Birth Plans

Its getting to that time where Im going to start thinking about my birth plan. I have a fair idea of what I want.
To those who have had babys already, did you do a birth plan? And what sort of things is it good to include in it and such?

I didn't do one, but just talked through a lot of stuff with my midwife - I totally trusted her (she was part of a homebirth group). I gave birth at a hospital that didn't do epis etc, so by choosing to go there it made it pretty clear I wanted to try it as natural as possible (unless there was an emergency).

I happen to have my birth plan still. Here's what it contains:
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Place: Wellington Hospital birthing unit.

Support people: DH (on the day my mum came along too as DH's support person, I would highly recommend getting a support person for your DP - for me it meant DH could stay with me and hold my hand while mum did other support person stuff like heating my wheat packs and getting water etc. and it also meant I was never alone in the delivery room, DH did not have to leave my side at all)

Pain relief: As natural as possible we discussed that I would use pain relief if required but I'd start with nothing and work my way up from there

Placenta: planned physiological. Don't want to keep. Active 3rd stage required.

Vit K: IM 1mg

Hospital stay: will stay one night

Breast feeding: plans to breast feed

Post natal support: DH & Mum

NB: Need IV luer inserted on arrival.
If urgent c-section required will need aneasthetic (not spinal or epidural) & will need DDAVP. these were extra requirements because I have a blood disorder, it's also why I had a managed 3rd stage
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

My midwife and I also discussed other things prior to the birth which we didn't write down such as different natural pain management techniques and using a hot cloth on the perenium to prevent tears. We kept an open dialogue and I was really comfortable with her which was a huge help.

It's great to have a birth plan in place but be flexible with it and if nothing goes to plan don't worry about it.

Hope this helps.

p.s. love you new ticker pic.

Edited by MrsMojo

When my waters were broken and my DD had opened her bowels inside me and it meant that I couldnt have the water birth and a lot of the other things that we had hoped for as stated on my birth plan.
The only thing that did go to plan was that my hubby told me what we had had. I didnt want a mw or stranger telling me what I had had.

Just be flexible and it should go to plan?!?!?!

I didn't really have a birth plan either just discussed that I wanted as little pain relief as possible but that it should be available if I wanted it. Vit K for Jack and we would wait and see how I felt at the time regarding the injection for the placenta. CSection if required for my or baby's safety but preferably not.
Mum came in with DH and I as a second support person which I also really recommend. I was never alone and Mum was able to hold Jack while Tony held my hand when I was stitched afterwards.
By having guidelines rather than a plan meant that we could be flexible.

I didnt really have much of a plan as such with my 1st, mw and i had talked over place of birth which she said had to be hospital being so young ( 16) and being my 1st etc and I said I wanted pain relief as Im a huge wimp and was pretty much relaxed about the rest ie types of birth and if forceps etc were needed which they werent... She also knew that I wanted my fiance to cut cord and I wanted family members in the room, my mum, dad, nana etc.....

With my 2nd i was like sweet whatever kinda thing, only could have gas even tho I kinda wanted something stronger as it was all happening SOO fast!!!!! Only had fiance in room and mw that was it and he got to cut cord again so that was kewl.. Oh but I did specify that I wanted to go home straight after the birth so had carlos that morn at 958am and was home tucked in bed with my bub and 13 month old  daughter getting visitors at 130pm that arvo....

This time round i have to have bubs at hospital, much to my dissappointment as was hoping to try for home birth, anywho i have history of high blood pressure in my pregnancies so its a precaution thing for bubs and i so all good.. Have asked to be discharged to post natal birth unit afterwards where i wanna stay for a rest and relax till i want to go home and im also happy to have drugs if need be hehe!!!!

I had a totally detailed and written out one the first time, didn't get to make one the second time (angel baby), but I reckon when it comes to the next baby I won't make such a big deal of it and just go over things verbally with the midwife. I might make a few notes for myself, but that'd be it.

Thanks Everyone
Im birthing at a place that doesnt do epi's if I want one its about a half hour drive in an ambulence to get to middlemore to have one. So Im hoping my birth will be as natural a possible.
Im having a water birth, and I know that I want DF to catch the baby or help me catch him and I would like DF to cut the cord Im going into my labour/birth with an open mind for sure so Im not going to be sad or angry if things dont go to my birth plan, my main requirments are just basicly get the baby here safe and make sure Im safe

Edited by Sheza

rosewood wrote: When my waters were broken and my DD had opened her bowels inside me and it meant that I couldnt have the water birth and a lot of the other things that we had hoped for as stated on my birth plan. The only thing that did go to plan was that my hubby told me what we had had. I didnt want a mw or stranger telling me what I had had. Just be flexible and it should go to plan?!?!?!

i had the exact same thing happen to me.

I told my midwife i wanted a water birth, so wanted to laboru int he water etc as much as i could, i wanted to be active during the labour (walking around etc) and not lying on a bed. Ideally i didn't want an epi or forceps or anythign unless i needed it for the baby's safety. She was great as she didn't like drs etc coming in the room either.

I stayed at home for the first part as long as i thought i could manage on my own. When i called the m/w, i had two contractions where i couldn't speak (that's how the gauge if you're ready for hospiatl or not) and so she said she would irng the hospital and call me back once she'd had a shower etc (6am). She called back and we went into the hospital half an hour later (got there bout 7.30am). they broke my waters at 12 adn at 1 i had not progressed and kept wanting to push. Because there was meconium (sp?) in the waters she didn't wanna risk baby being distressed. it's either maturity or distress. of course he was as calm as could be. anyho, i was told since i hadn't progressed i wasn't allowed to push with each contraction. of course holding it in was more painful. but i needed to pee you see, and i knew to pee i would need to push. made for an interesting predicament, so i gave in and we decided to get the epi. dh was great, kept telling me i hadn't failed, i needed it for the baby. Well it took an hour to get it into me, and m/w actually reckoned that by the time they gave it to me, i was probably fully dilated. I'd been in the shower and messed myself etc, then was lying in the bed and ko'd on the gas (YUCK!) and came to with major contraction. then the gave epi, and 45 mins alter started pushing, 45 after that he was born.

Had told m/w i wanted dh to cut the cord and tell me what we had, but she gave baby to me straight away of course, and i had felt the sacks but stil asked dh to tell me. (never told him that yet).

My mum came to the hospital, but we hadn't planned for her to b in da room. when i got the epi, dh needed a break so asked mum to sit with me. she ended up being in there, which i was ok about. it was so special tho coz she got to see him crowning and b born. She didn't look until i said she could. she was very good, but it was great that there was someone to b with me so dh could have a break. also, it meant someone to love and cuddle baby while i was getting stitched up. mum also helped hide vincent while they gave him wit k jab. I didn't want oral as it takes three doses coz they dribble it. but i didn't want to know it was being done! also she held him while dh n i ate food, and she took photos.

ooops, that's really long, sorry. just thought i would share with you what we had.

This time we birthing at a birthing unit, and like sheza, it half hour drive by ambo if anythign goes wrong or need epi etc. hoping to finally get water birth. still real early so haven't fully discussed things yet

I had a detailed one for my 1st birth which all went out the window when I woke up with a shock to my waters breaking, vomiting every other minute (slept until transition) and demanded an epi right now right now right now!
With #2 I had no plan other than NO epi even if I ask for one. I would like to try pethedine though if it got too much (gas makes me throw up). Had pethedine and suprise apparently I'm someone it doesnt really do much too except.... make me throw up So this time around the choice for me is easy - new birth plan: no drugs I'm sick of throwing up (no pun intended lol) knowing I didnt want them while talking about ttc with DH and that this is the last baby before the snip, I decided to do a home birth. Other than that it's just go with the flow and no I don't want the placenta thank you DH would like to catch if that alright with midwife, something I would love to happen!!