Birth plan?

[beansmama]

I'm pretty sure I already asked about this...but not this *exact* question, lol!

So, I'm starting to jot down a few things I for sure want and for sure DON'T want to happen - ideally.

I'm 39 weeks today...

Who do i give this to? Do i just print up a few copies and take it to the hospital with me? There is a good chance my doctor isn't going to deliver my baby because she might not be on call so giving it to HER wont necessarily help.

Help?

[Ianthe]

One for your midwife/OB, one for the nurses at the hospital, one for your doula, and one for your partner.

[BlessedEarthMother]

Here is a link to Penny Simkin's website that has great tips on what to include in your birth plan and what to consider when your putting it together:

http://www.pennysimkin.com/articles/...Birth_Plan.pdf

It is really important that you use positive, non confrontational wording or else the staff may completely disregard your plan just b/c they don't like the way it is worded.

I would still give one to your provider even if they may not be the one attending your birth. They could at least put one with your file and you could go over it with them to see what they think about it.

HTH

[jwoodbri]

Check with your OB. I gave one to mine and she said she would make the copies and distribute them and it seemed like she did. Several of the nurses mentioned reading it and even the ped did too. But I took two copies with me just in case.

[curious&eager]

The nurse who checked me in asked for my birth plan. I had one, but I didn't have it edited down and prettied up like I'd planed on, so I just went over the jist of it. The hospital were I delivered is totally used to natural births which is great. So, I just said I'm you're typical "I've driven past countless hospitals to get here" patient to have an unmediated natural birth. Then they asked me, how open am I to medicines. I said, "Pretty opposed, but I will be open to talking about it when the need arises." So, that was my birth plan. It stayed in my bag and I had an unmediated lovely birth experience.