Birth Plan?

enigmasara · May 2014

I know that I want to create a birth plan & noticed that TB has a form that you can print & fill out. I feel so lost looking at this! I feel like I have so many questions before being able to fill this out. At this point, my OB hasn't really discussed anything to do with L&D, but I'm assuming that is coming up in future appointments. I'm at 24 weeks today & have an appointment today so I guess I will ask then. I'm also assuming that some of my questions will be answered when we do our maternity ward tour, which is hopefully happening today as well.

Did you come up with your birth plan more from online research, talking to your OB, talking to friends/family that have been thru it, reading books? I want to get this taken care of soon so it's one less thing to worry about.

sarahg8r · May 2014

My hospital has a template for moms to fill out...

https://www.sacredheartemerald.org/documents/images/FBPExpectations.pdf

Valancyy · May 2014

I didn't have a birth plan with my prior pregnancies. I'm using a birth center in a hospital this time, and they meet with you to make one.

I want mine really simple. I've heard that you should keep it to one page, and make it as simple as possible. Don't put things in there that they do anyway. Bullet points are probably the way to go.

chase16 · May 2014

Here's mine:

No epidural

Poss pain medication if needed

Try not to puke.

Yup- that's about it.

Nuclearcupcake · May 2014

Mine is pretty simple and I'm not even writing it out because I did this with my vbac and it went smoothly:

No IV (unless otherwise needed but I just had a line in last time it wasn't hooked up until after baby was out, I stayed hydrated enough and wasn't GB+)
No pain meds
Wireless monitors (so I can move freely)
Labor in bath tub until time to push

Jenrileysmom · May 2014

BlinkMe182 said:

mine:
Show up- have baby

I didn't do one with #1, not making one for #2

This exactly.

Danielle0989 · May 2014

My dr asked me a few weeks ago if I had a plan in mind, and I said, "nope, just make sure the baby and I are safe and healthy." She completely understood. Maybe if we have a second child, I'll think about having a plan, but I don't want one for our first.

MandMLeona · May 2014

Different facilities have different opinions on this. I didn't feel I needed one because the birth center I chose for my birth had standard practices in line with what I wanted to happen.

If you didn't choose your facility based on their procedures and attitudes, then working through a birth plan can be a good tool for you to explore birth options, your priorities and potential situations. It can help you to determine the kinds of decisions you should be ready to make, it gives you and your support person a chance to discuss things and make sure you are on the same page, helps you identify questions you may have and helps make you aware of things you might want to research further while you still have time.

As far as whether or not to actually take a written plan to your provider or facility...that can get tricky. Some facilities encourage them and some are VERY offended by them. My birth center insisted on one. I was so happy with their SOP, that mine ended up including things like don't brew coffee near me...leave your coffee outside the room. (I gag at the smell of coffee on a good day.) With my midwife and a homebirth...we talk so much throughout the pregnancy that I don't feel a need to write anything down.

shevaCC · May 2014

My hospital provides a template for expectant mothers to fill out. I remember discussing it midway through 3rd tri last pregnancy and agree with PPs that it was helpful to consider all the various birth options. I found it much easier to complete after attending our birth prep classes since we had discussed a lot of the choices and it didn't seem so foreign.

caybeh · May 2014

I didn't have one in writing with DS. When I was admitted with him, the nurse asked what I wanted. I just said that I wanted to try to avoid a c-section if possible, but knew there are situations that might happen to warrant it. Other than that, I just went with how I was feeling in labor and what I wanted. I will do the same this time.

marathonmommy82 · May 2014

1. Get the baby out and keep both of us alive and healthy.
2. Epidural

I think it's great to have a plan/ goals but I've known women to feel like failures if they ended up with an epi or emergency C

noycela · May 2014

I made mine for #1 after a lot of reading, natural birth class, and discussions with our doula. I'll use the same one this time around. I think it's more important to have one if you want things that differ from the hospital's typical procedure -- you want them to have that in writing because you won't be in any state to remind the nurses (this is also a main reason we hire a doula as well).

Rosebean · May 2014

I would consider this: You can make a birth plan until you are blue in the face... and in the end, what will happen, happens. Prep your hospital bag and have your contact list. Know who you want in the room (though keep in mind, intense pain can change your mind in the moment if you planned on barring someone from the room). Don't have your heart set on a certain form of delivery. If you are wanting a med free, all natural birth with low lights, music and candles, there are some chance you won't get that. And that can lead to disappointment.

My advice: have an idea in your head of your preferences. Be open to suggestions, but have your SO as your advocate against the things you absolutely will not want. Take a child birth class. That helps so you know what can or may happen. Also be open to any possibility. My "plan" was to get there, labor and ask for an epi if I couldn't handle the pain anymore. Minimal intervention. Avoid c-section if possible, avoid pitocin. When we got there, I was already 8 cms dilated and learned our son was breech. So off to an emergency c-section we went. That was the highest form of intervention to get, which I would have loved to avoid. But it was safest for DS at the time. I was never disappointed about it and would never change a thing. I hope this helps

FrodaBaggins · May 2014

I used to have the gnarliest birth plan ever, all ready to go! Multiple pages, everything down to the exact detail, underlining, italics, etc. That was when I was 100% adamant about having a natural birth. I have since thrown that out and kept just a few details from it and they all fit on one page. Nothing underlined.

I decided that I didn't want to come out of my birth experience feeling disappointed in any way, if I could help it. If I could manage my own expectations somehow, I wanted to. So I decided to let go!

Now it's: Avoid induction, if possible. Minimal intervention, if possible. Be able to labor in the tub that the rooms at our hospital have. Avoid pitocin and c-section, if possible. Delayed cord clamping. Healthy baby, healthy mama.

enigmasara · May 2014

I talked to my OB about this at my appointment today. She made sure we were signed up for the hospital run labor & delivery class, which we are. She said that a lot of questions will be answered then and it will also help me come up with good questions to specifically ask her about the process. She said that their office 'protocol' follows the hospital 'protocol' and that I would only really need a birth plan if I wanted something outside of that (ie keep the placenta--which I don't want to do).

I think for me I am pickier about what happens immediately after birth than I am about what happens during labor. During labor I want whatever is necessary to keep me & baby healthy & comfortable. But after delivery I want delayed clamping, I want skin to skin contact, want to make sure they don't try formula feeding, etc.

caballablanca · May 2014

BlinkMe182 said:
mine:
Show up- have baby

I didn't do one with #1, not making one for #2

This is me, except I cried for the epidural. Plan on going this route again.

BeachM · May 2014

My hospital had a form they suggested you fill out. Brevity is stressed.

MamaBovs · May 2014

I've never made one and don't intend to for this one. Not worth stressing over IMHO.

kimberlybethh · May 2014

I made one for dd but didn't end up using it. The hospital I delivered at had a birth plan online that you could fill out and print off. Imo they really aren't necessary and may set you up for disappointment if things don't go according to plan.

lizshort96 · May 2014

After writing one that only had maybe 8 requests that I had previously reviewed with my Dr, it basically went out the window and the only thing I can that was accomplished was delayed cord clamping. It's nice to go in with a plan as it gives you a sense of control, but go in with the knowledge that those things only happen if everything is going smoothly. Your and baby's health and safety are paramount, your birth plan comes secondary. They will try to follow and honor your requests only if there are no complications. Tip: keep it simple to like a dozen key points/requests. That'll go over a lot better than walking in with a pile of papers resembling a college thesis.

momnamedandrea · May 2014

My midwife asked for one with DD and she sent it to the hospital to keep on file, when I went it they hung it up so all the nurses could know what I want. Yes ultimently I want what is safest for baby and me, but I was glad I write one. They often would say "according to your birth plan... " it was nice to know that they wanted what I wanted. I used this checklist to make mine https://www.earthmamaangelbaby.com/free-birth-plan

BostonMom2014 · May 2014

My doc recommended the template from here actually! She said to fill in the things I had opinions about already & bring it to the next appt & we'll discuss the rest.

poofwok · May 2014

TrishieTerp said:
1. Get the baby out and keep both of us alive and healthy.
2. Epidural

I think it's great to have a plan/ goals but I've known women to feel like failures if they ended up with an epi or emergency C

This.

Raclla · May 2014

I just made sure DH was on the same page as me. We talked enough about different scenarios that I felt comfortable that he could speak for me. Neither the doc nor the hospital needed or asked for a written plan.

Other than a RCS (maybe - I have no experience, just what I've read/heard), I'm not sure if there's any birth situation that goes 'by the book'. Being flexible was my focus.

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