Who has a birthing plan??

I think it's a good idea so that drs. don't do things you don't want them to do. my friend has a very very specific one. Anyone else have one?

Re: Who has a birthing plan??

My dr. says they are nice in theory, but many times the plan is not condusive to the plan that the baby has for you and decisions will need to be made that go against the birthing plan.

Re: Who has a birthing plan??

The doula who led my birthing class at Realbirth said that it was a good idea to have a birthing plan. She said you could even include small things in it such as: you want the door closed during delivery; you want a mirror in the room; you want to use the birthing bar; and you do not want residents in your room if you are at a teaching hospital like NYU. Obviously there are many other things to include these are just some things I remember the doula speaking about.

Re: Who has a birthing plan??

I dont have a written one but I do have a plan. Go as natural as possible, if I cant handle it, then I will get an epi but NO demerol. Anything else is up to the doctors.

Message edited 7/30/2007 10:21:35 AM.

Re: Who has a birthing plan??

Ok I made one and now I have to have a c-section, which was SOOO not in my plan. So my thought it just go with the flow. It is a nice idea in theory but reality has to prevail.

Re: Who has a birthing plan??

i think it's a good idea to have one. Your hospital and doctors should respect your wishes and go with it as much as the possibly can. I think asking for no demerol is a perfect example. I think I will make one. I want them to make sure they talk to me and tell me what I will be doing every step of the way and that info. will be in the birth plan as well.

Re: Who has a birthing plan??

I think it is nice to have one as long as you keep in mind that the baby and your body might have other plans...

I have given birth 3 times..all natural without drugs..but I can honestly say that things have never gone according to plan.

Re: Who has a birthing plan??

I will have one. I will give it to my doctor before I give birth. Its much easier for them to just look at your chart and see that than for you to explain everything while you are in such pain.

Re: Who has a birthing plan??

My plan is to make it to my c-section date of 39 weeks and pray I don't go into labor before! My only other request is that I BF her early on and that she not be given a bottle. I don't know if that's part of the birth plan but that's all I've got.

Re: Who has a birthing plan??

I didn't "plan" on putting together a birthing plan. I trust what my doctor recommends as the best course of action when I am in labor.

I do plan on BFing though, so a few people recommended making a little sign for the nursery to please not give the baby a bottle or paci without checking with me first.

Re: Who has a birthing plan??

Dr. say you can have one, but its not a contract. Meaning, for ex., you can say you don't want a certain thing, but, if the dr. feels its needed for your or the baby the dr. has the right and obligation to do it, even though its 'against' your birth plan.

You can also say things like you want the baby to be in your arms after delivery, or you don't want them to be wisked away right away, and all those things. But again, if the drs. or nurse needs to do it, they will do it anyway.


I do think however, that its important to tell your dr. your wishes, and hopefully the dr. will honor those wishes to the best of his/hers ability.

Message edited 7/30/2007 5:11:44 PM.

Re: Who has a birthing plan??

I think that a super duper detailed birthing plan is a recipe for letdown. I may write up just a few preferences but if I do not get to it, so be it. I have to have a C-section anyway, so there are a lot less decisions.

Re: Who has a birthing plan??

I am not knocking birthing plans (i remember this topic getting heated not so long ago..) BUT i will say this...

For me, personally, I did not have one. I trusted the hospital to make decisions they thought necessary. I mean, there are things that will be a simple yes or no when asked..."Do you want an epi?" for example. I said YES! lol.

ONE thing i felt kinda strong about, and it was all I mentioned...no vacuums or forceps if possible. They are necessary sometimes but I didn't want them used if at all possible.

For me, and I guess eveyrone is different....the hospital was so great at listening as things were happening. But then again I am the type of person to not think of every single angle. Having a baby is just one of those unpredicatble things in life, at least that is how I felt. I rolled with the punches.

Re: Who has a birthing plan??