Do I need a birth plan?

[Raene]

My mw is very hands off and will be in the other room unless I call her in (other than checking heartbeat every so often). She obviously isn't going to do anything without my consent and I'll be right there the whole time.

Do I need a birth plan?

Should I make a birth plan in case of transfer?

[weliveintheforest]

I think a detailed birth plan is always a good idea, even if it's just an exercise to be sure of what you really want. It can be a good thing for you and your partner to do together.

I would write out how you want everything to go, and what you want everyone's roles to be.

[deymm]

have you asked your MW?

I asked mine and she said a birthplan was unnecessary since she and I would discuss all my wants and needs in person during my appointments.. I also asked about writing one in case of transfer, and really, at that point, all plans go out the window anyway, so why bother?

[crunchy_mama]

Originally Posted by deymm

have you asked your MW?

I asked mine and she said a birthplan was unnecessary since she and I would discuss all my wants and needs in person during my appointments.. I also asked about writing one in case of transfer, and really, at that point, all plans go out the window anyway, so why bother?

That is my thoughts as well. It should be well discussed beforehand. It seems kind of crazy to direct the mw to the birthplan when you are all there together. Plus, if she is not respecting your wishes from what you previously discussed I doubt a piece of paper with your wishes wrote out will help much. I think it is super important to think about in depth and talk about w/ your mw and w/ your partner what you envision birth to be- what you want it to be- contingencies as well.

[MegBoz]

Originally Posted by deymm

I also asked about writing one in case of transfer, and really, at that point, all plans go out the window anyway, so why bother?

Well, I can see how birth plan for transfer in terms of BIRTH is pointless, but for newborn care - I'd have it! Things like no eye goop, no formula for baby, no vax (if you don't want heb B vax at birth), etc.

My hospital birth plan even had details for CS - such as no "versed" after. I'd never even herad of this, but my doula added it. Apparently it's some drug they give you to calm you down, but it can make you totally FORGET your whole labor. She had an OB give it to a mama without consent recently. Doula said she commented to the OB how it can make you forget the labor experience, & the OB sorta laughed & said, "Oh she probably doesn't want to remember that anyway."

[cartersllama]

Originally Posted by MegBoz

Well, I can see how birth plan for transfer in terms of BIRTH is pointless, but for newborn care - I'd have it! Things like no eye goop, no formula for baby, no vax (if you don't want heb B vax at birth), etc.

I agree! You may also want to check the different hospitals in the area and how they tend to treat birth and the family after the birth. You could have different plans for each hospital. One hospital in our area takes babies to a nursery after they are born. We put in our birth plan that baby should stay in our room unless unless ABSOLUTELY necessary for the well-being of the baby. The other hospital is great and we didn't have to worry as much about their policies.

[Comtessa]

Originally Posted by MegBoz

Well, I can see how birth plan for transfer in terms of BIRTH is pointless, but for newborn care - I'd have it! Things like no eye goop, no formula for baby, no vax (if you don't want heb B vax at birth), etc.

I STRONGLY STRONGLY second this. My planned homebirth ended up in a transfer after 2 days of labor, and my birth plan ended up being HUGELY important. DO NOT GO INTO LABOR, even for a home birth, without a transfer birth plan! I was doubtful about whether it would be worth the time and energy, but I'm SO glad I decided to do it after all.

I had my OB sign off on the birth plan ahead of time, and when we got to the hospital his signature was like pure gold on that thing - nobody harassed us about any of it. It was, in essence, a "prescription for the best possible birth in a hospital." Given that I'd wanted to be at home, this wasn't my preference, but it was still pretty darn good. I think it's really important to have it on file with the hospital ahead of time if possible (as well as bringing a copy with you); that step was helpful for me because it communicated to them that I was very serious about it. My birth plan said, up front, "we are planning a home birth and so we prefer birth without any intervention at all. If we are in the hospital, it is because we need medical intervention, so we are very prepared to be flexible about everything on this plan. However, please DISCUSS any necessary deviation from this plan with us ahead of time, and do not do anything that is not medically necessary."

I didn't go into any details on my plan about epidurals, IV, pushing positions, candles, music, etc., because I knew that those were most likely to "go out the window" in the case of a HB transfer. The things I focused on were things like: please delay cord clamping if possible, please avoid routine use of Pitocin for delivery of the placenta, do not perform an episiotomy unless medically necessary, please actively help me not to tear, please allow as many people in the room as I ask for (max of 2 was "policy", but I think I had six!), etc. I am delighted and amazed to report that they honored EVERY SINGLE ONE of these requests, in most cases without me needing to mention them when I got there. Talking through the plan ahead of time with the OB was really helpful, because he actually came in on his day off to attend my birth just to ensure that I got exactly the treatment I had requested.

The birth plan was especially important, IME, for the baby-care part of the deal - as the PP said, no eye goop, no formula, no taking the baby anywhere out of parents' sight, no pacifiers, no circ, etc. (this is especially important, IMO, if you're planning not to circ - I know somebody whose baby boy ended up in the 'line' for circ in the nursery because the nurses FORGOT the family's plans not to circ. Fortunately they found him there in time!) The only thing anyone thought was weird was that we refused the newborn bath - but we just stuck to our guns and they eventually gave up. They were glad to get rid of us, I think.

I'd be happy to share a copy of my home-birth plan and my hospital-transfer birth plan, if you'd like to see them - I found both extremely helpful for me. PM me if you'd like and I'll email them to you.

[Peony]

I've never done a birth plan for my home births. I've had very hands off MWs, we discussed what I needed, which was really nothing and that was it.

[Jilian]

My MW asks me to do a simple birth plan to remind her of things that are important. I included things like "take lots of pics" and help me ease baby out to avoid tearing. I did a transfer birth plan too. I noted my main wishes for the bay's care after birth, etc. But it basically said we want the birth to be as natural as possible and we want to be informed of and consent to any interventions.

[MOMYS]

I'm kind of not sure if my midmife and I are still on the same page, my last appointment was a bit strange (but then there was also student midwife present and we didn't click at all).... The student won't be at my birth.

After that visit I decided that I needed to draw up a detailed birthplan and take it with to my next visit to discuss in detail. I need to know where I stand.

I also drew it up for my dh to remember some things that he often forgets in the middle of labour....

Then there is the fact that I wanted a birthplan in case I am transfered to hospital or if I don't get to have my homebirth because I go into labour before 37 weeks.