[ItTakesTwo]

Hi ladies. Even though my doc agreed with everything I wanted to do during the birth of my second son, I got some headaches from the nursing staff. I hadn't created a birth plan like I did with my first (which was completely ignored by the doc/nurses and I didn't have the guts to say anything about it as I was young, this was my first, and I thought they knew everything about labor and delivery.)<br><br>
Anyway - to avoid the aggravation again, I've typed up a birth plan but would like any of you to read what I've written and make any suggestions to my wording, share something with me that was important in your plan...any help would be appreciated.<br><br>
I plan on attaching refusal forms provided by <a href="http://www.vaclib.org" target="_blank">www.vaclib.org</a> for the hep B, eye gunk and vitamin K shot.<br><br>
Thank you.<br><br>
Regarding the Labor and Birth of *************<br>
Due Date: May 16th, 2007<br>
Patient of ************<br>
Scheduled to deliver at *************<br><br>
April 29, 2007<br><br>
To the Doctors and Nurses at ************:<br><br>
I am thanking you in advance for following my wishes. I have been through labor and delivery two times before, and feel that my body will tell me what to do. I am planning a natural birth.<br><br>
Please ask me if you have any questions about my Birth Plan.<br><br>
Sincerely,<br><br>
************<br><br>
Labor<br><br>
I will be moving around, walking, and changing position at will throughout labor.<br>
Please keep the number of vaginal exams to a minimum.<br>
I do not want an IV, unless I become dehydrated.<br><br>
Monitoring<br><br>
Please use a Doppler for fetal heart rate monitoring.<br>
I do not want an internal monitor for any reason.<br><br>
Labor Augmentation/Induction<br><br>
I will be changing position and using other natural methods (walking, nipple stimulation, birthing ball) before the amniotic membrane is ruptured.<br><br>
Anesthesia/Pain Medication<br><br>
I will be using self-hypnosis as my form of pain management.<br>
I realize that many pain medications exist. I'll ask for them if I need them, please do not ask me.<br><br>
Episiotomy<br><br>
I would prefer to tear rather than have an episiotomy.<br><br>
Delivery<br><br>
Even if I am fully dilated, and assuming my baby is not in distress, I want to wait until I feel the urge to push before beginning the pushing phase.<br>
Please place my baby on my stomach/chest immediately after delivery.<br><br>
Immediately After Delivery<br><br>
I would like the cutting of the umbilical cord delayed until it stops pulsing, and for my husband to have the honors.<br>
I would like to hold my baby while I deliver the placenta and any tissue repairs are made.<br>
I plan to keep my baby near me following birth, please hold the evaluation of my baby on my abdomen.<br>
I am refusing the eye medication as I do not have any STD’s. (See form attached.)<br>
Do not inject my baby with Vitamin K. Merc's own product insert states severe reactions, including fatalities, have occurred during and immediately after the administration of this shot.<br>
We are aware of the risks and benefits of vaccination and have decided against it. Please do not administer any vaccinations to our baby. (See form attached.)<br><br>
Breastfeeding<br><br>
I plan to breastfeed my baby and would like to begin nursing immediately after birth.<br>
I do not wish to have any formula, glucose water or plain water bottles or pacifiers given to my baby.<br><br>
Photo/Video<br><br>
My husband will be taking photographs and a video recording during labor and the birth.<br><br>
Other<br><br>
Please restrict the amount of people in my room to essential personnel only.

 

[Nan'sMom]

I'd say put things more strongly, i.e., "I do not consent to..." rather than "I prefer..." or "I would like to...". But I don't have experience with hospital birth plans...I've had two homebirths.

 

[BetsyS]

I used to be a L&D nurse. In the places I worked, this was the kind of birth plan that we liked and followed exactly.

 

[Twinklefae]

Actually, according to my Doula, phrasing things in a more genial tone, ie. I would prefer, please do etc, is more well received by hospital staff. It makes sense too, I would not want to work with and be cooperative with someone who I perceive as already having a negative opinion of me. If you don't feeli it's strongly worded enough OP, save the strong language for one or two very important things as it may also influence your labour nurse options.<br><br>
At the local hospital, if you have a birth plan, it is offered to all nurses not currently assigned to a patient. You are more likely to get a nurse who is in a good mood, pleasant, willing to work with you if the birth plan she is holding matches that kind of mood.

 

[ItTakesTwo]

Thanks ladies. I don't want to be seen as a pain in the butt looking for a confrontation. With the birth of my second son, I was tired of repeating myself that I didn't want this, or leave my baby with me, so I thought I'd just write it down instead of possibly saying something rude when something was brought up again.

 

[pinksprklybarefoot]

This is a stupid, picky point. When you are referring to the Vit K product insert, are you talking about the drug company Merck? Or is "Merc" another company? Just wanted to make sure. You don't want the nurses to be "She can't even spell the drug company's name correctly."<br><br>
I would word the episiotomy statement more strongly. It sounds like (from this board) that this one is the most often ignored.<br><br>
That being said, my birth plan was pretty close to yours and followed pretty closely. I did wind up consenting to some things I did not want due to pre-e, but they still asked me before they did it, and I have no reason to suspect that they would have went against my wishes if I had not given consent.

 

[ItTakesTwo]

I meant Merck, typo on my part.<br><br>
With my last birth my doc didn't cut me and I was grateful for that. I tore just a little bit. I put that in there in case someone else is there to help me deliver. With my first son that's what happened and he cut me without even asking, AND the asshole cut the cord when my hubby was right there!

 

[mamabadger]

Sounds good to me. I'd suggest a small change here<br><div style="margin:20px;margin-top:5px;">
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<table border="0" cellpadding="6" cellspacing="0" width="99%"><tr><td class="alt2" style="border:1px inset;">
<div>Originally Posted by <strong>ItTakesTwo</strong> <a href="/community/forum/post/7985823"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/community/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style="border:0px solid;"></a></div>
<div style="font-style:italic;">I would like the cutting of the umbilical cord delayed until it stops pulsing, and for my husband to have the honors.</div>
</td>
</tr></table></div>
You should probably specify you want the <i>clamping</i> of the cord delayed. I've known of women who asked the staff to delay cutting the cord, and they agreed, and just put the clamps on. There's no benefit in that.<br><div style="margin:20px;margin-top:5px;">
<div class="smallfont" style="margin-bottom:2px;">Quote:</div>
<table border="0" cellpadding="6" cellspacing="0" width="99%"><tr><td class="alt2" style="border:1px inset;">I would word the episiotomy statement more strongly. It sounds like (from this board) that this one is the most often ignored.</td>
</tr></table></div>
I definitely agree.

 

[gcgirl]

I just wanted to thank you all for this thread - this will really help me write my own birth plan. This sounds very close to what I want too.