don't see or deal with much of what they deal with(we only get preggo people before 20 wks). I'll let their expertise guide me.
Ditto. My friend is a nursing student and recently did her L&D rounds. After hearing the stories it made me glad to be having another homebirth. She said the nurses would get the birth plans, take them back and roll their eyes together at them. What a shame that we have come to this - where mothers wishes are mocked and ignored. This made my friend decide to switch to L&D nursing in the hopes that she can be a voice for those mothers whose wishes aren't being respected.
Most of the items on my birth plan went out the window. I won't give birth in a hospital again.
That said, it is good to have one. It's good to visualize how you want things to go and be ready to advocate for what you know is best. There are many, many decisions beyond just epi or no epi.
growing a foosa