Re: birth plan, do you have them

My Plan: "Bring Me Drugs!"

Re: birth plan, do you have them

Re: birth plan, do you have them

I think it's really impossible to plan something you know nothing about.

I planned my OB. I knew he was a good surgeon & planned for his judgment to be in my best interest. It was I'm using him again.

As for an epidural, I feel like it's the same as getting lidocaine for a root canal. You don't have to get it... but I always do & can't imagine going without.

Re: birth plan, do you have them

I didn't literally write out a birth plan but I had one in my head. It went a little like: no drugs, no epi, no pitocin, no episiotomy, skin to skin and baby with me as long as possible after birth, EBF so NO bottles, no paci, baby would room in the entire time. . .

It all got thrown to hell though! I was walking around 4 cm dilated for days before I went in to the hospital, still not really contracting. Once I went to the hospital to be checked, I was 4-5cm and my OB broke my water. Shortly after they started pitocin. I had wanted to do it with no drugs, no epi but I soon realized that I wouldn't be able to tolerate hours of pain like that. I took the epi. I wound up pushing for over 4 hours, needed a vaccum delivery and had a 3rd degree tear. GLAD I took the eip!

I had a low grade temp (probably from pushing for so long because it went away 30 mins after I delivered) so DD went to the NICU. I was glad that they let us have a short bonding time to do some skin to skin and BF before they sent her to the NICU. Just as I was having my nurse call them to say "no bottles", the NICU nurse was calling us to say she just gave her a bottle becuase she had dangerously low blood sugar (I had GD while pregnant, and although it was very well controlled, DD still had issues maintaining her blood sugar for a few days after birth). Although DD had bottles the first few days of life, we still wound up BF'ing great after some initial struggles.

I was really sad at first that so much of my wish list failed but I soon came to realize that DD was fine and that's all that ultimately matters. My advice is if you do have a "Birth Plan", be as flexible as possible and expect the unexpected!

Re: birth plan, do you have them

I didn't have one written out but had informed both my OB and DH of what I wanted (drug-free, vaginal birth). Unfortunately, my birth plan was exactly that...just a "plan". After laboring for 20 hours and not dilating past 2 cm, I finally relented and received an epi. I am happy that I was able to deliver vaginally at least and am not too disappointed about not going drug-free.

Re: birth plan, do you have them

Re: birth plan, do you have them

I think it's a good exercise to write down what both you and DH want.
It will clear your head and give you both an understanding of what you desire ... BUT you have to be flexible when the time comes because giving birth is no so straight forward.

You should have an understanding of drug free, what meds are offered, what a c section entails and the drugs they use. Speak to your doctor about what options you'll have once you are in labor .... can you refuse pitocin (if you want)? Can you get anti naseau meds early (in case of a c section)?, etc ....

Know a little bit about your options and what you want, then when the time comes you be informed to make decisions as opposed to following blindly in the throws of labor, excitement and nervousness.

Re: birth plan, do you have them

Posted by FirstMate

Posted by CrankyPants

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?

This is my exact plan as well. I do not like to participate in any celebration sober.

Re: birth plan, do you have them

i just wanted to share, as someone who had hoped for a V birth and ended up with a C...

my plan was to not have a plan. things change (by the minute) and it worked for me. my plan was to take everything in stride and do what was best at that moment...

i had no expectations and no disappointment.