For those still working on your birth plan

QOTR · February 2014

Here is a helpful template we can borrow from.

https://www.mcsweeneys.net/articles/jamie-and-jeffs-birth-plan

Mimaloo · February 2014

Ha - my OB rolled her eyes when I brought up a birth plan and pretty much told me that they're garbage. Having my records sent to a new practice today.

ETA: didn't realize the link was a funny one. But either way, I'd still like my preferences known respected by my doctor.

ykristos · February 2014

Mimaloo said:

Ha - my OB rolled her eyes when I brought up a birth plan and pretty much told me that they're garbage. Having my records sent to a new practice today.

Thanks for posting this - hopefully the new practice will actually talk to me about it.

That's obnoxious. Glad you're looking for a new practice.

spacepotatoes · February 2014

I think birth plans get a bad rap from people like the ones that McSweeney's is mocking. They don't have to be that detailed and complicated, and realistically, shouldn't be. But they also shouldn't be dismissed outright by doctors. It's a great thing to know what your options and preferences are and to make doctors aware of them.

83edwards · February 2014

I need a real template....where can I get one?

QOTR · February 2014

kitchencolors said:

I think birth plans can be very valuable and useful. My OB gave me a template as part of my hospital check in forms. They don't have to be a joke.

To clarify, I didn't mean to imply that birth plans are a joke. I plan on having some form of one to facilitate discussion of options with my OB. I just thought this extreme (obviously fictional) example was funny.

danabsd · February 2014

@83edwards said:

I need a real template....where can I get one?

I used this one: https://www.earthmamaangelbaby.com/free-birth-plan

I think it does a nice job.

OP, Ive seen that before and I thought it was entertaining but next time I would make it clear you are posting a joke.

QOTR · February 2014

@mimaloo - I'm sorry you had a bad reaction from your OB. Good luck with your new practice. At my last appointment, my OB brought up the subject of birth plans and doulas. I didn't anticipate that she'd have any resistance, but it was nice that she instigated the conversation and let me know they were cool with both.

RedInLove · February 2014

My OB's office is good about bringing up a new topic at each visit, especially if she can segue off of something I said. I told her I'm scheduled for a Lamaze class this weekend, so she asked me what I had in mind for pain management during labor and delivery. I told her I feel I will want an epidural, and we talked about that and about how the techniques I will learn in Lamaze can help with pain management at their appropriate times. As I think about it now, all of this factors in to them learning what my birth plan really is, without me even thinking about writing one out or going into detail. I hadn't thought of writing out an actual document but I do know there's a chance that my delivering OB won't be my OB (there's a group of them that rotate on-call coverage together) so it might be a good idea to have all of these topics on one document vs. scattered throughout my records.

pearl802 · February 2014

This is hilarious, thanks for posting!

LeeLee86 · February 2014

@QOTR I think it's hilarious and I love that you read McSweeneys. Dave Eggers is amazing.

sisterjanet · February 2014

My issue is, if this birth lasts long enough for two shift changes to happen, how do I make sure the people who are actually there when I deliver know what I want? (must remember to ask at my next appointment)

NorthernGal248 · February 2014

I've read that birth plan before and really did enjoy it! I'll be bring a birth plan guide with me to my next appt so that we can discuss what I want and what I do not want to happen. However, if ANYTHING puts my baby or me in harms way I want the doctor to do whatever is needed.

ajsweeton · February 2014

I really wish I could have a birth plan, but I know that my birth experience will be nothing like what I would prefer. I'm too high risk with twins too boot so I'm pretty much at the mercy of the doctors. I do have an app (baby bump) to keep track of the things I will be able to control in certain situations (delayed cord clamping etc.) but I know that everything is kind of up in the air and I won't know which direction my labor/birth will go until we get closer.

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For those still working on your birth plan

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