Your Birth Plan

BrooksMommy33 · December 2015

I looked for this thread and I could not find it so correct me if I'm wrong. If not.....

What's your birth plan? STM what was your experience in the past? Medicated, non-medicated, C-section, Hospital, Home etc.

I honestly do not have a birth plan. I have more of a birth 'idea'. I want to take things as they come and see what I need at the time. My OB wants to induce me a week early because I am a high risk pregnancy so I know I will be in the hospital and most likely be receiving Pitocin. But I am super curious about a non-medicated birth because I like the idea of feeling my contractions and when to push. I have heard that if you get an epidural you feel close to paralyzed from the waist down and it makes it harder to feel when you need to push. If anyone has any experience on non-medicated birth I would definitely like to hear your story! I'm a FTM and I know most things never go as planned, but I would like to have an idea about all birth plans.

kynbar5 · December 2015

I've had pitocin and an epidural at all of my births. I've still known when to push and could always feel the pressure just no real pain except with my first (the epidural wore off). My only birth plan has just been to have a healthy baby. I completely trust my OB so I've just followed his cues.

parenthood4 · December 2015

I think you're on the right track with having a birth idea versus a birth plan. My birth plan is basically that I don't want any medical intervention unless it is medically necessary.

I had an epidural with my first, and couldn't feel anything, couldn't tell when to push at all. It's different for different people, but that was my experience.

I went med free with my second, and it was a really great experience. I plan and hope to do the same thing again this time. My labors have been fairly quick (5.5 hours each), so I think it would be much harder to go med free with a longer labor! Kudos to those who do it! It was only really painful for the last hour, going from 8-10 cm. Before that it felt very manageable. I pushed a couple of times, and out she came, no tearing. Every birth is different though, so you never know!

I've never had pitocin, so I don't have experience with that. I plan to look into hypnobirthing this time, mainly the book and DVDs instead of classes, because I'd like to be a little more focused this time during labor. I definitely felt a little out of control at times. But I loved the experience and hope that this one goes as well.

skruhmin · December 2015

Ds1 I went med free (except for tiny hit of pitocin). DS2 I tried to go med free but had to have a lot of pitocin due to a big stall. I also ended up with an epidural the last hour and while I did not feel ctx, I felt when u had to push (and extreme pressure on each ctx). This time I'm going to go as long as possible without meds but I'm not afraid to get them.

Mcbb224 · December 2015

I don't want to disappoint myself by saying I'm doing all natural then when it comes time that I can't handle it and have to get the epidural. I will trust my doctor and my body. I am reading articles and books about it all.

Lisa6083 · December 2015

I had pitocin, and an epidural with the first. They let a trainee do the epidural and they beeped it up. I felt almost everything, and had a headache that lasted for weeks after the birth. I researched it, and I think they punctured the wrong area. This time, I am insisting on someone that has been there for a long time doing it, hopefully correctly.

BrooksMommy33 · December 2015

@Mcbb224 I completely agree that's why I'm trying to get as much information as possible.

I definitely won't be mad at myself if I need to get an epidural or even a C-section. I truly just want a healthy baby no matter the process, but I would like to educate myself on all of the options/procedures just so I know

MrsLeanMeanClean · December 2015

Mine is a list of preferences and def NO.... don't like epidural, dont like higher level pain meds etc....

Avoid episiotomy/c-section if possible as I would like a vagina birth and also am allergic to stitches (makes for a fun recovery)

J234 · December 2015

1st birth... long story but.. planned for natural, med-free, while open to the possibility for an epidural. Ended up with an emergency c-section, 10 days past my due date and a 2-week NICU stay for meconium. Despite all that and a serious push from the NICU nurses to supplement with formula (I was pumping,) my oldest went on to nurse like a champ until 11 months old.

2nd birth... hope to get the baby out safely, with no complications for baby or mom and no visits to the NICU.

Tips: It's good to know about ALL your options beforehand no matter what you actually prefer. It's hard to know what will come up while you are in labor. Read all the happy birth stories.

blueeyedrose86 · December 2015

My birth plan is the same as last time: just leave me alone and let my body do its thang. Intermittent monitoring is about all the intervention that I'm okay with. It worked well last time and I'm hoping for the same this time. It's a different hospital, so I don't yet know how okay they will be with it, but I'm not afraid to stand my ground if I need to.

FutureMrsCaesar · December 2015

I've had epidurals with all 3 of mine. The first was a typical long first labor, 15 hrs including 1.5 of pushing (way harder than you think). And I definitely couldn't have done that delivery without one, however to help me push my ob pretty much cut off my epidural when I was nearing 10 cm (they didn't remove the epidural, she just told me no more pushing the button, although I think I snuck one more 'hit'). So keep in mind that just because you end up with the epidural doesn't mean you are totally out of control of the situation. My 2nd labor was super fast and pretty easy, honestly I got the epidural just because I wasn't mentally prepared to go without it and when I got to the hospital it was a 'get it now or you won't have time to get it' situation. I think I could have done it med free though, I was 9.5cm when they checked me after the epidural and he came out in 3 pushes

Third baby I had more mentally prepared to go med free, however the contractions were insanely painful from the beginning for some reason and I made it to 7cm before I caved and got it. The anesthesiologist took forever to get to me and boy was I glad to see him when he finally did! I think you'll just 'know', but it's definitely good to be prepared for all situations!

amaniupendo · December 2015

Go to hospital

Listen to midwives/doctors/nurses

Probably get epidural (loved it last time and could tell when I was contracting when I wasn't sleeping)

Have baby

lindscnn1 · December 2015

My birth plan is based on hope. I hope I make it to the hospital in time and I hope my husband is here when I go into labor. Other than that I don't want an epidural, episiotomy or pain meds. But if they give me pitocin I will not play around, I will get the epidural then. My 2 induced births were the most painful and long of the 4. But I have had enough babies to know that what I want now can change at D-day!

mb0112 · December 2015

FTM and *think* I want med-free but worried about being able to handle it mentally since I will be in a hospital and know that meds are readily available. I honestly think I fear the needle and the effects of meds more than I fear the pain though.

For my birth classes I'm going to take the class focused on natural birth that also briefly covers interventions, since you never know!

skruhmin · December 2015

mb0112 said:
FTM and *think* I want med-free but worried about being able to handle it mentally since I will be in a hospital and know that meds are readily available. I honestly think I fear the needle and the effects of meds more than I fear the pain though.

For my birth classes I'm going to take the class focused on natural birth that also briefly covers interventions, since you never know!

If you want to try, you have to know it's possible for you to be successful. Your body is so capable. It's all a mindset.

rosieschmozie · December 2015

I am considered high risk due to auto-imune diseases, but I would like to have a birth that is as close as natural as is safe for baby. My ob wants to induce me, but I yet have to get a clear answer on why they want that. Because it's easier for THEM or actually medically necessary. Other than that; I can relate to the Birth Idea. I know I want no one else in the room but my partner and med staff and if they have a pool available, I will try that. The only thing I'm scared of is an epidural, so my partners job is to chase anyone out of the room that speaks the word. But I am also completely aware that anything I want now, can flip 180 when I am in actual labour. A healthy baby is the goal, not the perfect birthing experience. So, I'm just gonna go with the flow!

mb0112 · December 2015

skruhmin said:

mb0112 said:
FTM and *think* I want med-free but worried about being able to handle it mentally since I will be in a hospital and know that meds are readily available. I honestly think I fear the needle and the effects of meds more than I fear the pain though.

For my birth classes I'm going to take the class focused on natural birth that also briefly covers interventions, since you never know!
If you want to try, you have to know it's possible for you to be successful. Your body is so capable. It's all a mindset.

Thanks! I agree and just hope for no complications. The natural birth class will be helpful for my husband too because to his circle of friends and family, epidurals are the "normal" way to go and at first he couldn't see why I'd want med-free. He is supportive but will need to understand what to expect and how to help!

smount2011 · December 2015

Right now I don't have much of one- we are hoping that we dont need a c-section but once we find out we will plan. So for now all I would like is a doctor in the room. I didn't have one for DD. And the nurse was chatting it up with my mother (they were neighbors) when dd shot out of me and landed on the bed. I would like to have a doctor be there to CATCH my baby!

2goofykids · December 2015

For now, the plan is to go in and see how far I can go without meds. I don't particularly want an epidural, and honestly hope I can manage just with what they can give me as a shot.

But that all may change with my new OB, since baby is so big I'm a little worried they may need to induce or schedule a c-section. Whatever is best and safest for my baby!

Stormiewinter · December 2015

They don't allow vbacs where I live so my birth plan is to hopefully make it to my scheduled c section. I had to be induced at 36 weeks wth ds and we had an emergency c section before I was in active labor due to his cord being wrapped twice around his neck. Since I had severe pre e with ds, having a full term baby would be best case scenarios. that being said if all goes well I hope to be able to nurse baby right away and I will insist on pumping and no bottles if baby needs supplementation for some reason after birth.

hellomylittleone · December 2015

mb0112 said:
FTM and *think* I want med-free but worried about being able to handle it mentally since I will be in a hospital and know that meds are readily available. I honestly think I fear the needle and the effects of meds more than I fear the pain though.

For my birth classes I'm going to take the class focused on natural birth that also briefly covers interventions, since you never know!

I fear the needles more than I fear the pain too! And hopefully without any complications on D-Day, I'll be able to go natural as well.
I believe it's a mindset thing.

I suffer from a chronic pain disease, so I'm hoping my experience with that will help me through delivery.
The idea of a pool is really appealing to me. I'm also hoping that there will be one available at the hospital for me.

Otherwise, no plan or idea really. I trust my midwife and any doctors who will be there to help me, as well as my husbands support.
At the end of the day, all that matters is a healthy little Bub

cmerribury · December 2015

The same as last time. Go into labor, go to hospital, beg first person I see for epidural and keep going until someone pokes me in the spine with a needle, listen to my OB, have baby.

Who knows what will happen though.

jmathi0149 · December 2015

cmerribury said:
The same as last time. Go into labor, go to hospital, beg first person I see for epidural and keep going until someone pokes me in the spine with a needle, listen to my OB, have baby.

Who knows what will happen though.

This exactly.

flowerpower5838 · December 2015

Birth "plan" is to do it med-free. DH laughs every time I mention this - not because he is an asshole but because he knows me. I have a plan, but my plan also includes allowances for change depending on how everything is going. Doing lots of research/reading on different methods to help with pain-free but also making sure that I am well educated in other possibilities as well.

MNGrl24 · December 2015

We're also not writing a "plan", or even taking birthing classes for that matter. We've been educating ourselves on our options, but mostly we just really trust our doctor and know that labor is totally unpredictable. I have no idea how my body will react, but I'm open to anything that will get a healthy baby out and plan to take it as it comes!

Melodyags · December 2015

I have to have a csection this time around so I don't have really any options. But this is what I got. Already scheduled Feb 8 8 AM. My doctor says no one can come in OR with me and may have a bit longer than usual hospital stay. Unless more issues come up.My mother is a retired nurse so coming to stay with me for a few days to a week after I get home.
With my other 3 the first I had an epideral. The other 2 I did not. Both deliveries were quicker and I physically felt better after and was up and moving within 45 minutes without it. In the room my doctor, nurses, ds and my mother.
I also did not take birthing classes with any of them.

kyraaD · December 2015

also a FTM so i have no idea what to expect. from what I've been reading on this forum, birth plans hardly every go as, well, planned. i dont think I'm really going to plan anything out at all, apart from getting to the hospital & having a healthy little boy. i also want to try med-free, but i have a feeling I'll eventually cave & get the epidural. I'm really not good with pain..

as long as me & DS come out of this in good shape, I'll be happy. my own mom almosy bled to death after i was born, so I'm honestly terrified of giving birth

elle313 · December 2015

My first birth was a vaginal birth in the hospital, not induced, and I had an epidural ASAP. I plan to do the same this time around, if possible. The only other specifications I'm going to make about the birth is that I'd like my baby placed right on my chest this time (last time they cleaned baby first) and I'd like to delay cord clamping for a few minutes because I've read it helps with baby's iron levels. I'm impressed by anyone who chooses a natural birth but I LOVED my epidural last time and feel confident that it's the right choice for me to do again.

meganmarie1087 · December 2015

Birth plan went out the window with my first delivery. This time around the goal is to have a healthy baby and go with the flow.

Katherine8908 · December 2015

If you are getting induced and having pitocin do yourself a favor and just get the epidural. I had one and mine wore off too soon and the pain was unbearable they fixed it and turned it off when it was time to push and I could definitely feel when I needed to what was needed.

meganmarie1087 · December 2015

Based on the comments in this thread, I think it is quite apparent that birth plans rarely go as planned. You can take hours of birthing classes, but you will never fully be prepared. If I can give any advice to those FTM's out there, I would recommend that you not take it to heart if your birth does not go according to plan. I ended up having a C section after my labor failed to progress. I was really hard on myself and I felt like a failure for having to have a C section. Honestly, I cried about it for days. If I could go back with what I know now and have experienced this past year, I would react completely differently. In the end, all that matters is that your baby is alive, healthy and happy .. no matter how they enter this world.

ceds07 · December 2015

Exactly @meganmarie1087. I don't think I've ever heard of anyone saying "I had a birth plan written and everything went exactly as I planned!".

With my first I had no plan but DH and I had talked about what I thought it was important for him to know (a C section was my last resort, I was completely noncommittal on meds so if I asked for them just get the doc, etc.). Going into it I thought for SURE an episiotomy was the second to last thing I wanted but honestly the doc did it before I knew what was happening, I only pushed four times and there was DD. I really don't know what the difference was or wasn't and I sure wouldn't object to one again if it meant getting DD out safely and quickly.

I've heard horror stories about the second coming so quickly that people barely make it to the hospital - with this one, my only 'plan' is to make sure I get to the hospital in time to get an epidural haha.

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