Description
This article is from the Birth Planning
FAQ, by wnymph@FensEnde.com (Sabrina Cuddy) with numerous
contributions by others.
15 Birth Plan
FOR MYSELF, I've noticed several things which worried me in the
various birth stories I've read in this group, and I'm wondering
whether some kind of planning in advance (such as having a birth
plan and bringing some sort of extra support person of my own
who has already been through this and is familiar with dealing
with doctors and nurses) could avoid some of the things which
worried me. For example:
1. If I need a C-section, I would like, if possible, to be able
to have an epidural. Most of all, I want to avoid general anesthetic
except in a real emergency, because general anesthetic *terrifies*
me, more than childbirth itself, more than a C-section. And I
understand that it is rare nowadays, even in the case of C-section,
and probably the standard procedure would be to put me under only
if it were a real emergency. *But*, I read where one woman had
to argue her doctor into letting her stay awake during a planned
C-section, because he didn't understand why she would want that.
So, I wouldn't just want to read up on things, I would want to check
that at the hospital I would use, staying awake during a C-section
is standard procedure. And if there was any doubt about it, you
can bet I'd want that in a birth plan.
2. Some of the birth stories seemed to describe situations where
the women really didn't seem to be watched or coached all that
closely. (I remember one case where it took considerable argument
to convince staff that an epidural was not on, and another where
a woman tore various devices out because she was finding the pain
too much and didn't have any medication.) Hearing things like
that, I'm not sure I just want to expect the hospital to take care
of everything (this is why the idea of an extra support person
is starting to sound good).
3. Some people described babies being mysteriously whisked away.
I'd like to be able to hold my baby first, or, if there's a
medical reason why I can't, I at least want someone in my family
to be able to keep track of what is happening with the baby and
let me know (and still be alert enough to do this - another reason
why I'm leaning toward the idea of more than one support person -
but I guess this is a separate issue than birth plans).
4. I found ___'s story worrisome. I hate the idea that my
obstetrician and I could make one plan, and then I could discover
that what I am getting is something completely different, not
because medical circumstances have changed, but simply because
I wound up getting a different doctor for delivery. Maybe a
birth plan would make this less likely? I mean, if my doctor's
approval for something medically reasonable were in writing, it
would have more weight than just me saying that my doctor had
approved it. Or is there something else that can be done to
avoid this kind of situation?
I don't know whether a birth plan is the answer to my concerns,
but I know I'm not altogether satisfied with the idea of doing
a lot of reading as my only preparation (maybe I'm just too
much of a control freak).
(By the way, though I currently hope to try without drugs first,
I have *absolutely no intention* of writing a plan which involves
"no drugs even if I scream for them." Not with my hips.)
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children, child, kid, birth plan, bradley method
