ok who else is working on your birth plans? come talk to me

[Momma Aimee]

this is our 2nd birth.

and we are birthing in the same place

so i know i can cut some stuff out from alst time............

but i have a hard time doing it................i am such a planner and such a list maker........my BP last tiem got up to 5 pages : which i re-named my master document and KEPT then edited down to 1.5 pages and had a hell of a time doing it.................felt like everythign was sooooooooooo importnat.

so i am going to do that again -- master full doc for me, and a shorter version to show people. Master Doc aslo is helpful to answer DH's questions, cite my reasons and so on..............

i am very proud of myself my working BP is les than 2 pages right now............and i know ther are thigs i can cut..............but again......... they all seems so importnat....................

who is writting theirs...........

Aimee

[Ackray]

I've never written a birthplan for any of my kids and won't this time either.

[sorteep]

I wrote a really long detailed one that stayed in teh car while we RAN in and fired out the baby!! I will write another and plan on bringing it in this time,, unfortunately, I don't think they read them but it is good to have as a legal thing in your record in case they go against wishes and try to claim they did not know (give one to OB too just in case they "lose" the one on teh OB floor...I find it most helpful to have people (DH or friend or family) there at all times who KNOW your wishs COLD and have the balls to enforce them no matter what.. (no wilting flower personalities here!) and don't let the kid out of sight even for a second of aforementioned trusted person(s) and all should be armed with signed copy of BP !!!! man, I have to ge tgoing on mine..

[Momma Aimee]

I sent one in with admitting paper work

I gave my CNM (this time ob) one she signed and added to my file (and I am sure that one ended up at the hoptial too -- with her sing off on it)

We took 3 or 4 copies with us.

a master copy -- looong version) in our birth binder

a short copy on the table by the door to the room and one in my doula's bag (she had looong version too) and a couple of extra incase.

both L and D nurses who wroked with us ASKED if we had one when they came in, and did read it. The nurses aid (nurse in traning, i am unable to remember though i knew at the time) was told by the nurse she was shadowing to read it and did.

now when it upped a notch and we went for the forcepts....no the extra nurse who came in then and the other peopel (not sure who they were, room sure filled up) did not.

However DH tells me the baby nurse who came in at that point to be there when the baby was born... did read it while i was getting the epidural, then she came over to talk to me about my wishes for the baby....

[Momma Aimee]

we have a doula freind, who told me she suggests even moms doing a home birth write one out as a good 'thinking though the process" exercize .... even if you do nothing with it......kinda like all the birth prep journaling in Birthing froM Withing ..... it makes you think and can guide your research

[NaomiMcC]

I have a birth plan written for hospital (just for show for the doctors) and I'm working on another one our homebirth.

[JamesMama]

I asked my midwife about birthplans and she actually said "The more detailed the better. I want to know EXACTLY how you want it." She said the average birthplan she sees is 2-5 pages long, she doesn't like short ones because then she feels like she has to ask 50 questions to clarify.

I'll be removing the circ information as this baby is a girl, but I'm keeping the "No monitoring, no IV, infrequent cervical checks" stuff like that for labor and the "I will eat if I want to, I'll wear my own clothes" etc.

What I did to shorten mine up was instead of saying "Unless required by health of mother or child" after every little thing I just put that at the begining I said "The following requests and preferences are with the assumption of a healthy mother and child. If problems arise in either mother or child, changes can and will be made with the informed consent of Josh and Renae."

We also included a thing in there because Josh will be catching Aldria, we have already OK'ed this with my midwife though. She's excited, she's never had a dad want to catch...her and the nurse are just thrilled to be able to let Josh do that.

Psh...and my famly wonders why I love my midwife so much?

[mittendrin]

This is the 3rd time with my mw's and when I went to my first appt she actually said:" QWelcome back! No interventions, right?" I love them...So I know they won't touch the babe or me w/o absolute consent and the hospital staff is wonderful, won't do anything w/o asking first. I will still have a birthing plan, just in case. My mw's actually want that at 38 wks and will send it over to the hospital so when I check in, it'll be right there w my papers.
This is how my last one looked like, I might make a few additions/changes.

During labor:

No pitocin or induction
No IV’s
No offering of pain medication (will ask for it if needed)
Freedom to eat and drink
Few as possible vaginal exams
No EFM, only intermittence external monitoring of baby’s heartbeat


During delivery:

No episiotomy
No use of forceps or vacuum extraction
Wait to cut the cord until it stops pulsating
Spontaneous delivery of placenta after breastfeeding
Access to birthing stool


After delivery and during the rest or our hospital stay:

Suction of nasal passages and mouth only if really necessary
No eye drops
No shots whatsoever (Vit. K, Hep. B or any other vaccination) unless absolutely necessary and after informed consent of mother
Do not give baby a bath
No circumcision
No pacifier, or any artificial nipple
Baby will only receive breastmilk and stay in room with mother
Any newborn procedures only after informed consent of mother and if possible in the room
Baby will wear cloth diapers (we’ll supply), please no disposables


Thank you

[GinaRae]

For someone who is a big list maker and preparer, I am surprised I have been putting this off. My midwives want one, and I think with them it will be very simple because they already do a lot of what I want/don't want as protocol. Still, there are quite a few things to talk about to be sure, so I am writing up a plan and will talk it out with them line by line to see what I can remove or should keep.

I am also making a non-emergency hospital transfer birth plan and an emergency transfer birth plan. I HATE this. But to be honest, it's really needed JUST in case. The emergency one will most likely be all about the baby post partum with littloe about me at labor/delivery because if it's a true emergency, all that is out the window.

[Momma Aimee]

I am also making a non-emergency hospital transfer birth plan and an emergency transfer birth plan. I HATE this. But to be honest, it's really needed JUST in case. The emergency one will most likely be all about the baby post partum with littloe about me at labor/delivery because if it's a true emergency, all that is out the window.

Due to medical concerns with T's pregancy -- none of which came ture TG -- we did a seperate BP for "emergency birth or PP" (and a 3rd for having to be induced due to his health -- didn't know it was a him at that time seems weird to talk about the labor and delivery and pregancy as an him thing, YK)........

while it was clear from the high risk OB we consulted, and the CNM, that if things went that route -- it would come down to what had to be done for the health of the baby .... both still encouraged us to make the plan. 1. it got us to think thought it, to realize what questions we had so we could get them, answered before hand 2. it would still allow all HCP involved to know our preferences before the situation started, so that as many wishs as possible could be followed -- the idea being that there would be things that COULD be done our way -- if they knew going in -- but at the time they might not be abvle to stop each step of the way and ask -- YK? and 3. CNM felt it would help us continue to own our birth and feel we were an active part of it (getting to decide everything we could) and she noted some things might be comermpised on too......

So I even had a NICU "plan" requestig Kanga care for the baby, noteing I would pump and that the baby should be fed BM via a nasle tube....and so on....

it was a blessing not to need it --- but it really was helpful in that last week when we were freaked about being induced, and or medical problems with T at birth and maybe a NICU stay (we toured NICU too)........it helped me know what i wanted to ask, it helped me to know what might happen, and what i coud and could not chose and so on......

So I always think -- and have heard thisbefore -- even moms doing UC or HB should have a plan -- in case.

Aimee

[maisiedotes]

Can anyone recommend a website with a sample birth plan? Since I had a loss in the past I am now thinking "do what you have to do to give me a healthy baby!" but in reality I know I should have a birth plan in the event that (fingers crossed) everything is normal. Thanks!

[Momma Aimee]

http://kidshealth.org/parent/pregnan...rth_plans.html

http://www.pcape.com/Birthplanexample.pdf

http://www.childbirth.org/interactive/ibirthplan.html -- this is the interactive one i used to get started in 2005, then i copied it into word and kept adding.....and editing as i learned more.....

http://birthplan.com/example.htm

http://www.fensende.com/Users/swnymp...hplan.all.html

http://www.expectantmothersguide.com...Ubirthplan.htm

that should get you started

A

[GinaRae]

Describe Kanga care for the NICU. I've heard of it before, but don't know enough to know what I am talking about.

[wwisdomskr]

I'm torn about birth plans... I've always had one, but ultimately I think it's more important to hire an hcp that has the same values and beliefs about birth and holds my birth preferences as standard practice.

My hb plan had a lot to do with emotional stuff and roles of those present, etc. It also included a lot about how I wanted my dd1 cared for during the birth and how she was going to be involved. I thought about doing emergency birth plans and chose against it. I didn't want that negative stuff in my head for too long.

We did our research and decided that for a non-emergent transfer we would drive about an hour to a nationally certified baby-friendly hospital. Therefore, all of our preferences would be standard practice. For an emergent transfer, we would go a couple of blocks away and be grateful for everything that they have available to save me and our baby. Postpartum, dh would be the warrior that he knows how to be and not let the baby leave his sight or even arms reach so that he could stop any unnecessary procedures. He had lots of experience with dd1. He knows that that is his most important job.

Which is why he LOVES HOMEBIRTH! It's so much more relaxing for him! He doesn't have to utilize his military training...he can just be a daddy and a life partner. That's it.

This time, I'll have some extra concerns about dd2...but that's it. Basically, I want the same things...lots of physical and emotional support, but no medical stuff unless I request it.

[lisalulu]

I'm not doing a birth plan for the homebirth/birth center (haven't decided location yet) just because we are using the same midwives as last time and our values are very in line with what they offer so I don't predict any conflict. In case of transfer I will definitely do one but haven't thought about it. I saved the one from ds so I'll probably cut and paste it. I may go into a lot more detail this time though because the hospital we will likely have to go to is known for fighting with you over interventions, etc.

[maisiedotes]

Originally Posted by Aimee21972

http://kidshealth.org/parent/pregnan...rth_plans.html

http://www.pcape.com/Birthplanexample.pdf

http://www.childbirth.org/interactive/ibirthplan.html -- this is the interactive one i used to get started in 2005, then i copied it into word and kept adding.....and editing as i learned more.....

http://birthplan.com/example.htm

http://www.fensende.com/Users/swnymp...hplan.all.html

http://www.expectantmothersguide.com...Ubirthplan.htm

that should get you started

A

WOW. Thank you so much! I have my work cut out for me...

[myjulybabes]

Originally Posted by GinaRae

Describe Kanga care for the NICU. I've heard of it before, but don't know enough to know what I am talking about.

Kangaroo care-- best. thing. ever. When the baby is stable enough to be held, you hold them skin to skin. Our hospital had me wear a button down shirt, which I unbuttoned, they stripped baby down to just his diaper (and monitor wires and ventilator tube, etc) and placed him on my chest, then I buttoned my shirt back up.

Picture:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v3...om_aidan_2.jpg

It was really calming for him, and really helped me bond with him.

[Momma Aimee]

http://www.midwiferytoday.com/articles/kangaroocare.asp

http://www.geocities.com/roopage/?20061

http://www.prematurity.org/baby/kangaroo.html

http://www.kangaroomothercare.com/

http://www.breastfeeding.com/all_abo..._kangaroo.html

here are the sites i used in my reasearch.

I was thinking, I am going to add to my BP a emergency section...with all the stuff from last time, about our wishes in case of emergncy birthor baby care....ther eis no reason to think will need it -- but i am going to go ont eh assumption that if i casn get it down on paper i iwll keep it from cycleing in my mind -- espically at the labor and birth.

so i will be putting kana care in mine too

Aimee