Birth Plans

kaymariec · October 2017

Is anyone writing a plan? How detailed will you make your plan? I want to go natural and one OB in my practice encouraged the plan, but today a different OB said that if I write out a plan everything will go wrong.

ngarciabyu · October 2017

My hospital provides a 3 page birth plan, sort of step by step as labor progresses asking for different preferences to be checked off. It includes birthing environment, guests allowed, pain management, mobile vs immobile, interventions, post-birth etc. They template is super easy to follow, the nurses and midwives are all familiar with it, and inclusive of all my wants/needs so I'm just going to go with that. My first two births were at different hospitals and while I had a birth plan in my head, I never brought a printed copy to anyone or anything. Just made my wishes clear to my provider and the were respected

ShyTonia · October 2017

My plan is to have no plan. But to be very clear on things I am specifically wanting/needing or don't want. At each biweekly appt I talk to the drs about it. For example I plan on breastfeeding so I do not want any bottle or pacifier given to her. Or that my husband does not feel comfortable cutting the cord. Or that I'd like to have a bath in the room if it works out to relieve the contractions (I watched my sister do this and it was so helpful for her)
or any personal decisions that need to be made prior the chaos. Lol. I've been told nurses will laugh at you if you bring a printed out version and I've heard some drs like it. So it allllll depends. My husband and mom will be in the room and we are all on the same page with what I want so I'm not worried about printing anything out. But we do all have a app on our phones that we share called wunderlist and it's very helpful. Also for what your medication preferences. This way hubby has it and can't forget. Lol.

MJDsquared · October 2017

I asked my OB about a plan after reading on here that some doctors/hospitals have a page that you fill out. She said she doesn't think it's necessary and I plan on getting an epidural, so it seems even less necessary for me.

They make a big deal about being a certified baby friendly hospital so they don't give formula to breastfed babies (within reason, obviously) and normal policy is two hours of skin to skin after birth. I feel pretty good about it overall.

skc040512 · October 2017

A lot of hospitals now will ask you the major things during your intake (ie, breastfeeding preferences, skin to skin, medications desired, who is allowed in, and if you plan to follow the vax schedule). It's good to know your own preferences ahead of time and write down a short list if you think they may not ask/you'll forget. But having an actual birth plan, like "I want to labor using a labor ball for 15 minutes, then walk for 5, then back to the ball, and after 2 hours I want to labor in the tub" are, imo, totally unnecessary because labor happens how it's going to happen, and having specific desires tends to set you up for a letdown. Let your preferences be known, but follow your body's instructions over a sheet of paper you wrote 10 weeks in advance.

kyrwyn · October 2017

I was very happy to learn in our childbirth classes that most of the things I felt strongly about for a birth plan are already hospital policy -- immediate skin to skin when possible and delay of routine measurements until after first feeding, early initiation of breastfeeding without supplementation (and no pacifiers), mobility and access to the shower (so long as medical interventions don't prevent it), control over environmental factors (lights, sound, etc), no routine episiotomy. Other things that are important to me may be limited by my pregnancy complication, so we'll see how that goes.

There are a few things I'd like to ask for, and I will share with my medical team. Really they're just warnings about DH and me as patients:

I am an incredibly difficult stick. I've only had 2 successful IV placements in my entire life and both were in the back of my right hand -- where I find the catheter extremely uncomfortable. I'd rather they place a saline lock early and find a better place, than end up with my dominant hand effectively immobilized for my hospital stay.
No one but DH, our doula, and the medical staff in the L&D room -- my family is very convincing, but they were not invited
I'd prefer to use my own lancet for random/hourly glucose tests (and do my own finger stick when I can). Bruised fingers suck, and my lancet is set to less than half the depth of the one in triage.
I'll ask for pain relief when I'm ready. This applies in labor. I'm stupid in recovery and will try to go off the pain management regime too early. Listen to me about initiation of intervention; remind me not to be a hero in recovery.
Don't ever let DH see needles -- he faints; don't ask DH to cut the cord -- he will faint; don't let DH past the curtain in a c-section -- yep, you guessed it, blood and insides/guts/incisions/wounds make him faint.

TigerCakes · October 2017

I’m having a RCS, but it depends which hospital I end up delivering at if I will need a birth plan at all. My first choice hospital is very baby friendly so all my requests are standard there (immediate skin to skin, baby rooming in with mom, etc.). Unfortunately, this hospital does not have a NICU so given what happened with my DS if there is any sort of indication at all that something could be wrong we will have to go to a different hospital. In which case my only major requests are around skin to skin asap and wanting to breast feed.

I had not made a birth plan with my DS, but basically everything that happened with him was not what I wanted. I still get upset about his birth because of this, but really nothing could have been done differently. And he’s happy and healthy today so that’s what matters the most!

elcd458 · October 2017

A quick word to the wise-- if baby ever leaves your sight for any reason (NICU/special nursery, circumcision, respite, etc.) just assume they will have a pacifier or at the very least a gloved finger to suck on for a short time during your absence, particularly during any procedures where they need to be calm. Most hospitals will put "breast" or "bottle" on the name cards on the bassinet, but "breast" does not equal "no pacifier" unless you have someone specifically write "No pacifiers!" or whatever and put it on the bassinet. Just FYI from experience, if that is something you are super adamant about, I *would* take the extra step and have something in writing on the chart/physically with baby.

bb89012 · October 2017

No plan for me! I know I DEFINITELY want an epidural again, as soon as possible haha- otherwise I just don’t know what will happen so we’ll take it as it comes and I’m totally fine with that! Then of course after baby comes I want her to be with me/us, skin to skin, and hopefully everything from there is smooth until we can go home.

flowerpower5838 · October 2017

All I know is that I have GBS and will need an IV right after getting there. If I am induced again and they have to break my water, pain meds all of the way. If I go spontaneously, I'd like to try without meds. I would like to explore my options for a hep lock so I am able to be a little more mobile this go around, but I know that won't really work with Pitocin (or so I read, I am not a medical professional and have yet to discuss this my OB).

In my experience, if the nurses don't want you to do something, they will tell you that you can't. (This is not a blanket statement, just my personal experience) I was told I couldn't get up and walk around, but when my doctor visited and I mentioned that she scoffed and said that I could most certainly walk around the room (but being hooked up to to the IV did limit that). She even got me a ball I bounced around on to try and move things along.

I think that having a birth plan is a good idea so you can better advocate for yourself, but it's also important to remember that shit happens and that things may not go as expected. I think the less drilled down and detailed you are, the less disappointed you might be if everything doesn't go exactly according to plan.

TigerCakes · October 2017

@elcd458 I agree with your statement about the pacifier! My DS got one as soon as he was in the NICU before I even saw him. He couldn’t eat by mouth for several days anyways so it was probably comforting for him to have something to suck on. We breast fed successfully for months once we were allowed to and he did great, so if it happens to your kid it’s not necessarily the end of the world.

blueskies17 · October 2017

I am using my hospital's template for my birth plan. I've heard that its best to keep the plan as simple as you can (within a page) so that it's easy for nurses and doctors to pick up and read quickly. (Birth plan template in spoiler)

Image: https://us.v-cdn.net/5020794/uploads/editor/dk/bjgo2rnvzyz3.png

elvenchick92686 · October 2017

My plan is to have no plan. I had a very traumatic birth with Lucas so i will go with what my body throws my way. The only preferences i do have is getting pain relief, skin to skin, and having a select few in the room.

whiska · October 2017

Our hospital tour is in a few weeks so I really have no idea what their policies are. It would be awesome if they offered a checklist like pps have posted!

The only thing I've told H is that I want the doc to tell us "It's a boy/girl!" in the delivery room together. I really want to be the first to hold the baby. If in case of a medical emergency I am out of it during that moment, he can hold the baby and I want him (not a staff member) to later tell me "It's a boy/girl." And under no circumstances is any family member allowed in to see or hold baby until we three have had time together as a family. I don't care if, due to medical issues, that's a few days after birth.

babytimeagain · October 2017

FTM- I'm not going in with any set plan and will cross my fingers all goes smoothly!

txmomma16 · October 2017

I will be having a scheduled C. The only thing I am adamant about is that H and I hold Baby before anyone else, regardless of how long that takes. If I have an epidural, then I want immediate skin to skin, but if I go under general, then H will follow Baby everywhere while I go to recovery where my mom will come be with me. From there, when Baby comes back, mom can see Baby, but absolutely no one hold Baby before me except for H.

That's really the only thing that I have planned or care about.

oldersis · October 2017

This is my third, and my midwife and I have a very close practitioner/patient relationship, so I don't feel like I need one this time. I think they are a good idea for FTMs, especially if you have strong preferences.

tmk0325 · October 2017

Nope, no plan here. I just want what's best for the baby. I will have an epidural (or spinal for c-section) and I want skin to skin contact afterwards. That's really about it.

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