Community› The Bump Message Boards› 3rd Trimester
3rd Trimester
New Discussion

Opinions on birth plans?

makaelashook2makaelashook2 member
in 3rd Trimester
I'm 100% sure I'm writing a birth plan, but I'd like some opinions on if they're worth it or not.
This is my first pregnancy.
Report Reply to Post

Re: Opinions on birth plans?

  • YlvelillYlvelill member
    They seem worth it for you to think though what you would like the experience to be. As long as you realize that all or some of the plans may go out the window :)
    Report Reply
  • Loading the player...
  • oughtonkoughtonk member
    It's worth it to have an idea of what your ideal birth would consist of and have it written down, things get hectic.  You just have to go in knowing that it will most likely not be followed step by step; things happen that could stray from the plan.
    Baby Birthday Ticker Ticker


    Baby Birthday Ticker Ticker


    Image and video hosting by TinyPic Image and video hosting by TinyPic
    Report Reply
  • naturaloaklandmamanaturaloaklandmama member
    A birth plan is just a list of wishes and desires. Anything can change and the most important thing is to be adaptable. I have known so many women who desired a perfect natural birth and ended up in the hospital having a c-section. Some have beeen perfectly fine with it and others completely devastated. The lesson for me is to make a plan but to view it more as an ideal birth situation, which we can shoot for but may not necessarily happen. I am having birth in a birth center so with my midwives we have already talked out my entire birth plan so don't need one but I am creating one just in case I transfer to the hospital even though my midwives will come with me. I have heard mixed things about responses from hospital staff -- some appreciate it and some absolutely loathe it. But if nothing else, I think its a good process for you to to go through to figure out what you want out of your ideal birth, so writing it all down is probably good regardless of how it is received. 
    BabyFruit Ticker

    Report Reply
  • makaelashook2makaelashook2 member
    My sister in law is a nurse, and she supported my decision on writing on right away. But she also told me, I might get a few eye rolls from new nurses on birth plans.
    Report Reply
  • coffee89coffee89 member
    I researched everything, discussed it with DH and made sure he understood enough to advocate solo for me and the baby in the event that I can't. I don't think having it written down is going to help anything so I'm just going with things and making my wants known as they become relevant as we go along.
    BFP: July 2013 M/C August 5, 2013
    BFP: October 22, 2013 EDD: June 21, 2014
    Baby boy arrived June 23, 2014

    BFP: February 2016 EDD: October 17, 2016
    Report Reply
  • ConversationFearConversationFear member
    smhorak said:
    I researched everything, discussed it with DH and made sure he understood enough to advocate solo for me and the baby in the event that I can't. I don't think having it written down is going to help anything so I'm just going with things and making my wants known as they become relevant as we go along.
    I think this is an excellent point. DH and I are filling out a form together, so he gets a say too, but also so that he knows what I want in the event I would not be able to voice my wishes.

     

     

     

    Report Reply
  • KittyMishaKittyMisha member
    My hospital provides a checklist-style document for your birth plan.  At first I thought this was amazingly progressive of them, but I have recently realized, while filling it out, that there's no room to write in things that do not appear on the preexisting list.  Now I'm wondering whether it's a ploy to avoid having to deal with the mom's preferences on certain topics.  I'm definitely writing down the things I feel are important, just in case.
    Report Reply
  • LondonToSavannahLondonToSavannah member
    I asked my doctor about the need for a birth plan at my last appointment. I said my plan is to show up at the hospital and do what the doctors/nurses told me to do. He laughed and said that is the best and least stressful plan to have...
    Lilypie Pregnancy tickers Lilypie Second Birthday tickers
    Report Reply
  • ChrisBChrisB member
    From what I have heard from my OB and nurses, birth plans are good way to be aware of what your options are but keep in mind that your plans can fly right out the window. My birth plan was 5 lines:

    Get to hospital
    Get epidural
    Take out baby
    Go home.

    .... and administer whatever drugs are need to minimize the pain. 

    My OB laughed and said it was a good plan.

    Good luck!
    Report Reply
  • [Deleted User][Deleted User] member
    The user and all related content has been deleted.
    Report Reply
  • *sparky**sparky* member
    I did not have one for either of my deliveries but I did have an idea of how I wanted things to go. The second time I was induced and therefore felt I did not have a whole lot of say in how things went anyway.

     

    Report Reply
  • barista411barista411 member
    My MW practice provided a basic birth plan ( https://www.obgyngroup.com/uploads/2/7/6/2/27625337/birth_plan_the_group_.pdf ) to fill out that was kept in our file. It was concise and to the point. I found it very helpful. It allowed the nurses to know my wishes before I even entered L&D. It also made shift changes easier because I didn't have to go repeat myself with the each shift change.
    Report Reply
This discussion has been closed.
Choose Another Board
Search Boards
"
"