creating a birthing binder

[carrieb26]

I've been thinking about creating a "birthing binder" for my self/husband.

I'm concerned that we'll forget to do some things once labor starts and would like to have a central location for info.  I tried to do this  on my computer last time, but that was totally not convenient.

Things I'm thinking to include:

Instructions/reminders for when labor starts - things like turn up the water heater, prep the bed, get stuff out, phone numbers to call (MW, family, childcare), etc.

"Cheat Sheet" on things to do to help with labor (most for my husband, but also for me.) I'm thinking mostly of a list similar to one I found in "the birth partner" by penny simkin - labor positions, where to apply pressure, using hot, cold, water, rolling pin for back, massage...

In case of transfer info (I transferred once before and this was incredibly helpful): medical history, birth preferences for me, preferences for care of baby (vaccinations, circ, breastfeeding, etc) preferences in case of c-section (not done before, but the more I read, the more I see there might be things I want to specify, such as 2 layer suturing, avoiding sedative post-op, etc.)

Is this a little "too" organized?  This is my third birth, 3rd time seeing a midwife, so you'd think I'd have this all memorized.  But I guess I'm thinking I don't want to try to remember to tell my husband what to do, like I did last time.

Is there anything else you would include?

[*MamaJen*]

Ha, organizing is what I did best when I was pregnant.

I think it's a good idea. I wrote up my hospital transfer plan (which we didn't have to use), a list of important phone numbers (which we didn't have to use), and a notarized document transferring power of attorney to my partner (we weren't married) if I was incapacitated (which we didn't have to use). But honestly, I was glad that I had gone through that planning work and gotten prepared. It's way better to spend a little advance planning time and not have to worry about it in labor.

I think it's a great idea to make a labor to-do list for your husband and a cheat sheet for ways he could help you. I'm totally planning to do that for my next birth.

[Carson]

yep, i kept it all in a folder with the birth supplies.

basically i kept this running list in word for things i wanted to remember or things i wanted others to remember on the day of the birth.  if there was a specific preference of mine, i had it in there.  of course i discussed these things with MW/DH well before the birth, but it just made it better to write it down.

i had some ideas on pain/emotional relief, what i needed to bring to the hospital if i had to xfer, my prenatal records, map to hospital, etc...