Fully planning on hospital birth with an epi. No elaborate birth plan here. I do hope that I don't have to be induced, though. I read that the rate of emergency C-sections are pretty high when a FTM has to be induced....and it just happened to 2 of my friends. I don't really mind the thought of a C-section, but I feel like it's something I'd rather be prepared for. However, I'm also weirdly terrified of the thought of ripping from a vaginal birth.
@whitta1218 if it makes you feel any better, I know a lot of FTMs, myself included, who have been induced with a vaginal birth. Only a small handful have had to have c-sections.
I had no interest in going natural with DD1, just to make it as long as possible before getting the epi. Neither of us handled that well so when DD2 came along I took multiple steps to avoid an epi.
Loved it. I'll plan on natural this time around, as well.
@whitta1218 I was also a FTM induction. I didn't have to have a c section, but they mentioned it to me a ton of times that a cesarean was a possibility.
I'm so proud of the mom's having home births. I find that so fascinating and I enjoy reading the 'Birth Without Fear' website.
@libbberty an epidural (in my case) was continual meds. I could control how much I got, but I could only get more every 5 mins. I dont recommend this and would really only do it if I was progressing slowly or was induced. It takes longer than the spinal to set up and is usually not an option if you are further than 8 cm along. I progressed so fast I was 8 cm when I was first checked with DD2. The epidural was great because I felt nothing, but I also couldn't walk for at least four hours after I gave birth and was still feeling pretty drugged.
With the spinal it set up within minutes and is administered the same way. I don't know if it was because I was further dilated or in less pain but the spinal didn't seem to hurt as much as the epidural. They warned me I had to have the baby within the next 1.5 hours otherwise it would wear off. I had her 45 mins later. My only complaint was I could feel her move down more and she had her hand up by her face when she was on her way out so I ended up pushing her out at the shoulders a little wider than normal, which might be part of it. I had a second degree tear, and could feel them stitching me up but then the gave me lidocaine and all was well.
My recovery and pp bleeding was much better with dd2, I was walking around with an hour of birth and felt great. But my labor was only 4 hrs and she was born late morning so that might be something.
@whitta1218 I had a minor tear with my son -- one stitch. I was so nervous about tearing, but like with whoever had an episiotomy up-thread (too lazy to scroll, lol), regular ibuprofen was fine. Healed up like a charm.
But y'all, I did learn the hard way to do less plopping down into my seats. It was not fun, lol.
Birth "plan" story from my husband's boss - she planned to get an epidural but it was too late to do it by the time she got to the hospital. The nurses kept telling her to do breathing exercises until she yelled, "I didn't take the breathing class, I was supposed to have drugs!"
My birth plan is HAVE THE BABY lol after my DD, I went through hell, I was induced and in labor for almost 3 full days. I got an epidural at 7cm and they shut it off at 10 while they wheeled me into the OR and I was on magnesium for HBP so I felt nauseous and dizzy the entire 3 days. This time around, my fantasy birth is to have a VBAC and go into labor naturally, stay home until it's time to go to the hospital and get there and they're like OMG you're ready to push! Then I push for like 15 min and have a baby LOL I can dream, right??
I would like an unmedicated birth unless they have to induce me, in which case I will probably get an epidural. But no induction unless necessary is what I would prefer
This is exactly what I told my Dr when she asked me at my first visit with her. I did say that if I got into it and wanted an epi that I wasn't ruling it out, but that my plan is to labor at home as long as possible before going to the hospital
Thanks @burnsmommy27 and @maueraa07, I'll ask my doctor at my next appointment when she will discuss this with me and if they have any information, videos, etc. I like the idea of know what all the possibilities are before going in.
I absolutely hated my first birth experience. It wound up being the exact opposite of what I wanted. I was induced and got an epi after 15 hours and only being dilated 4 cm. I will admit that once I got the epi I was much more relaxed and progressed faster. After 24 hours I was able to push him out, so there's another example for you @whitta1218
This time, I'm literally hoping for a do over. My plan is to labor at home as long as possible and get to the hospital and have a med free birth within 15 minutes, just like @arzrocks! I'm also planning to start "trying" to get baby out 7-10 days before my EDD just so no one mentions induction to me again. I'm not totally sure how I'll go about doing this, but I'm definitely going to try acupuncture.
ETA I'm also interested in learning more about hypnobabies.
@whitta1218 I would've been an induced vaginal delivery if my darn pelvic archway wasn't too narrow. That's why I can't have this kid vaginally. I think it's entirely possible to be induced and still deliver how you want.
As a FTM, I'm still considering my options in terms of a birth plan. Ideally, I'd like a non-medicated birth, but if the pain is unbearable, I will do an epidural. One thing I've decided for sure, is I do not want to get induced, so I will make that very clear to my doctor upfront. I think far too many woman are unnecessarily induced, especially in America, and I don't see the need for it. I also am opposed to a c-section unless it is a medical emergency.
@darkrose88 out of curiosity (I agree with too many women are unnecessarily induced) how long will you go before being induced, after 40 weeks I mean if labor doesn't start naturally yet.
I was induced with DD for Pre-E and I'd like to go into labor on my own this time if I can.
@burnsmommy27 I would probably wait 2 weeks. After that I'd agree to get induced. I have been told my doctor's office likes to induce after 1 week; however, my doctor's office has decided to make my due date based off of my LP, which is 4 days before the baby's u/s dating. That 4 days can make a huge difference in terms of the baby being ready to come out. So pushing it to 2 weeks would ensure I give baby some extra time.
@darkrose88 yeah my doctors office won't let you go passed 41 weeks. There's a lot of controversy around when the placenta actually starts to break down. But sounds like you have 4 days of leeway anyways
@burnsmommy27 I was induced at 41 weeks, 5 days. He was born at 42 weeks exactly. We wanted to wait so he would get as big as possible. We knew he needed open heart surgery, and bigger babies do better in surgery.
But by the time he was born, the placenta had broken down SO MUCH, and I felt guilty about that. I hope he was getting everything he needed during those last few days. He was a lot smaller than they predicted during my last ultrasounds.
@PleaseSendPicklesNow yes it can be pretty scary not knowing if you're doing right or wrong by letting them cook longer.
My placenta was sent off to be tested and I asked about it at my post partum visit. Apparently it had already started to break down because of the Pre-E, that was at 37 weeks. It really freaked me out and I was so happy we induced and she was a-ok.
I'd love a natural birth at home, but I'm in a high risk twins pregnancy. If the planets align, I might still get to do it vaginally, but I'm prepared for C-section. (womp womp)
Me- 39 (turning 40 in April), TTC for the first time ever (since Jan 2015), low ovarian reserve
Married 3/14/14 to my wonderful wife, but her sperm count is rather low
TTC with frozen donor sperm and science
7 IUIs, 7 BFNs. 2 IVF attempts, both cancelled and converted to IUI, both BFNs. Decided that my tired old ovaries are ready to retire. Next step- reciprocal IVF, using my wife's eggs, my uterus! fresh 5 day transfer (2 embryos) 4/17/17- BFP! Identical twins "due" 1/2/17 (but anticipated arrival sometime December)
My plan right now is natural. I have severe scoliosis, so the option of having an epidural may not even be in the cards for me. Doctor said pregnancy should be fine, but labor may be a lot of back pain. Can't wait lol!
Would love a second birth like our son - arrived to the hospital in the middle of the night, at 8CM (so they couldn't hook anything up at that point), and he was born 2.5 hours later. Birthing and labor in general truly cannot be planned..my "birth plan" is more focused on the baby. Delayed cord clamping, immediate skin to skin if we are both doing well, no first bath at the hospital, rooming-in (no nursery) to bond and begin successful breastfeeding, etc. As a STM who was readmitted for complications 5 days Postpartum, you learn quickly that a healthy baby and Mom is all that truly matters.
@darkrose88 The point you brought up is the exact reason I'm glad baby is growing almost a week ahead of due date and we're keeping that due date. It gives me extra time to hopefully not get induced. My mom went 4 weeks after due date with my brother because she refused induction and c-section. He was huge, but he came when he was good and ready haha
@myorke24 If you don't mind me asking, why don't you want LO to have a bath at the hospital? I've never heard that before and I'm genuinely just curious.
@CANTW82BMOM One of my dearest friends works in labor and delivery as a nurse-midwife and she mentioned when we were expecting with our son to delay or refuse the bath to allow the benefits of the vernix (white substance on baby when they are born) to penetrate the skin by being rubbed in. Great immune building substance! She said many new parents want baby all cleaned up immediately following their arrival but the benefits of waiting for home to bathe are well worth it!
@clearlyclara Thank you!! Great read! Just learned it also helps with the early regulating of their temp. which can be hard for many babies. Our sweet niece gave everyone a scare the first 24 hours not be able to regulate - makes me wonder!
With DD I had an Olin medicated birth and it was awesome! Well actually it was rough , but I was able to move to whole time . She was sunny side up so my labor was 100% in my back. The monitor didn't even register the contractions so I hope this time I can get them turned before he/she starts the trip down the canal she turned right before she came out so that was great! But when I was in labor I was able to get in the bath whenever I wanted , birth in the ball , hands and knees etc . Moving around during labor actually helps it go faster . I also walked the halls and was able to get up and go pee about 15 min after she was born . I could also get myself into comfortable clothes etc by myself before we had all of our visitors come look at her . That's what I liked about it personally . In terms of an episiotomy I had everyone on the room ( my mom sister and DH) on patrol to NOT let the doctor cut me under any circumstances !! At my birth classes the doula gave me the annology of ripping a t shirt . If you pull it without a slit in it , it is really hard to tear. However if you cut it just a little and then pull on it it tears a lot farther ... that's all I needed to hear . When I brought it up with my ob to make sure he wouldn't do that , he said " well sometimes I won't be able to see it up straight if I don't cut you and it won't look as good " ... my response , I won't see it either way so I could care less .... DH doesn't care I promise . Another doctor delivered DD anyway so it didn't matter . I had my mom put warm compresses in between pushes with ginger and water and that seemed to help
When I was a kid I got to witness an at home water birth and it was the coolest thing! Due to my age and familial history it's not in the cards for me.
As a FTM, I'm super-dooper terrified of everything. C-sections, vaginal, pain meds, no pain meds. You name it, I'm scared of it. Ha. I'm planning on whatever our doc advises and to get home with a healthy babe.
I was induced with my son due to gestational induced hypertension. They started me on pitocin at 8am, got my epidural at 10am, then they broke my water. I ended up having him at 5pm. My epidural was wonderful and I literally felt ZERO pain buuuut ended up with a 3rd degree tear and a hellacious recovery. When it was time to push my contractions were so long that DS heart rate was dropping & didn't have time to get back up in between contractions so my dr gave us 2 choices: vacuum or c-section. We chose the vacuum & he came out in 1 push which = 3rd degree tear. Once the epidural wore off I was in quite a bit of pain. It was painful to walk for 3+ months & I ended up having to have surgery at 4 months PP because I wasn't healing right. Also had to see a colorectal surgeon around 6 months PP because I was still having issues...ugh.
This time my doctor has recommended a c-section so I'm just torn (no pun inteded). Part of me wants to try another vaginal birth, I've heard of a lot of people that had bad tears the 1st time had better experiences the second time. I'm terrified of a c-section recover but then it can't be worse than what I went through last time right?? My doctor said I'm at an increased risk of bad tearing which could lead to fecal incontinence (ew!) so I'm thinking c-section is probably the way to go. Afterall, she is the one that stitched me up for 45 mins & used 100 tools so I'm thinking she probably knows what she's talking about. I wouldn't be so scared of the c-section recovery if I didn't have a will-be 3 year old too.
So no plan yet! If it's vaginal, there will be epidural...if not, scheduled c-section
@KateT10 That sounds absolutely awful! Could you try for a vaginal birth again but if faces with the two options again, go the c-section route? I hope your delivery experience is much better this go around!
@KateT10 That sounds absolutely awful! Could you try for a vaginal birth again but if faces with the two options again, go the c-section route? I hope your delivery experience is much better this go around!
That was actually the birth plan in my head before I went to my first OB appointment. But she explained that at that time when it's a decision between vacuum & CS...the baby is already down the birth control so if they do a CS they have to pull them out which can end up tearing your abdomen. Gah, that sounds awful too!!
Repeat c/s for me. Because I'm old and uterine rupture is a catastrophe I don't want anything to do with. My first was a vaginal birth with an epidural and a huge episiotomy. Relatively easy recovery. My second was a planned c/s (medical reasons), and the recovery was MUCH MUCH harder. Vaginal is the way to go. I know the c/s was the right choice last time, and is the right/safe choice this time as well. But seriously I would not wish a c/s on my worst enemy. Mostly what I'm not looking forward to is the 2 weeks of feeling out of it after. With the pain I need all the oxy for 10ish days after, and I hate that high/dizzy/out of it feeling. It works for the pain, and it's major surgery so there is no way to tough it out, but I feel like I missed a lot of the newborn period because of the drugs. With my vaginal birth all I took was Motrin after.
As I mentioned above, there's a small chance I'll get to do a vaginal birth. I was thinking I'd go for unmedicated, if I had that chance.
Then I learned that if Twin B moves out of position while Twin A is born, the doctor might have to reach an arm up inside me to turn Twin B back around.
Ok, I might go for drugs.
Me- 39 (turning 40 in April), TTC for the first time ever (since Jan 2015), low ovarian reserve
Married 3/14/14 to my wonderful wife, but her sperm count is rather low
TTC with frozen donor sperm and science
7 IUIs, 7 BFNs. 2 IVF attempts, both cancelled and converted to IUI, both BFNs. Decided that my tired old ovaries are ready to retire. Next step- reciprocal IVF, using my wife's eggs, my uterus! fresh 5 day transfer (2 embryos) 4/17/17- BFP! Identical twins "due" 1/2/17 (but anticipated arrival sometime December)
I really wanted an unmedicated birth at a birth center but being on lovenox took that off the table. So I'm going to attempt it at a hospital (possibly with a doula) instead. We'll just see I guess.
Re: GTKY: Birth Plan
However, I'm also weirdly terrified of the thought of ripping from a vaginal birth.
Loved it. I'll plan on natural this time around, as well.
DD2 8.22.13
MMC 1.4.17 at 16w
Expecting #3, EDD 1.29.18
I'm so proud of the mom's having home births. I find that so fascinating and I enjoy reading the 'Birth Without Fear' website.
With the spinal it set up within minutes and is administered the same way. I don't know if it was because I was further dilated or in less pain but the spinal didn't seem to hurt as much as the epidural. They warned me I had to have the baby within the next 1.5 hours otherwise it would wear off. I had her 45 mins later. My only complaint was I could feel her move down more and she had her hand up by her face when she was on her way out so I ended up pushing her out at the shoulders a little wider than normal, which might be part of it. I had a second degree tear, and could feel them stitching me up but then the gave me lidocaine and all was well.
My recovery and pp bleeding was much better with dd2, I was walking around with an hour of birth and felt great. But my labor was only 4 hrs and she was born late morning so that might be something.
But y'all, I did learn the hard way to do less plopping down into my seats. It was not fun, lol.
Jan 18 December Siggy Challenge: Christmas Movies
min and have a baby LOL I can dream, right??
I did say that if I got into it and wanted an epi that I wasn't ruling it out, but that my plan is to labor at home as long as possible before going to the hospital
Together Let Us Seek the Heights
SD: 21 & SS: 17
BFP #2 6/3/2020
*Trigger Warning*
This time, I'm literally hoping for a do over. My plan is to labor at home as long as possible and get to the hospital and have a med free birth within 15 minutes, just like @arzrocks! I'm also planning to start "trying" to get baby out 7-10 days before my EDD just so no one mentions induction to me again. I'm not totally sure how I'll go about doing this, but I'm definitely going to try acupuncture.
ETA I'm also interested in learning more about hypnobabies.
J18 December Siggy Challenge: Christmas Movies
I was induced with DD for Pre-E and I'd like to go into labor on my own this time if I can.
But by the time he was born, the placenta had broken down SO MUCH, and I felt guilty about that. I hope he was getting everything he needed during those last few days. He was a lot smaller than they predicted during my last ultrasounds.
My placenta was sent off to be tested and I asked about it at my post partum visit. Apparently it had already started to break down because of the Pre-E, that was at 37 weeks. It really freaked me out and I was so happy we induced and she was a-ok.
7 IUIs, 7 BFNs.
2 IVF attempts, both cancelled and converted to IUI, both BFNs.
Decided that my tired old ovaries are ready to retire.
Next step- reciprocal IVF, using my wife's eggs, my uterus!
fresh 5 day transfer (2 embryos) 4/17/17- BFP!
Identical twins "due" 1/2/17 (but anticipated arrival sometime December)
When I was a kid I got to witness an at home water birth and it was the coolest thing! Due to my age and familial history it's not in the cards for me.
As a FTM, I'm super-dooper terrified of everything. C-sections, vaginal, pain meds, no pain meds. You name it, I'm scared of it. Ha. I'm planning on whatever our doc advises and to get home with a healthy babe.
BFP: May 6, 2017 EDD: Jan. 13, 2018
This time my doctor has recommended a c-section so I'm just torn (no pun inteded). Part of me wants to try another vaginal birth, I've heard of a lot of people that had bad tears the 1st time had better experiences the second time. I'm terrified of a c-section recover but then it can't be worse than what I went through last time right?? My doctor said I'm at an increased risk of bad tearing which could lead to fecal incontinence (ew!) so I'm thinking c-section is probably the way to go. Afterall, she is the one that stitched me up for 45 mins & used 100 tools so I'm thinking she probably knows what she's talking about. I wouldn't be so scared of the c-section recovery if I didn't have a will-be 3 year old too.
So no plan yet! If it's vaginal, there will be epidural...if not, scheduled c-section
EDD: 1/28/2018
Eli: 10/14/2014
I hope your delivery experience is much better this go around!
EDD: 1/28/2018
Eli: 10/14/2014
My first was a vaginal birth with an epidural and a huge episiotomy. Relatively easy recovery. My second was a planned c/s (medical reasons), and the recovery was MUCH MUCH harder. Vaginal is the way to go. I know the c/s was the right choice last time, and is the right/safe choice this time as well. But seriously I would not wish a c/s on my worst enemy. Mostly what I'm not looking forward to is the 2 weeks of feeling out of it after. With the pain I need all the oxy for 10ish days after, and I hate that high/dizzy/out of it feeling. It works for the pain, and it's major surgery so there is no way to tough it out, but I feel like I missed a lot of the newborn period because of the drugs. With my vaginal birth all I took was Motrin after.
Then I learned that if Twin B moves out of position while Twin A is born, the doctor might have to reach an arm up inside me to turn Twin B back around.
Ok, I might go for drugs.
7 IUIs, 7 BFNs.
2 IVF attempts, both cancelled and converted to IUI, both BFNs.
Decided that my tired old ovaries are ready to retire.
Next step- reciprocal IVF, using my wife's eggs, my uterus!
fresh 5 day transfer (2 embryos) 4/17/17- BFP!
Identical twins "due" 1/2/17 (but anticipated arrival sometime December)