Hello, I'm drafting up a birth plan just in case something happens during my labor/birth at home that I need to be transferred to the hospital.
I know that birth plans are usually thrown out the window, but I intend on not signing the catch-all admission/permission forms and legally crossing out what I don't agree with and adding my own terms of agreement to treatment etc.
I'm wondering if someone wouldn't mind reading my birth plan or would perhaps mind sharing theirs as well so I can add more as needed.
I copied a lot of the birthplan from this site.
Thanks in advance!
(FYI, the health care act I mention at the end are the informed consent laws where I live in regards to medical treatment to both myself and my child that allow me to make choices based on my personal beliefs regardless of risk or outcome as long as I am mentally competent or if I am incapable/incapacitated the laws allow my husband to make those decisions and act as my representative. Thought it would be a nice touch to throw in the fact that I am aware of my specific legal rights. I also have a folder with the laws regarding the conduct of Dr.'s in regards to these laws so if I get a jerk of a Dr. I can say no to what they want with legal backup. )
Hospital Backup Plan
No medical procedure will be allowed without my prior consent, or in the event of my incapacity, my partner’s.
No medications. This excludes none and specifically includes oxytocics, analgesics, barbiturates, tranquillisers and antibiotics.
No intravenous fluids unless I specifically give permission.
No vaginal examinations without full explanation of desired result and express permission, and no artificial rupture of membranes. No stretch & sweeps either.
There will be no episiotomy.
There will be no routine foetal monitoring, either internal or external.
- Frequent listening to the foetal heart is expected. A Doppler may be used if desired. If there is medical indication for continuous monitoring, I may consent to a brief period of monitoring provided I am able to choose a position. The monitor is to be removed after a reasonable trace is obtained (absolutely not more than 30 minutes without exception).
I am not to be offered pain relief unless I specifically ask. I am already aware of my options.
I will not be arbitrarily confined to bed during labour. If the birth is happening away from the bed, say in the shower, I do not wish to be moved from this position.
The cord will not be clamped or cut until the placenta has been birthed and the cord has stopped pulsating however long that takes.
The third stage of labour will be physiological, not managed. The use of oxytocic drugs and manual removal of the placenta is to be reserved for true medical emergencies.
The baby is not to be given vitamin K or antibiotic eye ointments. Do not carry out any procedures or treatments on my baby without first obtaining permission. This includes cutting my baby’s umbilical cord, bathing my baby, giving my baby glucose water, formula, testing PKU, etc.
The baby is not to be taken out of the parents’ sight. Either the mother or father must always be present.
In the unlikely event, I prefer vacuum to forceps but these will only be employed after full discussion with the parents and consent from the mother and no episiotomy. I want to push my baby out while the vacuum applies constant pressure, but the vacuum is not used to pull the baby out.
Do not speak to me during contractions or when I appear to be concentrating on my labour. Questions may be addressed to my partner if urgent and only away from my hearing.
The parents will be the first to touch the baby's head. The father will catch the baby.
There will be no students, hospital house staff, or other non-essential personnel in the room during labour and birth.
The baby will be placed straight on the mother's abdomen and gently massaged and caressed immediately after being born. A blanket will cover the baby and mother. The baby may be breastfed within minutes of birth and will not be wiped or cleaned in any way.
Apgar and well baby checks will only be done by observation while the baby is on the mother unless consent is obtained by mother. Weighing and measuring are only to be done if the parents request it and much later after the birth.
In the event that our baby is breech, we wish to attempt a vaginal delivery. We understand that this may mean transport to another hospital more prepared for a vaginal breech birth. If in active labor and we feel that a transfer can not be obtained in a time frame that we feel comfortable with, we still wish to attempt a vaginal delivery unless immediate circumstances warrant a c-section. A c-section for a breech presentation will only be performed with our express written consent after we feel that the best of efforts have been made to accommodate our wish to try a vaginal delivery first.
In the event our baby is unwell:
Any procedures must be explained in full and informed, written consent must be obtained before any intervention is performed.
A parent will remain with the baby at all times - no exceptions.
The baby will only be fed breast milk. Absolutely no formula feeding or pacifier without our written consent. If none is available from me and our baby requires more than colostrum, we will discuss other options.
Even if our baby is premature, there will be no period in the nursery. Rooming in will be immediate and continuous unless there is a genuine problem with the baby and informed, written consent is obtained from the parents for treatment of the baby.
Kangaroo care and as much skin to skin contact with parents as possible while our baby is unwell.
These are our formal wishes and we desire that they be obeyed and respected to the best of the Hospital staff’s ability. We recognise that some of our wishes constitute additional personal risk to the mother and risk to our child. Our choices are firm, and we wish them to be respected under the Health Care (Consent) and Care Facility (Admission) Act. This constitutes our written consent to treatment under the circumstances listed above.
Signed,
Mother Father
Thank you for reading this and working with us to respect our wishes.
I know that birth plans are usually thrown out the window, but I intend on not signing the catch-all admission/permission forms and legally crossing out what I don't agree with and adding my own terms of agreement to treatment etc.
I'm wondering if someone wouldn't mind reading my birth plan or would perhaps mind sharing theirs as well so I can add more as needed.
I copied a lot of the birthplan from this site.
Thanks in advance!
(FYI, the health care act I mention at the end are the informed consent laws where I live in regards to medical treatment to both myself and my child that allow me to make choices based on my personal beliefs regardless of risk or outcome as long as I am mentally competent or if I am incapable/incapacitated the laws allow my husband to make those decisions and act as my representative. Thought it would be a nice touch to throw in the fact that I am aware of my specific legal rights. I also have a folder with the laws regarding the conduct of Dr.'s in regards to these laws so if I get a jerk of a Dr. I can say no to what they want with legal backup. )
Hospital Backup Plan
No medical procedure will be allowed without my prior consent, or in the event of my incapacity, my partner’s.
No medications. This excludes none and specifically includes oxytocics, analgesics, barbiturates, tranquillisers and antibiotics.
No intravenous fluids unless I specifically give permission.
No vaginal examinations without full explanation of desired result and express permission, and no artificial rupture of membranes. No stretch & sweeps either.
There will be no episiotomy.
There will be no routine foetal monitoring, either internal or external.
- Frequent listening to the foetal heart is expected. A Doppler may be used if desired. If there is medical indication for continuous monitoring, I may consent to a brief period of monitoring provided I am able to choose a position. The monitor is to be removed after a reasonable trace is obtained (absolutely not more than 30 minutes without exception).
I am not to be offered pain relief unless I specifically ask. I am already aware of my options.
I will not be arbitrarily confined to bed during labour. If the birth is happening away from the bed, say in the shower, I do not wish to be moved from this position.
The cord will not be clamped or cut until the placenta has been birthed and the cord has stopped pulsating however long that takes.
The third stage of labour will be physiological, not managed. The use of oxytocic drugs and manual removal of the placenta is to be reserved for true medical emergencies.
The baby is not to be given vitamin K or antibiotic eye ointments. Do not carry out any procedures or treatments on my baby without first obtaining permission. This includes cutting my baby’s umbilical cord, bathing my baby, giving my baby glucose water, formula, testing PKU, etc.
The baby is not to be taken out of the parents’ sight. Either the mother or father must always be present.
In the unlikely event, I prefer vacuum to forceps but these will only be employed after full discussion with the parents and consent from the mother and no episiotomy. I want to push my baby out while the vacuum applies constant pressure, but the vacuum is not used to pull the baby out.
Do not speak to me during contractions or when I appear to be concentrating on my labour. Questions may be addressed to my partner if urgent and only away from my hearing.
The parents will be the first to touch the baby's head. The father will catch the baby.
There will be no students, hospital house staff, or other non-essential personnel in the room during labour and birth.
The baby will be placed straight on the mother's abdomen and gently massaged and caressed immediately after being born. A blanket will cover the baby and mother. The baby may be breastfed within minutes of birth and will not be wiped or cleaned in any way.
Apgar and well baby checks will only be done by observation while the baby is on the mother unless consent is obtained by mother. Weighing and measuring are only to be done if the parents request it and much later after the birth.
In the event that our baby is breech, we wish to attempt a vaginal delivery. We understand that this may mean transport to another hospital more prepared for a vaginal breech birth. If in active labor and we feel that a transfer can not be obtained in a time frame that we feel comfortable with, we still wish to attempt a vaginal delivery unless immediate circumstances warrant a c-section. A c-section for a breech presentation will only be performed with our express written consent after we feel that the best of efforts have been made to accommodate our wish to try a vaginal delivery first.
In the event our baby is unwell:
Any procedures must be explained in full and informed, written consent must be obtained before any intervention is performed.
A parent will remain with the baby at all times - no exceptions.
The baby will only be fed breast milk. Absolutely no formula feeding or pacifier without our written consent. If none is available from me and our baby requires more than colostrum, we will discuss other options.
Even if our baby is premature, there will be no period in the nursery. Rooming in will be immediate and continuous unless there is a genuine problem with the baby and informed, written consent is obtained from the parents for treatment of the baby.
Kangaroo care and as much skin to skin contact with parents as possible while our baby is unwell.
These are our formal wishes and we desire that they be obeyed and respected to the best of the Hospital staff’s ability. We recognise that some of our wishes constitute additional personal risk to the mother and risk to our child. Our choices are firm, and we wish them to be respected under the Health Care (Consent) and Care Facility (Admission) Act. This constitutes our written consent to treatment under the circumstances listed above.
Signed,
Mother Father
Thank you for reading this and working with us to respect our wishes.
