Did you have a birth plan for your homebirth?

[berrymama]

I have been thinking about how I want my birth to go, and though I will obviously discuss with my midwife, she also has two apprentices and there will also be an assistant there whom I may not meet before labor.

So I was thinking it would be nice to have a list of my preferences so that I don't have to rely on 1) the midwife remembering to tell everyone else 2) my DH having to everyone else 3) me trying to convey my wishes in the middle of labor. I am talking simple things, like dim lighting, I would like to catch baby, etc. More like reminders than anything else.

Will you or have you in the past made a birth plan for your homebirth? What did you include or wish you had included?

[TSomm]

I'm planning a homebirth with my first. While I am not planning a true "birth plan" per se, I am making a consice bullet point list of all the things I want during the labor and immediately after.

It's basically a list of all the helpful ideas people have suggested on this message board! Anything from no camera flashes to wanting reassurances from the midwife that everything I'm experiencing is normal and is helping the baby come down and out to keeping all clocks hidden to not taking any phone calls until AFTER the baby is born. I'll also have items on there relating to vit k drops, cord clamping, etc.

That way even though I've discussed with the midwife beforehand, she'll have a "quick reference sheet" on hand.

Also, I think it's good to write these things down as it help me prepare and visualize how my birth will look like. Hopefully I get what I want!

[JamieCatheryn]

I did a detailed one to organize my thoughts and be sure I communicated everything to DH and my MW ahead of time. Very little medical stuff, that was discussed ahead of time too, no struggles there my MW was totally like-minded and open to what I wanted. It was just guidelines and requests for support: encouraging rest early on, normal activity and mindset early on, shutting out distractions in active labor, physical comfort, how I wanted self doubt handled in transition (don't humor me, let me handle is myself), to keep quiet unless I ask for help in 2nd stage, that I or DH should catch, a reminder not to pull the cord 3rd stage, what supplements to bring my immediately, when to cut the cord (after 1st feed).

[JorgieGirl]

I didn't only because my birth team and I were all on the same page. I did have on for in case of transfer to hospital though. I didn't need it, but felt better that I had written one up.

[sothisislove]

bumpity bump! My MW asked me for a plan...what should I include on it? Seems like I'm forgetting something. (cuz I'm not thinking of much!)

[xixstar]

I didn't have one for my homebirth. Didn't have an in case one for the hospital either because I couldn't imagine there was much of a plan needed for an emergency transfer. I knew my dh and doula would be on the same page with me and that's all I needed. Plus I have a midwife that is willing to provide the care you want, in my case that was completely hands off and invisible.

[jillc512]

My first thought was, "Why do you need a birth plan for a homebirth?". After reading this, though, I may jot down a few things. Number 1 on my list: I need quiet during labor, especially during pushing (read: no cheerleading).

Sothisislove, other things you might consider:

-if you're having a waterbirth, do you want to get out right away, or stay in the water for awhile?
-as labor progresses, do you want lights dimmed, music off, tv off? (it seems like the tv tends to get left on, and I'm always wondering, do you really want to give birth to the Thomas the Tank Engine theme song?)
-would you like the MW and/or assistants to leave you alone until you need them? I can see myself wanting privacy until the very end. Depending on where I am in the house, that may require the birth team to hole up in a back bedroom for awhile.
-is your MW wondering about things like vit K and eye care? when to cut the cord?
-a list of others who will be attending the birth (friends, family)? Maybe a code word for your MW if you decide there are too many people in your birth space?

Maybe others have more/better ideas for what to include...