birth plan, do you have them

Do any of you have birth plans written out and if so who do you give them to and when?

Re: birth plan, do you have them

Is it really bad that I have no idea what a birth plan is. But I'm thinking mine will be something like...

I'll ask my DH to get my bag because I'm going into labor...he passes out...I then get my own bag, drag him into the car and drive us both to the hospital

Message edited 6/20/2011 3:44:38 PM.

Re: birth plan, do you have them

I don't have one yet but would like to make one.

Re: birth plan, do you have them

Posted by RocNMel

Is it really bad that I have no idea what a birth plan is. But I'm thinking mine will be something like...

I'll ask my DH to get my bag because I'm going into labor...he passes out...I then get my own bag, drag him into the car and drive us both to the hospital

Re: birth plan, do you have them

Crashing...

If you're going to make up a birth plan... call it something else. Mine was a "wish list." You can't plan labor; the babies tend to have their own ideas. Educate yourself, but realize that everything can change in an instant.

Re: birth plan, do you have them

My plan is to birth the baby, as quickly as possible and with as much epi med as they will give me.

Do I need to write this down or can I just yell it down the corridor as I enter the hospital?

Re: birth plan, do you have them

Ironically, anyone I have ever known to draw up a birth plan did not get the experience they hoped for and were very disappointed.

I hoped to have a natural birth but honestly, originally it was only b/c the idea of an epi scared me more than an epi free delivery.

I did have great experiences. I did not need an epi either time. But I always had in the back of my head that every delivery is different and decisions would be made as I went along.

Some women are adamant about no drugs and get to 3CM and are like DRUGS PLEASE. Some are dying to sign up for them and find it's not as bad as they thought and don't need it. Some want to do everything in their power to avoid a csection. Sometimes that's not in our power.

Personally, I go in with my goals in my head and my hopes. I have always discussed them with my OB and she knows my stance on all that is labor & delivery but I don't have any type of written formula.

I'm sure for some women this brings them comfort (to put it all down on paper). My point is, I think going in flexible is important - delivering a healthy child one way or another is the ultimate goal.

Message edited 6/20/2011 4:53:28 PM.

Re: birth plan, do you have them

I don't have one, but I get daily emails from She Knows Pregnancy Calendar and they have a link to help you write one.

Birth Plan

Re: birth plan, do you have them

i told my DH my wishes and he has agreed to speak for me if i can't lol. that's really all i can plan out since you never know what is going to happen!

Re: birth plan, do you have them

I didn't write anything down. I told my Dr's (there were 3 in the practice that could possibly deliver my daughter) as well as the labor nurse when we arrived at the hospital.
All I wanted was a natural, drug-free birth however I was open to anything as long as my daughter's well-being was put first.

I think the most important aspect of a successful birth plan, is having an open mind. We have little to no control over l&d - the little one is always in charge of the situation

Re: birth plan, do you have them

Re: birth plan, do you have them

Re: birth plan, do you have them

Re: birth plan, do you have them

Re: birth plan, do you have them

Re: birth plan, do you have them

Re: birth plan, do you have them

I had a birth plan and warned by one of my midwives that just having one is asking for trouble she said they knew my wishes but I needed t be open minded. I was told by a few of my midwives that there is no shame in taking an epi if my labor is long and drawn out. Better to to take it and be able to push than refuse and end in c-section afte laboring for so long.

This time around I would like to be epi free but am okay ifi end up needing one.

Re: birth plan, do you have them

We discussed it a lot in my L&D class that DH and I took and they actually had a form at my hospital (I'm OOS) to put everything down. I filled it all out along with DH with our priorities, our goals, our hopes, and our contingency plans. That's the way DH and I work. We are super detail-oriented and planners, even if it meant planning for not being able to plan.

In our class, we were told to make choices... then to be forced to do the opposite... over and over and over... until we had 3 "top priorities" left.

Mine were: no drugs, v-birth, baby to mother immediately after birth

His were: no drugs, v-birth, no episiotomy

HAHAHAHAHA I still seriously laugh when I think about this.

You don't get to choose how your baby's birth goes. You can have plans, goals, ideas, hopes... or none of the above. The baby will come out somehow!

As far as sharing the birth plan, I gave it to the midwife and my OB at our practice the two appointments before my due date. I also had it with us at the hospital, but when I got to L&D, I just told the nurse my plan and hopes. She didn't actually look at it.

It went great. My three major goals were met. I did end up with an episiotomy and two major second-degree tears but it didn't matter at all. (Although I am still hurting 5 1/2 months later since they didn't heal properly... but it happens.)

Am I glad I wrote it out? I guess. I mean, it gave me something to do and gave me the sense of a modicum of control. It helps to have an idea of what you want as far as decisions go in advance of having to make them, especially in the heat of the moment. But it's not as much a "plan" as a list of priorities. And the most important thing is to remember, you can't actually plan how it will go and not to be disappointed if it doesn't go "as planned."

Re: birth plan, do you have them

Re: birth plan, do you have them

It 's good idea to do some research and create some "birth preferences." You can share those with your doctor or midwife at an appointment to get some feedback. Long, detailed, rigid birth plans tend to get the hospital staff all riled up, which creates a tense atmosphere and is no good for anyone.

But, it is good for you to make your wishes known -- if you wish to avoid an epidural or piticon, you need to make that clear as nicely as possible. I always have my students write "In the absence of complications blah, blah, blah...." That way the staff knows they are reasonable with their requests and is more likely to work with them. I don't recommend printing one of those "check list" type birth plans from the internet -- those usually lead to problems. Think about what is really important to you and convey that as nicely and respectfully as possible.

Re: birth plan, do you have them

Re: birth plan, do you have them

I thought about it for awhile & now looking back at my birth with DS a birth plan would've flown out the window!

I would talk about things you'd like to happen & things you don't want to happen with you doctor but I wouldn't set up a written birth plan. JMHO.

Message edited 6/22/2011 12:55:50 PM.

Re: birth plan, do you have them

I was told the doc's don't even give them a second glance.

That being said, there is no harm in being educated and informed about all possibilities, but be flexible as you never know what can happen during birth

Re: birth plan, do you have them

as drug free as possible.. unless medically necessary for my LO.. if it comes down to it.. cut me open, rip me apart.. get my baby out.

I agree with the pp's that said to keep an open mind.. because what you plan may not happen.. and if it doesn't nobody should be disappointed one bit..

Re: birth plan, do you have them

My plan is to go in with zero expectations....and to ask for the epi ASAP!