<p>This was my birth plan for my first son. My goal was just to hit the highpoints and not get too into little details. Looking at it now, I'm surprised I didn't have more about breastfeeding (avoiding pacis and whatnot) but then the hospital I delivered at was very pro-breastfeeding and pretty much all of their patients roomed in with baby. They did take my son out of the room to do the heel prick but my hubby went with him. I was pretty exhausted and glad to have hubby take responsibility there but I think they would have done it in the room if I had wanted.</p>
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<p><span style="font-size:16px;"><span style="font-family:'times new roman';">We will be striving to have a natural childbirth and would appreciate the help of the hospital staff to achieve that goal.</span></span></p>
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<p><span style="font-size:16px;"><span style="color:#000000;"><span style="font-family:'times new roman';">Please discuss all procedures, no matter how routine they are, with us before doing them.</span></span></span></p>
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<p><span style="font-size:16px;"><span style="font-family:'times new roman';">I would like to be free to walk and change positions as desired during labor.</span></span></p>
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<p><span style="font-size:16px;"><span style="font-family:'times new roman';">We prefer that fetal heart tones be monitored intermittently with an external monitor or Doppler.</span></span></p>
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<p><span style="font-size:16px;"><span style="font-family:'times new roman';">To retain privacy, we would prefer that everyone knock before entering and ask that the number of people in the room be kept to the minimum.</span></span></p>
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<p><span style="font-size:16px;"><span style="font-family:'times new roman';">Please do not offer anesthesia/analgesia unless we ask for it.</span></span></p>
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<p><span style="font-size:16px;"><span style="font-family:'times new roman';">I would prefer vaginal exams be kept to a minimum.</span></span></p>
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<p><span style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span style="color:#000000;">I do not want an episiotomy administered.</span></span> I would like the midwife on call to give me guidance while pushing so the perineum can stretch to avoid tearing.</p>
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<p><span style="font-size:16px;"><span style="font-family:'times new roman';">Even if I am fully dilated, I would like to wait until I feel the urge to push before beginning the pushing phase.</span></span></p>
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<p><span style="font-size:16px;"><span style="font-family:'times new roman';">I would like the freedom to push and deliver in any position I like.</span></span></p>
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<p><span style="font-size:16px;"><span style="font-family:'times new roman';">I would like to hold and breastfeed the baby immediately.</span></span></p>
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<p><span style="font-size:16px;"><span style="font-family:'times new roman';">Please allow the umbilical cord to stop pulsating before it is clamped and cut. Dad does not wish to cut the cord.</span></span></p>
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<p><span style="font-size:16px;"><span style="font-family:'times new roman';">If the baby must leave Mom for evaluation or medical treatment, Dad will accompany the baby.</span></span></p>
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<p><span style="font-size:16px;"><span style="font-family:'times new roman';">We would like to waive the administration of eye antibiotics.</span></span></p>
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<p><span style="font-size:16px;"><span style="font-family:'times new roman';">We would like to waive the administration of routine Vitamin K, unless medically indicated.</span></span></p>
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<p><span style="font-size:16px;"><span style="font-family:'times new roman';">We would like to waive the administration of the Hep B vaccination.</span></span></p>
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<p><span style="font-size:16px;"><span style="font-family:'times new roman';">We are anticipating the arrival of a boy and do not plan to circumcise</span></span></p>
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<p>There were parts that were not honored. The midwife on call did ask hubby to cut the cord which he did (because he felt weird saying no). I ended up on pit and got an epidural (the nurses never brought up pain meds to me) and so of course my options for pushing were very limited. Pit also eliminated the possibility for intermittent monitoring due to hospital policy.</p>
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<p>I think it is mainly an outline of what you hope happens. Some of it may not be possible for whatever reason.</p>
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