Let's talk birth plans!

AmMcc12 · June 2016

We can plan all we want, but we all know that babies come when they want and could care less about your well thought out plan. With that being said, what is your birth plan? Environment? Medication? No medication? Newborn care?

AnnaS930 · June 2016

So.. First and foremost, my plan is to do whatever necessary to have the healthiest baby possible. I really don't picture myself as someone who would mourn not having the birth I pictured, because I try not to picture such an unknown too much.

My plan: Stay home for a bit longer. Last time I went in pretty early in the day, thinking they'd send me home (I was scheduled for an induction the next day and had accepted that was the only way baby was coming). Baby was born 12 hours later - so perhaps I shouldn't delay TOO much, in case this is quicker.

Other than that just going to take labor as it comes. Last time I just walked laps for hours and had some counter pressure from the nurse/my husband during the stronger contractions. I received 1 or 2 doses of nubain for the pain and would definitely do that again to get through the thick of it.

No big plans for after birth. We did skin to skin right away last time for as long as I wanted, then they did the weighing/clean up/etc. It's all a bit of a blur, so whatever works for me.

618mom22boys · June 2016

My plan is simple, to have a repeat c/s. If possible I'd like to nurse as soon as she is born.

0SeaMonkey0 · June 2016

I'm lucky because with the midwives most of the things that are really important to me like minimal interventions, skin to skin, holding baby after birth etc are their standard practice anyway so I don't have to fight for them. Also, our hospital does "rooming in" for all new babies and moms so I don't have to worry about my baby being taken to a nursery and given formula, soothers etc without my consent.

I'll be honest, I've looked at a lot of birth plan templates and I think a lot of them are either silly or potentially even harmful! I 100% think that we should go in knowing our values around birth, in writing if needed, but Every birth birth plan I've seen gets into a lot of specifics. I looked at one the other day that asked questions like "how would you like to spend you time in early labour? a) standing, b) lying down, c) in a bath tub" etc. How are we supposed to know that?? I don't think it's smart to approach labour with exact expectations. Learn as much as you can and have strategies ready but do whatever feels right at the time.

So my birth plan is basically to go with the flow but there are a few things I will probably do differently this time. Last time when I was admitted to hospital my midwife offered to break my water which I thought was a great idea at the time. I was 6cm dialated but my contractions were still short and fairly mild so I thought it would get things going and I'd see my baby sooner. Instead my labour stalled and my contractions almost stopped. This time I'll probably go with absolutely no interventions at first and just see if there's a difference but I'll still be open to all options and advice!

mrsvoorhees-2 · June 2016

I plan to labor longer before getting the epidural. It relaxes me too much last time and slowed my contractions. I would like to get a little further this time before requesting. I didn't feel like I needed it last time when I got it, I was just scared of pushing without it.

I also plan plan to delay cord clamping. I planned it last time but told my doctor that I trust her decisions and if she feels she needs to cut it, go for it. We weren't able to do it last time because DD had a dangerously high heart rate so she wanted her evaluated quickly. She was fine.

Our hospital already does skin to skin for 4 hours after birth, so that was my plan anyway. I will probably try to nurse earlier, last time I didn't know what I was doing so I waited for them to tell me to. This time I feel comfortable just doing it right away.

Besides that, I don't have a ton of things I want. Just hoping to not have a c section, not for any other reason but fear of surgery.

PSUBecky23 · June 2016

My birth plan circa March 2013. Nothing crazy. Basically leave me alone, I don't want meds, and let's have a baby.

To: My OB and Hospital Staff
From: Me

We have chosen to give birth at the labor and delivery unit of Hospital because of their outstanding facility and great staff. We are requesting your help to attain our goals and have a happy, healthy birth. In the event of complications, we will give our full cooperation after an informed discussion with the doctor and private consideration between mother and father.

First Stage of Labor:

I would like to have my birthing ball and request to have showers for pain relief when desired.
If IV is deemed necessary, please use a heparin lock so that I can move around and walk as needed.
Please no fetal monitoring unless emergency arises.
I would prefer as few vaginal exams as possible – when I arrive at the hospital and when I’m ready to push
Please no pitocin or breaking of water unless deemed medically necessary
Please refrain from offering pain medication
I would like freedom to move and walk during labor
Second Stage Labor:

Choice of position for pushing; please no stirrups
I would like to push instinctively. Please refrain from coaching.
Please no episiotomy
Please place baby on mother’s abdomen as soon as possible after birth, unless medical intervention is necessary.
Cord to be cut by father, after pulsing stops
Breastfeed immediately to help birth placenta
Third Stage Labor:

Please perform all physical exams and procedures in room with parents.
I plan to breastfeed only. Please no bottles, pacifiers, formula, sugar water.
Father to stay with baby at all times
Please do not put eye ointment on baby until after adequate bonding time.
We thank you in advance for your support and kind attention to our choices. We look forward to a wonderful birth.
NOTE: In the event of a c-section, I would like father to be present. Please let the baby remain with mother until stitched up and ready to be moved to recovery.

PSUBecky23 · June 2016

For me, writing my birth plan was less about communicating with my providers and more about helping me understand what I was looking for in my L&D experience. It was a good place me start with educating my husband, as well. If that makes sense.

lickastick · June 2016

@PSUBecky23 thanks for sharing that, I really appreciate what you have set out in your plan!

CRich15 · June 2016

I too will be having a repeat C-section and I don't really have too many requests... I would like for the baby and DH to stick around a little longer so I can concentrate on something other than them putting me back together but then again, I know I will vomit when they put my uterus back in so it was kinda nice not having them there to witness that. I am going to see if it's possible to be more "relaxed" during surgery, if that makes any sense. I would like to not have my arms strapped down and would rather have the nasal cannula vs. the oxygen mask but I know certain things happen where a mask is required. I really just want a smooth surgery and recovery like I had last time.

vampirina · June 2016

I don’t have a birth plan yet, but I do I have birth goals, if that makes sense. I’m taking a birthing class in July, so I think I’ll draft a stronger “plan” after I learn more about my options.

In order my goals are

1) NO ONE DIES. Neither me, the baby or anyone else.

2) (as long as there are NO medical concerns…) I get the baby in my arms ASAP – slime and all. We’d like to delay weighing, measuring and all of that for about an hour or so.

3) Being trying to breastfeed ASAP.

4) Labor at home as long as possible.

5) As few medical interventions as possible. I want to avoid induction, pain medication and water breaking (unless medically necessary, of course), but I also recognize that things may change.

6) Freedom of movement during labor.

7) DH announces the sex, not the doctor. I don’t know why this is so important to me, but it is.

8) I like to explore alternative birth positions, but I’m not 100% sure my current hospital will support any birth position beyond laying on my back, and this is a discussion I need to have with my doctor.

9) Soft lighting sounds nice. Silence is golden, no music please, and I’m hoping most machines are fairly quiet.

homebird · June 2016

Labor at home as long as possible. Take walks, take a bath, etc.

Try to labor as long as possible at the hospital without medication. When I feel ready, request an epidural.

Request no catheter (I have bladder issues)

I want my mom, MIL, sister and husband to be there. Possibly my daughter but we haven't decided for sure, and it would depend on the time of day.

I'm going to bring my diffuser, just because I think it will help me relax and ignore the hospital smell, lol. Make it feel a little less sterile?

I'll breastfeed as soon as possible after delivery (thankfully this is hospital policy as well) and no other visitors until I am settled in my recovery room.

That's all.

I don't care who announces the sex or anything, I just can't wait to find out what it is!

AmMcc12 · June 2016

I'm working on mine. It's similar to some of your requests with labor one at home as long as possible and waiting for meds. Will add more later

kosmo86 · June 2016

I guess the start of my plan is this....

Labor at home as long as I can (we live 5 minutes away).
Use nitrous oxide for as long as possible to try and delay the epidural until farther along.
get an epidural.
Delayed cord clamping, skin to skin, early breastfeeding.

618mom22boys · June 2016

CRich15 said:

I too will be having a repeat C-section and I don't really have too many requests... I would like for the baby and DH to stick around a little longer so I can concentrate on something other than them putting me back together but then again, I know I will vomit when they put my uterus back in so it was kinda nice not having them there to witness that. I am going to see if it's possible to be more "relaxed" during surgery, if that makes any sense. I would like to not have my arms strapped down and would rather have the nasal cannula vs. the oxygen mask but I know certain things happen where a mask is required. I really just want a smooth surgery and recovery like I had last time.

Look up gentle c section. I'm going to see if my hospital allows them.

mamadomino · June 2016

Avoid a c section if possible and do what I gotta do to get this baby out.

With twins, I feel like I don't have as many options. There's not the "wait it out until 41 weeks so baby can come on their own". I will almost certainly opt for an epidural in the event I need an emergent c section for baby b. My goal is to just keep them cooking as long as I can and do whatever I can to get them here safely.

UnwritteN12 · June 2016

@CRich15 - I have to have a repeat c-section as well. I talked to my OB a couple of weeks ago about what could be do everything differently from my fist c-section and a big thing that came up was my arms not being strapped down. I hated it last time and, while I get why they do it, for a person who has a high level of anxiety, it's not the best option. He and I discussed the possibility of an epidural vs. the spinal because I had been so sick during the c-section....vomiting while you're in the middle of that is really not pleasant!

abberson · June 2016

I'm having a repeat CS as well. My CS experience was pretty ideal the first go around, but I'll be at a new hospital this time. My list of hope-to-repeat items from the first one: arms not strapped down, music playing, husband gets skin to skin immediately after baby is apgar'd and weighed (while I get closed up), I get skin to skin / bf as soon as possible. All of those pieces with my first CS made her birth a little extra magical. I could reach her while he held her right by my head. Ideally we'll have a bad-ass anesthesiologist who will volunteer to take a ton of baby & baby/dad photos on our camera in the ER again for us, too.

ETA: My birth plan before CS became a necessity was a really nice thing to write out and talk through with my husband before game time. Great communication exercise.

yellowrose314 · June 2016

We have goals, and then we have a list of wishes. Our goal is that the baby be born safe and healthy, and we are both of the opinion that we will accept medically necessary interventions if the baby's life or my life is in jeopardy. I don't really like the term "birth plan" because except for a few cases that come to mind, when does it ever go according to plan?
Most of our wishes wont' be an issue, as the hospital I will be giving birth at and my midwifes are exceptionally supportive of all our choices.

Wishes?
1.) Kangaroo care immediately after birth, for at least an hour
2.) Delayed cord clamping until it stops pulsing, then DH cuts the cord
3.) Delayed bathing to keep that lovely vernix in place
4.) No antibiotic eye ointment
5.) Be allowed to get up and move/walk
6.) Only people allowed in the delivery room will be DH and my mom
7.) No visitors for at least the first day, other than our mothers.

mrsvoorhees-2 · June 2016

@homebird what do you do if you get an Epi and don't get a cath? Do they just move you to the toilet? How does that work? The cath really freaked me out last time, I was so nervous about it.

homebird · June 2016

They basically just put a giant pad under me during labor (I think they do that anyway?) and change it when necessary.

The cath wasn't too bad, I had one the first time. But I developed interstitial cystitis this year and the cath causes a lot of pain/burning, so I'm going to try to avoid it if they'll let me.

tinypikachu · June 2016

I have a birth plan but I don't expect everything to go according to plan. I hope it does but we'll see!

I want to labor at home as much as possible and get an IV as soon as I get to the hospital (I know a lot of people don't but this is VERY important to me so I'll be discussing this with my doctor at one of the third tri appointments), and I want the IV in for the entirety of our stay.

Edit: TB ate my post!

I want to try without an epidural but I'm not opposed to getting one, I just don't want anyone suggesting it or denying it. Avoid Pitocin and other induction methods unless deemed necessary.

Everything else I'm good with as our hospital is very family oriented so they have most of my preferences in place.

Themaritimemama · June 2016

Healthy, safe baby and mama are #1... But this is my 4th go. I've had successful inductions, used pitocin, gotten an epi... My only real hope for this time is no c section, but again, safety is #1. If my water breaks, I'll head right to the hospital because my last 2 were both born within 20 mins after it broke.

TheTamedShrew · June 2016

Can someone explain to me the benefits of immediate skin-to-skin and delayed cord clamping? I didn't have either with DD1.

jlmwood · June 2016

Skin to skin often helps to regulate baby's breathing, heart rate, body temperature, etc. It can also aid in breastfeeding. Delayed cord clamping is a way to make sure baby gets all the blood that is flowing from the umbilical cord after birth. They usually say to wait until it has stopped pulsing to clamp and cut.

yellowrose314 · June 2016

I think it's about 1/3 of the baby's total blood volume is usually still present in that cord, so to make sure that blood gets back to the baby dramatically reduces the chance of anemia post birth, as well as having a better transitional blood volume. Not to mention all those red, white and stem cells that would be included. I believe the only risk is that there is a very small increase in the chance the baby could develop jaundice if you delay the cord clamping.

RG1 · June 2016

At my appointment with my OB, I was given a package to fill out from the hospital for pre-admission to L&D. There was a sheet called "birth plan" and it was all laid out with different preferences. I am trying really hard not to judge myself, but I feel really bad that I want to baby wrapped in a blanket before we hold him. I don't know why I'm being so hard on myself about it. I'm assuming a lot of people choose that option if its on there!

AnnaS930 · June 2016

@RG1 - no one is there to judge you.. if it's an option, it's an option for a reason. I know in my birthing class last time they told us to be completely honest with exactly what we wanted. Some women wanted to hold baby immediately, others wanted baby cleaned off a bit first, or wrapped in a blanket. There are even some women who are so overcome in the moment that they need some time alone before holding baby. The nurses will handle any of those options for you.

SuperFudge00 · June 2016

Since I'm RCS after an unscheduled original, I'm hoping to go to our scheduled date.

My plan is to have immediate skin to skin even though it's only my cheek and neck. DH leaves me to be with the baby while he gets checked and I get sewn up. Then we reunite in the postpartum room.

Other than that, everyone comes out happy and healthy.

RG1 · June 2016

@AnnaS930 thanks for the encouragement! "If its an option, its an option for a reason". So true! And I can also completely understand a woman becoming overwhelmed after birth and needing to be alone and would never judge that decision either. So not sure why I'm being so judgy to myself!

AnnaS930 · June 2016

RG1 said:

@AnnaS930 thanks for the encouragement! "If its an option, its an option for a reason". So true! And I can also completely understand a woman becoming overwhelmed after birth and needing to be alone and would never judge that decision either. So not sure why I'm being so judgy to myself!

I don't think you'll judge yourself in the moment. You might even change your mind about the blanket. I honestly had to think to myself "was Emmett in a blanket when I first held him?" and no, he wasn't.. but I was wearing a sports bra so it wasn't the full-on skin to skin that some women desire. The form sounds great to fill out but I'm sure they'll be prepared to expect some changes in the moment.. a blanket seems easy enough to add/remove if you change your mind.

mrsvoorhees-2 · June 2016

How long is recommended for a delayed bath? We did skin to skin with DD1 for about 4 hours, and then they took her to do the bath.

Themaritimemama · June 2016

@MrsVoorhees not sure if this is standard now, but my last baby was 18hrs before a bath. i cleaned her face when I felt like it, but no formal bathing for a long time. Also, they didn't weigh her til much later.

abberson · June 2016

@MrsVoorhees I had the same experience as @Themaritimemama. DD was born Weds early evening and got her first bath late Thurs morning.

mrsvoorhees-2 · June 2016

@Themaritimemama @abberson thank you! I'll be doing that this time then. I didn't read much about it last time, but I knew I wanted to do skin to skin so that delayed it a while, but I'll delay it longer this time.

PSUBecky23 · June 2016

I know some crunchy mommas that waited several weeks before giving the first bath. They would occasionally wipe down some of the bigger folds but otherwise, no bath.

Themaritimemama · June 2016

@PSUBecky23 wow... that's a long time. I found it hard to resist the urge of having a fresh, clean baby after a while! I don't think I could go a week. I love fluffy baby hair. haha

Want a personalized experience?

Let's talk birth plans!

Re: Let's talk birth plans!

Choose Another Board

Search Boards