"Home Birth at the Hospital" Birth Plan - Page 2

[Nan'sMom]

Any way you can talk to the pediatricians before your birth? I think that eye goop, routine treatments of the baby, etc. are in the domain of the pediatrician, so you need signoff on that directly from the ped...even if your OB/MW agrees and the ped doesn't, it could be a problem. This is one of the reasons I decided to do HBs with my births.

If it's a cost issue, be aware that many (maybe even most?) MWs will do reduced fees and/or bartering if you can't afford their fees.

Best of luck with all of this!

[Gilby]

I say to make a sign to bring with you and tape it to the door that says "I'm having a natural birth and all those crazy things that go with it. Please ask me before performing ANY nursing interventions or procedures! Thanks!!" And then just make sure to review your plan with your doctor. The nurses really cannot remember a bunch of individual preferences but they will remember if you are a 'I do not consent' kind of person.

Personally I do not think someone can have a homebirth in a hospital, it's just completely different and I think if you set yourself up to think so you might be very disappointed. I think you can absolutely have a wonderful unmedicated hospital birth, but it's still a hospital birth.

I hope things go beautifully for you! :

[spewie]

Originally Posted by Gilby

"I'm having a natural birth and all those crazy things that go with it. Please ask me before performing ANY nursing interventions or procedures! Thanks!!"

That's great!

Yeah, I know it won't be anything close to a home birth, but I'm gonna make it the best hospital birth that I can.

Nan'sMom
Any way you can talk to the pediatricians before your birth? I think that eye goop, routine treatments of the baby, etc. are in the domain of the pediatrician

I need another pedi, but that's another post. I discussed with her that we would not circ with #2. She had been seeing #1 intact for almost a year and yet TWICE in the hospital she asked if I had any questions about circ and the nurse even came in telling me they needed to put numbing cream on him. So I pretty much expect to not let go of my baby and and repeat "I do not consent" over and over.

Cost isn't the issue... unless my dh's mind can be put at ease with money.

[kltroy]

Originally Posted by spewie

Birth center isn't an option because they don't allow vbacs.

I would also add something like "I wish to be treated as if my uterine scar does not exist" for your VBAC.

(I'm in the same boat here - I figure it never hurts to remind folks that this is a normal vaginal birth!)

As for questions to ask at your first MW appointment, I would mostly go with philosophical questions and ask about her record of success with VBACs. Also ask about any VBAC-specific "hospital policies" and how flexible they are. Ask what she does if a VBAC patient goes post-dates. (schedule repeat c-section? Induce? Wait? how long?) etc.

You can get into the specific details of your birth plan as your pregnancy progresses. Your midwife will probably have a sense of what your take on many things is as you get to know her better, and that may facilitate a discussion of the details. It will also help because she can tell you what is and is not realistic to expect.

[maxmama]

Originally Posted by kltroy

I would also add something like "I wish to be treated as if my uterine scar does not exist" for your VBAC.

As a labor nurse, I can tell you that you can put that in your birth plan all you want, and it will never be followed.

Your uterine scar (and mine) does exist. Hospitals in general are stopping VBACs altogether because of fear (and inconvenience -- they need to have an OB and anesthesia "immediately available"). The ones that are doing them are, in general, doing everything they can to keep their outcome stats good so they can justify VBAC. They will not magically erase your uterine scar from their minds.

That said, what is different for VBACs at our hospital is pretty minimal: they get a hep lock (other patients don't) and continuous monitoring is standard. That's it. They go in the tub, walk around, eat, drink, whatever. But to ask them to ignore your uterine scar is, in my mind, naive and tags you as someone with unrealistic expectations.