21 Birth Plan
Description
This article is from the Birth Planning FAQ, by wnymph@FensEnde.com (Sabrina Cuddy) with numerous contributions by others.
21 Birth Plan
I am very happy with the prenatal care I am receiving at ______
_______, and was very pleased with the labor and delivery I had at ____
_______ about two years ago. I felt the staff highly respected
my birth plan, and I think that this respect contributed to the degree of
satisfaction I have about my previous childbirth experience.
I want to direct, but know I can not control, my childbirth experience. I
see this written birth plan as a way to ensure that I have as much
ability to set the course of my labor and delivery as possible. When this
birth plan is respected, then, if we need to deviate from its general
guidelines, I will feel better about the change. Let me know right away
if you think we need to change plans, and why the change is necessary. I
realize that emergencies can happen, and that in the case of an
emergency, the health care team will take the best steps for me and our
new baby.
Labor and Delivery
Use of medication for pain relief: I would like to have as unmedicated a
birth as possible. I will use breathing, visualization, self-hypnosis,
and other mind-body techniques to cope with labor pain and discomfort. In
my last labor I found a great deal of relief from the hot tub, and we can
use it again if needed. I do not want to be offered medication for labor,
and if I request it, I want to discuss it with the midwife at the time.
Use of Novocain to repair a tear or for episiotomy is okay (see section
on episiotomy).
Use of medication for labor induction: my last labor was very long. I
expect that this one will most likely be shorter. I do not want to use
pitocin for labor induction, and generally shouldn't be considered except
at my initiation. We can try other means of induction, including nipple
stimulation, and movement.
Positions for labor: I am very open to suggestions the staff may have
for labor positions. I expect I won't need an I.V. and prefer not to have
one unless necessary, and so will be free to move around during labor. I
went through transition last time in a rocking chair, and have positive
feelings about using the rocking chair during labor. Upright and
semi-upright squatting positions make a lot of sense to me, especially
toward the end.
Electronic fetal monitoring: occasional electronic fetal monitoring is
fine. I don't expect you will be doing continual monitoring unless it is
necessary.
Food and drink: I will do my best to eat lightly but well before I get to
the hospital. I would like to have water and other drinks (I remember
very clearly a glass of grape juice with lots of ice last time that was
offered that was marvelous) available during labor. If I haven't eaten in
a long time, I may be very hungry for food after delivery, even if it is
not the regular hospital meal times. I hope I can still get food anyway.
Visual and aural aids: We plan to bring some tapes from home. A friend
has developed a kit for laboring women and is working on a revision. We
will try to bring it with us and test it out. To maintain a pleasant
atmosphere, we'd like the lights not too intensely bright, particularly
after the baby is born.
I won't be embarrassed, so I hope you won't be: (1) if I yell, sing, or
chant during labor. If the noise is disturbing others, let me know. (2)
if I poop or pee during labor or delivery. (I don't want an enema.) I
figure you've dealt with it before, and can clean up for me. (3) If I am
naked during any part of this. I am not particularly modest, and worrying
about such things during labor and delivery seems silly to me anyway.
Remind me to cover up for photos after the baby is born so I can show the
snaps to a mixed audience (see section on photography.)
Episiotomy: I prefer not to have an episiotomy. However, if I had a
choice between a big tear and a smaller neat incision, I'd prefer the
incision. Still, I'd like to remain as intact as possible. We will be
working on perineum massage for a couple of months before the due date,
as we did last time. Last time the midwife continued massage through the
delivery, and I only had a very small tear.
C-section: If a c-section is necessary, I would like my husband to
accompany me. I do not want general anesthesia unless it is an emergency
and is necessary.
Who will be there: I expect that my husband will be with me through all
phases of labor and delivery. Depending on the time of day or night, it
is possible that my two-year old daughter and my parents will be milling
around the waiting room. Of my family, I prefer that only my husband be
present until after the baby is born. Then, anyone can come in who wants to.
Photography: we will do our best to remember the camera. I expect we will
only be taking pictures after the baby is born. Remind me to cover up a
little for pictures if I have a breast or suchlike exposed. If Group
Health staff is otherwise unoccupied, it would be nice if someone could
take a picture of all of us.
The new baby
Immediately after delivery: after the baby is born, I would like her (at
least what the ultrasound tech thinks it's a girl) placed on my belly
through the recovery period. I'd like to try to breast feed a little
after delivery. Although I had a very successful breastfeeding experience
with Rose, I feel a little "rusty", and will welcome suggestions and
advice from the staff. I'd like as long a delay as possible before we do
the routines of weighing in, and so forth.
Eyedrops: We would prefer the use of erythromycin, and if possible, we
would like to hold off on the eyedrops for about an hour after birth so
that the baby can see clearly (as she can) when she enters the world.
Sugar water/bottles/pacifiers: when the baby is in the nursery for
observation, we prefer that she not be given sugar water or artificial
nipples unless medically indicated. If she wakes up and needs to be fed,
please bring her to me for breastfeeding.
Rooming-in: At this time we would prefer the baby to room in with me,
unless my condition or the condition of the baby warrants otherwise.
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