Share your birth plan

[Heartwood]

Call me nosey, but I'd like to suss out what others have used for a birth plan (if any)

Here's our recent birth plan that we used for William's birth. We planned to labour at home for as long as possible and/or birth at home. We ended up transferring to hospital after 4 hours labour at home and William was born within 2hours at hospital. We never left delivery, and went home after the required 6 hours. Everything was honoured, although after a lengthy third stage I opted for syntocinon to birth the placenta.

Our Birth Plan

Kathy XXXXXXX & Scott XXXXXXXXX

Our beliefs about labor and birth:

Scott and I are very passionate about the birth of this baby, and we believe that labor and birth should be free from as much medical intervention as possible.
Our daughter’s birth was very traumatic for the both of us and we hope to avoid a repeat experience.
We ask that you please respect our wishes and read through our birth plan. Thankyou in advance for experiencing this intimate moment with us.

Location of birth:

We have chosen The XXXXXXXXXXXXX Hospital for the second time as we are familiar with the facilities, and believe that the hospital provides great care.

Care providers:

We ask that care providers respect our wishes for a natural and active birth.
We hope that all in attendance are comfortable with a woman birthing in a natural, drug-free state so they do not bring any unwanted negative or nervous energy into the birthing room.

People in attendance:

Scott and I have paid a doula to accompany us in labor and birth. Our doula XXXXXX has been following our pregnancy and she is aware of our wants and needs and we would like her present at all times.
If I or the baby should require any emergency or medical treatment, we ask that our doula be present to help us cope throughout the procedure.
At times we may ask her to speak on our behalf.

Birth room attitudes:

We ask that anyone entering the birthing room be aware that we will be using deep relaxation techniques occasionally and ask that you refrain from unnecessary chit-chat during these times.

The Environment:

It is important to us that the birthing room be altered slightly to create a more intimate environment.
Please allow us to dim the lights, play music and have full use of the room as if it were our own room at home.

Items we want to bring to the hospital:

We would like to bring some personal items to the hospital with us to create a more familiar environment. We will be bringing additional blankets, pillows, mats and various other items to be used during an active labor.
We take full responsibility for these items and will ensure they are packed and removed swiftly after the birth.

Vaginal examinations:

I find vaginal examinations extremely hard to cope with. I ask that after you have advised me that a vaginal examination is necessary, to allow me some time alone to relax and prepare myself.
I may want to have the examination done in a position other than lying flat on my back, and I ask that this be respected.
I do not wish to know how dilated I am during labor, and I ask that you please list all examinations in my notes so that I may refer back to this after birth.

Contraction management:

We will be using various methods of pain relief throughout labor, and I wish to remain mobile and active for this. At times I will be using deep relaxation techniques and I ask not to be disturbed during these times.
If I appear to be having trouble coping with the pain, please do not offer any drug relief. We will ask if we find it necessary.

Rupture of membranes:

Please do not rupture the membranes.
We would much rather a slower labor.

Fetal monitoring:

We ask that fetal monitoring be done with a hand-held Doppler.
Being immobile makes me very nervous and I am likely to lose focus if I have to remain on a CTG.

Positions and Equipment to help my labor:

As I will be having an active labor, we will be making full use of the room and its contents.
I do not wish to be immobile or limited to the bed, but free to use a birth stool, bean bag, the floor etc.

Positions during pushing:

I do not wish to be limited to the bed to have my baby. I wish to be free to find the most comfortable position at the time.

Pushing our baby out:

Please do not instruct me to push.
I wish to listen to my body and push (or not) as I find necessary.

Episiotomy:

I do not want an episiotomy unless there is a clear medical reason, and I ask for this to be clearly stated in my notes.
We may like to massage the perineum with Coconut Oil to prevent tearing and I may pant as the head emerges.

The use of Syntocinon:

We would like to avoid the use of Syntocinon completely if possible.
I will be attempting to breastfeed the baby soon after birth to utilise natural oxytocin during the third stage.

Our baby immediately following birth:

We wish for the first hands to touch the baby to belong to either Scott or myself.

Do not cut or clamp the cord. We wish for the cord to remain intact and attached to baby until the cord stops pulsating and/or delivery of the placenta.

We have brought a blanket from home to cover the baby and place on either my or Scott’s chest for skin-to-skin contact.

Suctioning, wrapping and cleaning our baby:

We would appreciate that our baby not be suctioned or stimulated at birth. If it is medically possible then obviously the baby will need all care, but we ask for as much time as possible.

We have brought our own blanket from home for baby to be loosely covered, before receiving skin-to-skin contact.
We ask that no vernix be rubbed from the baby’s skin.

Please do not bathe or clean our baby at birth, we will do this with our own bath products when we feel it’s necessary.

If our baby should require resuscitation:

We ask that a resuscitation unit be ready and available should our baby require any special attention at birth. We ask that this be done either between my legs or the unit be wheeled next to the bed. We do not want the placenta to be separated from baby as we believe this will help the baby receive extra oxygen.

Baby injections/ vaccinations:

We have decided to decline the Hepatitis B and Vitamin K injections at birth. Please consult us before any medical procedure.

The Placenta:

Please do not cut or clamp the cord. We have chosen to keep the cord intact until the cord stops pulsating and/or the birth of the placenta.
We would like to examine the placenta after the birth.

Feeding our baby:

Our baby will be breastfed, and under no circumstances is to be given anything other than breast milk.
We have a family history of anaphylactic allergies to dairy and there is a strong chance this baby could have a severe reaction to formula.
If required, I will express colostrum and/or breast milk for the baby.

If our baby requires Special Care:

Most importantly we ask that the cord stays attached to baby until it stops pulsating.
We ask that either Scott or I maintain skin-to-skin contact with baby after birth and not be separated.
If the baby requires oxygen, we ask that this be done while maintaining skin-to-skin contact.
No feeds other than breast milk due to medical reasons as stated above.

If a Caesarean delivery is necessary:

I wish to be awake for the procedure.
I wish for both Scott and our doula to be present regardless of whether or not I am conscious for the procedure.
We ask that the lights be dimmed for the birth and that unnecessary talk be kept to a minimum.
We ask that the cord remain intact and the placenta remain with baby until the cord stops pulsating.
Please do not rub the vernix from the baby’s skin, but loosely wrap the baby in the blanket we have brought from home.
We would like the baby to be placed on either my or Scott’s chest immediately for skin-to-skin contact.
I would like Scott, our doula and most importantly our baby to be with me in recovery.

Please see other notes regarding special care, feeding, baby injections etc.

[JCF]

That's an excellent plan, Kathy. Would you share it with me? I have a collection of birth plans I like to show women so they can ideas to construct their own. Did Chris offer advice about this plan?

[~sequoia~]

Kathy thats a great plan! Very detailed, without being 'psycho' (as mine was termed )

[JCF]

Oh pfft Carlia. Psycho

[Marmee]

Kathy - thankyou so very much for sharing this.

[Heartwood]

Yeah Janet, for sure. That's why I posted it here. Chris gave me a template to use as a guide. She's a fantastic woman.

Anyone else?

[JCF]

We had another thread about a while ago and that has a few in it.

[Heartwood]

I know it's very repetitive, but we know how things can be "overlooked". I presented it to the hospital in a clear folder, with each page in a separate clear sleeve. I also had additional copies should any be required.

[sweetchili]

thanks heaps for that Kathy, I have taken a few things from it to add to mine, currently in work. When i finish mine i will post it to share too.

[JCF]

I'll share mine : )

Notice labour occurring.
Push out baby.
Have rest.

Pretty much went to plan. : )