[mysticmomma]

This is really just a conversation starter for my mw, but I'd like to see if I've left anything out.

Pregnancy

One 20 week ultrasound for my peace of mind.
No GTT, but will do fasting and pc finger sticks at home to screen for GD.
No vaginal exams.
No pap smear during pregnancy. I will have one at the PP visit.
No STD screening is necessary.
I prefer not to be weighed at each visit.

Labor

Minimal vaginal exams if any. Each will be discussed on a case by case basis.
We would like to labor and possibly deliver in the tub.
Please offer position changes, food and drink.
Please remind me to empty my bladder.

Pushing

Spontaneous pushing only please, no "purple pushing"
The baby catcher should tell me when to push/pant to prevent tearing.
No episiotomy.
No suctioning of the baby.
No cord traction to deliver placenta.
Eric will announce the sex of the baby. Please do not push for information.

Post Partum Care

No routine PP pitocin unless medically indicated. I would like to try eating a small piece of the placenta prior to this.
Cut cord only after it is done pulsating.
No baths, Vitamin K, Hepatitis B vaccine, or eye treatment.
No circumcision.

 

[Kidzaplenty]

Can't think of anything else myself. I like the weight check, though. Although I do it my myself each week.

 

[Emilie]

are you having a homebirth? mws usually do not do circs or vaccines....

 

[mysticmomma]

I know... that's just kind of there. We are having a homebirth. I want everyone to know in case of emergency that they are not to poke holes in or remove body parts from my baby.

 

[mysticmomma]

It seemed too... negative to me? I say no a lot, but I don't want it to be wordy. 1 line for each point max.

 

[sweetfeet]

Well if you stay at home nearly half your list isn't applicable. Why not make 2 lists? 1 for the homebirth mw and a homebirth and 1 in case of transfer for the hospital.

 

[AllyRae]

Aren't these two complete opposites?

Spontaneous pushing only please, no "purple pushing"
The baby catcher should tell me when to push/pant to prevent tearing.

You should probably be more specific on when you want someone to tell you when to push instead of saying you want to push spontaneously, but you want someone to tell you when to push...

 

[mysticmomma]

It's just to clarify. I don't want to end up with a 3rd degree tear that could have been prevented by the baby catcher saying "slow now, easy... blah blah blah" By purple pushing, I mean I don't want a cheering squad counting. This will obviously come up in conversation.

 

[sapphire_chan]

On some of your points (no traction, no circ, routine PP pitocin, and such) if I were a homebirth midwife I'd feel a bit offended that you felt I had to be told not to do those things. I also think that if you have a midwife who has to be told not to do them that you'll have other problems with her. I'd use your list as a starting point for conversation, not by giving it to your midwife, but by just having it on hand yourself as you discuss her usual procedures.

For instance, you would ask "What sort of testing do you generally recommend during pregnancy?" and then listen to her and make some notes and then you'd say "I notice you said that you like to do a vaginal exam at each visit, but I don't want any vaginal exams are there other ways to check on the baby?" and "You said that you occasionally recommend mothers get a GTT done, if you recommend the test for me will you be okay if I refuse?"

And so forth. You'll get a better feel at what the midwife just naturally does and what points you need to drive home. For instance if you don't want a vitamin K shot and the midwife makes a big deal about *always* giving the vitamin K shot you could specifically ask that she take the vitamin K out of her bag before she enters your home. Okay, not a likely example, but you get the idea.

I bet you find that your midwife is already in line with your thinking on most of this stuff.

 

[ColoradoMama]

It sounds like you know what you want!

I just had to comment though because this is kind of funny. I just had the conversation about food/drink during labor with my midwife. I had to remind her to PLEASE not offer me anything but water unless she REALLY, REALLY thought it was necessary! It just makes me so nauseous when I'm laboring!

 

[2+twins]

Do you have any feelings about them using a bulb syringe to clear baby's mouth/nasal passage?
Do you think you might want perineal support/massage?
Do you want someone other than the mw to catch?
Would you like them to take photos/video for you?

These are all things that were considerations for me but weren't on your list. I think to avoid sounding negative, you should bring the bullet point list with you to your next appt. and basically just discuss your preferences with your mw. I'd say something like, "I was envisioning how I'd like to see the birth go and wanted to discuss it with you. Here's what's important to me..." and then just discuss each point with her w/o just rattling them off like a list, kwim? Then you could type something up that would be a little more friendly and perhaps applicable (b/c some of those things might not apply to the situation at all and you might not know that until you have this discussion). Also, feel free to change your mind in the moment. I, for example, wanted an entirely hands off birth last time around w/my twins. My mw understood that & totally respected my wishes. After the 1st baby I did consent to a couple VE's, checking of the heart tones, and even the bulb syringe when his color wasn't getting any better - which I absolutely did not want before hand but turned out to be helpful for his particular situation IMO. And I agree with the pp who said that it might be better to have a separate list that would pertain to a hospital transfer in case that comes into play.

 

[Kidzaplenty]

For me, I always make up a very detailed birth plan for taking to the hospital (I have never delievered in the hospital though), and then condense one for my home births, removing all the "hospital" things that are just not in HB.

I would show the MW my hospital birth plan and then work it down to my HB plan. That way there are no surprises and the MW knows exactly what I am expecting and she can discuss any problmes with it right then and there.

 

[BelgianSheepDog]

IME practically nothing on that list was a concern with homebirth midwives. If I were you, I'd discuss the issues with them rather than handing them a list or a mandate. Handing off a list seems kind of adversarial, especially given how closely many hb midwives work with their clients.

 

[DuckyTate]

In your Post Partum Care section I would add
Lay the baby at my breast.
I like your list and your birth planning too!

 

[mysticmomma]

This IS just a conversation starter. Not something I'm going to hand off to anyone. My Emergent birth plan is more detailed.

 

[lotusdebi]

Good luck!
If you're going with E.M., you might want to start off by asking what they require. I know they follow some ACOG guidelines, and didn't seem to be okay with not following them when I spoke with them.

And, if you're not happy with the response you get, don't forget about K.C. as an option! She does take some insurance!

 

[sapphire_chan]

Quote:

Originally Posted by mysticmomma This IS just a conversation starter. Not something I'm going to hand off to anyone. My Emergent birth plan is more detailed.

Ah, well, in that case you're set. Anything that you think of later that doesn't come up during the discussion, you can discuss at another time. Best of luck!

 

[Emilie]

Your mw will hopefully agree with you on most of those things anyway/

 

[channelofpeace]

During pregnancy, where you planning to get the GBS test?

 

[mysticmomma]

Quote:

Originally Posted by milkydoula During pregnancy, where you planning to get the GBS test?

No.