Birth plan

[jgonz]

Ok, let's see if this works...

BIRTHPLAN for Jan G******
(husband~ Mike)
OB~ Dr. Henry Garcia

During Labor
vaginal exams Occasionally~ mostly at my request
no IV (although I will compromise with a Heplock)
no pit
no breaking water (unless I ask)
freedom to change positions & walk if I want to
I want Mike there, and possibly my daughter Amy & her husband
ice water to drink as I desire
Mobile EFM!
no pain meds & Don't Ask Me!
I want to use the jacuzzi tub, relaxation, and breathing
low lights, turn down machines so I can relax~ basically leave me alone
Explanations of Everything so we can make decisions

Birthing
My choice of position~ preferrably with bed upright like chair (or in water)
No one tells me when to push or yells numbers at me!
pushing to be completely spontaneous~ I prefer slowly
Remind me when to Stop pushing (when baby's head is out) so I don't tear
no episiotomy~ I would rather tear
Mike to (possibly) catch the baby & cut the cord After it stops pulsing
spontaneous delivery of placenta~ no helping/tugging
fundal massage by Me (no pit/meds for this)
early discharge from hospital if I want
Explanations of Everything so we can make decisions

After Birth
baby only suctioned w/bulb syringe If Necessary
baby to have skin-to-skin contact with me
Mike goes with baby to nursery
Breastfeeding on demand, starting right after birth
No water or formula supplementation!
no goop in baby's eyes (Maybe erythromycin)
No Hep B shot
No hearing test
We want the baby circumcised before going home
24 hr rooming in
Pediatrician is Dr. Guggedahl
Explanations of Everything so we can make decisions

Unexpected Events
C-section~
If a C-section is necessary, I'd prefer an epidural to being knocked out~ spinal Ok
Mike to be with me in the operating room
I would want explanations of Everything going on
After the baby's birth, Mike would hold baby near me until they go to nursery
discharge from hospital when I'm ready

Premie or Sick baby~
I care for baby as much as possible-
which includes nursing or pumping and using syringe
If baby needs to be moved to another hospital, Mike goes with
Explanations of Everything so we can make decisions

Stillbirth/Death~
hold baby to say goodbye
possibly take pictures
Mike's & My choices in everything
My recovery to be in another separate room from postpartum unit
discharge when I'm ready

 

[Assisi]

That looks awesome!

 

[llghoney]

Thank you for sharing!!!

Did you get your birth plan from online/book somewhere?

 

[jgonz]

I think I took the basic outline of it from Penny Simkin's Pregnancy, Childbirth, and the Newborn. (Very good book by the way ) many years ago, and adapted it to my own wants/needs.

HTH!

 

[sparassidae]

I'm so different when I'm in labor... it's like Don't talk to me, Leave me alone... and today I'm all chatty and laughing. LOL

For me, between contractions we chat, laugh etc. Once we were talking the latest tv show. But during contractions- no way, just let me rock and breathe.

 

[Hadassah]

That looks awesome Jan!

We went today to set things up with our Hebamme (Midwife) at the hospital 20 minutes away.

We let her know of my Celiac Disease, allergies, "needle" issues and that we want an active birth with possibility of water birth -- or at least "resting" some in the water.

We also let her know about my former car accidents which have given me some residual lower back issues (four vertebrae above and down to the pelvis itself) that are complicated with cramping during "that time" of the month and wet/cold weather.


We're pushing for natural birth, but it looks like standard procedure here is not to allow a pregnancy to go past 10 days of the expected due date without being induced. you can do it, but it is not reccommended and it will only be done if you sign off on it and absolutely no hint of anything being wrong with the baby is there.

The other thing I don't like is they will wheel you back for a C-section if you don't progress after a certain point (DH said he didn't hear that part, but I sure did) -- several hours in.

ANYWAY.. the rest sounded pretty good.. if you're feeling munchy and all is well with you and baby, you can snack, you can drink etc...

But if the baby's heartrate goes down or whatever, back you go for a C-section etc...

We also mentioned not wanting the membranes stripped or the water broken "for you" if things look like they're taking a while. I'd been researching and it looks like with what some of the items are made of that they use for induction -- I'd have bad reactions. Best to be safe than sorry.


Looks like getting a gluten free and kosher meal won't be an issue at the hospital either, which is good considering they'll keep me at least 3 days.. and they're open and not "pushy" about us wanting to keep the baby in the room with us on those 3 days rather than half/half in the nursery.

 

[sparassidae]

The other thing I don't like is they will wheel you back for a C-section if you don't progress after a certain point (DH said he didn't hear that part, but I sure did) -- several hours in.

See, this is where I choose to get the best of both worlds. I love the security of hospital birthing (can't afford a midwife for a homebirth) but on my terms.

So I only go in there right at the end (for about the last hr) just to deliver the baby. That way I can labour however I want at home (usually lots of walking and rocking) and not have to worry about 'failure to progress' rubbish.

Most women don't even know that it's an option, but I love doing it that way.

 

[jgonz]

I wait to go to the hospital too. With my last baby I was 9.5 cms before I got there. LOL

 

[llghoney]

How do you know though how far you supposedly are? I would like to wait too but don't wanna wait toooo long. . Is it the timing in between contractions?

 

[sparassidae]

Not necessarily- with my first child I was told "come to hospital when the contractions are 1/2 minute long and 5 minutes apart" or something. But my labour started with contractions 5 minutes apart, 45 seconds long. My next 3 have followed the conventional 'build up slowly' pattern.

Anyway, it definitely gets easier with practice, but for me, when contractions are at least 1 minute long, and close to 2 minutes apart, is getting near the end. When it really feels like labour has 'stepped up a notch' in intensity, and it's harder to tell how long it will be.

Sorry, it's hard to describe.

 

[sparassidae]

I wait to go to the hospital too. With my last baby I was 9.5 cms before I got there. LOL

My last one I got in there thinking the timing was great and was told I was only 7.5 cm. WHAT!!!!!!!!

But it only took another 20 minutes to dilate the rest, so I was right after all.

 

[Assisi]

Experienced mums, would you wait longer than the hospital/OB asks you to before going to the hospital?

My hospital asks you to come to the hospital (after calling the midwives) when contractions are strong and established, coming approx every 5 mins and lasting about 60seconds. Would you do this? Or wait?

I'd like to labour at home as much as possible.

 

[sparassidae]

I would stay at home. That's if 1) there are no complications that would need monitoring

2) you are comfortable and happy with the way you are handling it at home

That's the thing, you can always go in when you feel like it, but once you are there they will be hassling you. So I would leave it a bit later if you are okay with that. You just don't know how fast labour will go, and I would rather spend that time at home (last time I thoroughly cleaned out the fridge) rather than pacing the corridoors at the hospital.

 

[Called2Grace]

This is my birth plan:

Labor at home for a few hours - one of those labours where you dilate really quickly without a lot of pain.

Arrive at the hospital with enough time to get settled in

Deliver the baby, no tearing
Breastfeed straight away.
Have a sleep.
Spend a couple of days in hospital sleeping/recovering/getting acquainted to my new baby without having to cook/clean etc

Now, back to reality!

 

[sparassidae]

This is my birth plan:

Labor at home for a few hours - one of those labours where you dilate really quickly without a lot of pain.

Arrive at the hospital with enough time to get settled in

Deliver the baby, no tearing
Breastfeed straight away.
Have a sleep.
Spend a couple of days in hospital sleeping/recovering/getting acquainted to my new baby without having to cook/clean etc

Now, back to reality!

Well you never know. My first labour was a total of 4 hrs from my first passing of the mucous plug through to birth. And that birth should have been about 1/2 hr earlier (silly student midwife didn't believe me when I said I needed to push )

I really love those 2 days in hospital with someone else cooking, washing sheets, and no other children climbing all over me.

One important thing you forgot from your list (after the breastfeed, before the sleep): A SHOWER! I swear that is the best shower I have all year "I feel human again, oh so human again"

 

[Called2Grace]

Shower - Yeah!!
Last time I had to wait until I was able to get out of bed for a shower!
And after that, when DH came to the hospital after work, I would leave DD with him and have a gloriously long hot shower! DH even got one of the nurses to come in and check on me I was in there so long!

That is definately one of the pluses to being in hospital. Becuase it will be a while before I will get that freedom again! Even now, I don't shower on my own, can't even really remember the last time I got to do that!
When I got home from the hospital with DD if I was going to get a shower it had to be at like 7am! Before DH went to work, so it was very quick!

I thought I was the only woman who actually liked being in hospital after having a baby!

 

[charligirl]

As far as I can tell birth plans are mainly useful for the mother to feel as if she is at least somewhat in control of the situation... but ou should be prepared to hold them loosely.

I have heard of women, usually first timers, who had a strict birth plan and they were such control freaks they wanted to stick by it to the letter, making difficulties during the actual labour when things went differently - they got more stressed.

I had a plan but was prepared for it to be fluid, in the event I chucked most of it out the window anyway! I thought I wanted a birthing pool... inthe event it was the last thing I wanted, I didn't want the injection to get the placenta out, but I was induced so I had to... etc etc

Do your research and have one so you understand ALL your options and what you can actually say no to instead of blindly agreeing to anything the doctor suggests - but be prepared for it to be fluid if neccessary

 

[Leanna]

How do you know though how far you supposedly are? I would like to wait too but don't wanna wait toooo long. . Is it the timing in between contractions?

You go get the book Natural Birth The Bradley Way, even if you want an epidural, and you read the chapter entitled Emotional Signposts in Labor.... memorize it!!!

My hospital asks you to come to the hospital (after calling the midwives) when contractions are strong and established, coming approx every 5 mins and lasting about 60seconds. Would you do this? Or wait?

I would go according to the Emotional Signposts in Labor ... I don't know, every 5 minutes doesn't mean anything to me.... I would have been at the hospital several times last pregnancy if I had gone by that, I had them 2 minutes apart for hours twice the week before she was born but none of the contractions really demanded my attention.... I went in with David when they were every 5 minutes (4 hours in, really) like instructed and was there for a looooooooooooooong time. Its not just timing them minutes apart, its urgency.

 

[jgonz]

I agree with Leanna, go by the emotional signposts during labor, described in Natural Childbirth the Bradley Way by Susan McCutcheon. That's when I went to the hospital with my last one~ when I was serious about contractions and stopped talking. (I was in shock when they told me I was 9.5... I kept thinking "these are NOT transition contractions!")

 

[Assisi]

I've tried to get a hold of that book, but everywhere has to order it in from America. I don't think it's going to be here in time. But I have heard Active Birth by Susan McCutheon recommended by several women (one of whom has given birth 10 times) and reading that has been a huuuuuge help. But it kinda doesn't discuss when to go to hospital.