Birth Plan

JuneBug86 · July 2013

For a while now I've been saving threads on this board when people post their birth plans by clicking "Watch This Thread" so that when it came time to write my birth plan I could go through them for ideas and to make sure I wasn't forgetting anything.

Well, I go to the place in my profile where my list of threads I'm watching should be, but I guess the bump is being ridiculous and it just takes me to a list of nest boards and my threads are gone.

Anyone want to help me out and share your birth plans so I can get some ideas for my own?

skio · July 2013

That sucks! Silly bump. I haven't even bothered to try changing my ticker because that never works, either.

Anywho, my birth plan for this most recent birth was sort of as follows:

During labor: Calm, dim room, door closed, minimal monitoring, sound off on monitors when they have to be on, do not break my water, minimal cervical checks, heplock only [no IV], do not talk to me about pain, let me labor in all positions/shower/tub, let me walk, music as needed, water/snacks as needed.

During birthing: Allow me to be the one who initiates pushing, no coached pushing, no episiotomy barring medical necessity, allow perineal massage and/or hot compresses to prevent tearing as needed, do not pull baby out, do not rub or suction baby until she's completely birthed.

Baby care/post birth: Immediate skin to skin with me unless there is a medical need for her to go elsewhere, no rubbing or unnecessary suction, delay cord clamping, no cord traction, allow placenta to be birthed naturally, delay vitamin k and eye goop and when it's done she should be in mom's arms, no bath for 24 hours.

tokenhoser · July 2013

Thank you for allowing us to summarize our desires for the birth of our first child. We have decided to have a doula present to assist us in staying relaxed and comfortable. Following are a number of items listed that if at all possible, we would like to accomplish with your help.

1. If I go past my due date and baby and I are doing fine, I prefer to go into labour
naturally rather than be induced. If induction becomes necessary, I would prefer to try natural induction methods or having my membranes stripped.

2. I prefer to have internal exams conducted by the same person each time (as shift changes allow).

3. We would like the absolute minimum of time attached to monitoring, I would like to be monitored using a Doppler as much as possible.

5. Please offer me pain medications only if I ask for them.

6. During labor, we would like the ability to:
o walk freely,
o use the shower and labor tub,
o change positions throughout,
o have access to clear liquids,
o have a quiet and encouraging environment, and
o avoid an IV, if possible I would like a saline lock instead in case it is needed.

7. If I can feel the urge to push, I would like to push at my own pace (MotherDirected Pushing).

8. I prefer not to have an episiotomy, but would rather tear.

9. If labor or delivery seems stalled, we would like the opportunity to try different positions (hands and knees, squatting, birth ball, etc.)

10. If possible please allow the shoulders and body of my baby to be born spontaneously, on their own.

11. No stirrups please unless I?m having a medical emergency or I ask for them.

12. We would like to not have the cord cut right away; we would like it to pulse for at least 2 minutes.

13. We would like the baby to be placed on the mother's chest immediately after
birth in order to "bond" and nurse. We would like to have as much time with our
baby as we choose before baby is taken for routine procedures.

14. If a C-Section is not an emergency, please give us time alone to think about it before asking for our written consent.

CLLDLL · July 2013

I started mine by thanking the nurses and staff for taking care of our growing family. I went on to say that while I trust the training of the staff and my Dr. very much, there are a few preferences for our birth that I would like to have honored. Our family's overall goal is a birth that ends with a happy healthy mom and baby, preferably pain-med free and with as few medical interventions as possible.

During labor - intermitted monitoring rather than internal or continuous monitoring, no IV fluids, hep-lock OK if hospital required, minimal cervical checks, pefer to be allowed to walk and move as I felt necessary, do no rupture my membranes, light snacks and water, allow me to use the restroom rather than placing a catheter, no un-necessary staff in the room during labor

During birth - no forceps or other intervention unless Dr. sees it as medically necessary, allow me to tear rather than doing an episiotomy, let me determine when and how pushing occurs rather than coaching me, if possible - let me push in the position that feels most natural, allow cord to stop pulsing before cutting, allow my husband to cut the cord

Post-birth - place baby on my chest immediately - all checks can be performed there, delay vitamin K and anti-biotic drops until after first breastfeeding, allow first breastfeeding within one hour of birth, let husband and/or I attend the first bath, no Hep B vaccine (this was given at Dr. office at 2 week appointment), baby rooms-in with mom and is only brought to nursery for necessary newborn screenings, big brother and dad are allowed to visit whenever they want - other family only during visiting hours

Ladymaria · July 2013

I am working on my birth plan as well; I am making sure to add things such as we want the father to catch the baby. I am planning a natural home, water birth, but I am also adding stuff in just in case we should happen to have to go to hospital. I want to be able to birth in any position I want to (not laying down) allow me to tear naturally, allow the placenta to birth on its own, allow the pulsing of the cord to stop/or after the birth of the placenta before the cord is cut, allow me to eat or drink, who all I want in the room with me. I want my placenta to go to my Doula for capsuling. no medical interventions unless needed/consult my midwife first please. please explain as much to be as possible before doing it. Skin to skin contact while my placenta is being birthed.

Sorry this is kind of all over the place, like I said I am working on mine as well but these are some key points I want to make sure is in my plan. I know I have more to add.... good luck! hope some of this helps.

JuneBug86 · July 2013

Thanks so much everyone!

JCWhitey · July 2013

I can share mine but it's a little ridiculous and I did that on purpose. Basically I wrote it up after reading an article about what nurses think of birth plans and how ridiculous they are. A lot said they don't bother reading them or just basically put them in the chart and ignore them, so I thought I'd at least make mine entertaining to read.

Also, I include a lot of "if possible" and "as long as I can" sorts of things. No absolutes as far as labor and deliver goes because anything can happen and I want to be flexible. There are a few things that are really important to me, like my husband being the one to announce the sex of the baby, skin to skin and breastfeeding (but, again, added "if possible" on there), and then giving permission to do an emergency transfer if needed using whatever means possible. I also included that we are Catholic and should anything happen to call a priest immediately. That's one I don't see in birth plans very often but probably the most important thing on mine.

So like I said, I wrote it to be kind of funny and ridiculous on purpose, with the key things put in there. I did it so they'll read it and hopefully at least be a little entertained and maybe want to help me with my ideal birth more. We'll see.

Birth Plan. Yes, this is a link to my blog. It's a link to my blog because that's where I've shared my birth plan. You don't have to read any other parts of my blog, I'll understand!

rooftop · July 2013

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? I will be using self hypnosis to manage my birthing time. Because of the high level of concentration, I request low lights and quiet voices.

? Since I will be under hypnosis and highly suggestible, please never tell me what I will feel.

? I will be accompanied by my husband and my sister as support.

? I would like the opportunity to have my birthing filmed by my support people.

? I would like to eat and drink as I feel necessary during my birthing time.

? Please offer me water between birthing waves.

? I would prefer minimal monitoring of baby?s heartbeat(IFM)

? I do not want my water broken for me (AROM)

? I would appreciate minimal cervical exams or none, if possible (use of natal cleft line attempted) If I am examined I would prefer not to be told my status, however you may inform my birth partner.

? I would like all pushing to be mother directed

? I would appreciate the use of counter pressure or perineal massage to avoid tearing. I do not want an episiotomy unless I begin to tear into the peri-urethral area. Otherwise, I prefer to tear than be cut.

? I would like to labor and deliver in the tub unless elsewhere seems more comfortable for me at that time.

? I would like my husband in the tub with me and allowed to ?catch? our baby.

? Please do not clamp or cut the cord until it has stopped pulsing.

? I prefer to deliver the placenta naturally. Please do not ?help? it detach.

? I want immediate skin to skin contact and the opportunity to breastfeed as soon as possible. If I am not available please leave baby with the dad for skin to skin.

? I will accept the vitamin K shot and erythromycin. However, if it requires removing the child from my chest please wait until we have had sufficient time to bond.

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kellyk17 · July 2013

This is so helpful, thanks so much!

mandy522 · July 2013

These all seem like good examples, but I do want to say one tip our bradley instructor shared that my L&D nurse agreed with was to keep it to 1 page, in a readable font, and use bullets to highlight your actual birth wishes. Your nurse should be able to glance at it, get the gist, and move on in about 2 minutes. Nurses are busy, and they have a lot to do, and if you ask for too many things, the important stuff will get lost. In fact, our coach strongly urged us to stick only to medical things - that's the stuff they care about. DH should be in charge of the rest (e.g, keeping the room quiet and lights dimmed. Medical staff isn't going to reference your birth plan before they walk into the room to see if you want them to keep their voices down, so it's kind of a waste to include it anyway).

JCWhitey · July 2013

mandy522:
These all seem like good examples, but I do want to say one tip our bradley instructor shared that my L&D nurse agreed with was to keep it to 1 page, in a readable font, and use bullets to highlight your actual birth wishes. Your nurse should be able to glance at it, get the gist, and move on in about 2 minutes. Nurses are busy, and they have a lot to do, and if you ask for too many things, the important stuff will get lost. In fact, our coach strongly urged us to stick only to medical things - that's the stuff they care about. DH should be in charge of the rest (e.g, keeping the room quiet and lights dimmed. Medical staff isn't going to reference your birth plan before they walk into the room to see if you want them to keep their voices down, so it's kind of a waste to include it anyway).

I think this might largely depend on the hospital. My doctor told me to include EVERYTHING I could think of, but the hospital I'm birthing at is small with only 3 birthing roomsbut still three nurses on staff at any given time... and usually the birthing rooms are empty or only one or two are being used, rarely all three. So they have a lot of time. They also send our birth plans to them ahead of time to read over and make notes about. My doctor actually said when the nurses get bored there they read birth plans so to make it entertaining.

tokenhoser · July 2013

I might get around to editing a "hospital" birth plan vs. my big one I posted, but I think one that has EVERYTHING is what you want to take to your doctor to discuss.

My doctor pretty much said "yes, most of this is standard for us now" - I still want to talk about it and keep my wishes clear.

treehugginbride · July 2013

I have an OB with about 10 or so Drs so the last one I talked to actually encouraged me to write a 1 page bullet point birth plan (that i've titled 'birth preferences' which seems more appropriate) At the top I have my full name, my partners name, and the due date. Then I have a two sentence intro that reads "Thank you so much for being here as a part of the birth of our first baby! I'm planning on having as natural a birth as possible, and I hope this list will help you to understand my wishes!"

then "I'd like to request the following:" with about 15-20 bullets that include not to offer meds (that i will ask if need them), please discuss any medical interventions that become necessary, freedom to move (which means hep-lock instead of IV), intermittent fetal monitoring, permission to drink water instead of hydrating via IV, delivering in any comfortable position, use of the squat bar, no pitocin, SO wants to cut the cord, 30-45 minutes to try and birth the placenta unassisted, we remain with baby at all times and I think a few other notes. Then I made it the biggest font it can be and still only be one page. Bolded and underlined a few things.

Hopefully it will be more help than not since there is a chance my OB will be one that I still haven't met yet..

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