Birth Plan

[beljeff]

Hey all, this is what I have written and plan to take to an appt tomorrow.
(i plan on a home/freebirth anyway but am giving them this "just in case" of a need to transfer)

Just wanted your thoughts, and also to know if anyone knows if they have to stick to your plans or they just do what they want anyway

Birth Instructions/Plan.

NO Internal exams unless requested by or OK’d by me.

NO continuous fetal monitoring,
[I have been known to punch a midwife chasing me around with the straps during contractions (sorry bout that)] You can use a Doppler now and then if it is needed.

If I want pain relief I will ask. Please don’t offer.

Leave membranes intact. They will break when they want to.

I will not have Pitocin/Syntocinon etc. to speed up my labour.

Birth position & location chosen by myself thanks. Don’t want to be moved to a bed for your ease of access.

NO episiotomy. If you attempt this be prepared for a kick in the head. (No I am not joking.)

Baby straight to me! Cord uncut until placenta is delivered and cold and white.

No pulling on cord- this is what caused my PPH last time. I wish to have a natural 3rd stage, no injection for managed placental delivery thanks.

Basically, hands off. My body knows what to do. Much appreciated.

[michelle_j_r]

you cover all the important bits. But IMO you've written it in a very antagonistic way...??
I think it's possible to make your wishes known and to inform them how serious you are about a natural birth without being narky at them.

Keep in mind that if you are planning a home birth and this is a 'just-in-case' plan then obviously something has not gone according to plan for you to be at the hospital. You might want to cover what your wishes are should you need drugs or other assistance?

just my 2cents. The midwives at my hosptial were very supportive of my natural birthplan and even reminded me of it when i asked for ARM and gave me more time to reconsider my original plans.

[beljeff]

yes i get your point. thanks for that. i actually didnt write one last time, and not exactly sure what to put into it. it is obviously my "first draft".
I will work on it and try to phrase it better, i just know that the doc there is a real pr*ck (sorry cant think of a better word) and simply doesnt listen to what you have to say.
I guess i just dont want a repeat of last time.
thanks for your thoughts.

[earthtots]

There are a few places online that give you ideas on what you can put into your birth plan and how you can phrase your requests in a nice but firm way. PM me if you would like me to send you the links!

Good luck!

[~joht~]

i agree - reworded politely will make sure you recieve nicer treatment if needed imo too - hopefully you will stay home goodluck!

[justincredible]

here's mine... they loved it where i birthed:


I trust that my caregivers will seek out my opinion concerning all of the issues directly affecting my birth before deviating from my plan. Any potential deviations from my plan are to be discussed with myself or my attendants first.

I will go into labour spontaneously unless there is an urgent medical problem which would indicate induction as a reasonable option.
I will not discuss induction for post dates.

If my waters break before I go into labour I will wait 24 hours if not longer before any action is considered. If I am preterm I would prefer to remain pregnant as long as possible.

I will labour at home for as long as possible. I will call the labour ward and let them know when I am coming in.

I will have no vaginal examinations prior to labour.

As I believe that an intimate environment is the best to bring a child into, I would prefer the minimum of staff attending my birth. During the first stages of labour I will be left alone in the delivery suite as much as possible. The birth attendants will be my Doulas and the midwife assigned to me.

I feel very strongly about the importance of an active natural birth. I am committed to working through my labour with calm and patience and I will be very grateful for all the ways in which you support me through this to achieve a natural, unhindered birth.

I understand that there may be circumstances making emergency medical intervention necessary. That is why I have chosen a hospital delivery over a home birth. I ask that all procedures be discussed with me if they do become necessary.

I will have no internal vaginal examinations during my labour except upon my request. If I tell you it hurts, listen to me. If I say “no”, I mean it.

I would like to have dimmed lights/natural lighting and the room as quiet as possible;

I want no talking during a contraction.

I will wear my own clothes during labour and birth.

I prefer to have no IV and do not want a bung inserted. I understand this may slow the availability of drugs if needed, but I am willing to take that risk.

Pain medication is not to be offered, if I ask for pain relief please let my support people work with me to remind me of my natural birth goal. After working through the pain I will re-assess my need for drugs.

I will use the following natural pain relief methods: breathing techniques, distraction techniques, massage, and bath, shower, and position changes and concentrations techniques. This has work for me previously, I have faith in my body’s ability to cope and work through the pain without intervention.

I am to be able to move freely during labour.

The door to the birth room is to be closed and the curtain drawn at all times.

There will be no arbitrary time limits imposed on any stage of my labour.

If I make noise, I will not be reprimanded for it.

I will not be connected to the CTG monitor. FHR checks are to be done by Doppler only.

I do not consent to an episiotomy. I will aim to prevent tearing using perineal massage, hot compress, oil and breathing techniques for slower crowning.

Stirrups are not to be used unless there is a definite need in a medical emergency.

The room is to be quiet and light to be low during the birthing stage.

I will push instinctively instead of being coached to push. If I say “be quiet”, please do. I cannot think of anything more frustrating than noise when I am in the middle of something big.

If the relevant people are not there when I feel the urge to give my final pushes, I will not wait while they prepare.

I am happy to have my blood pressure measured intermittently.

My baby is to be placed in my arms or on my abdomen as soon as he is born, and a warm blanket to be laid over the top of us.

I will wait until the placenta is birthed before cutting the cord.

Please do not separate my baby and myself at all. My baby will be breastfed following the birth and I believe in the formation of the primal mother child bond in the moments following the birth. Any routine testing can wait.

I prefer the placenta to be born spontaneously without the use of Syntocinon and/or manual extraction. I am open to re-assessing this based on blood loss at the time.

For small perineal tears I prefer to be glued, rather than stitched. The baby is to be handed to Andrew whilst this is done.

All routine testing is to be done in the presence of either Andrew or I.

There will be no routine Hep B vac or Vit K shot given to the baby.

I will take the placenta home with me.
Thank you for being a part of bringing my baby into the world

[beljeff]

wow, thank you thank you! thanks a lot, i think if its ok with you i will pinch most of that for myself justincredible!
i do appreciate everyones opinions on this, and i knew that my wording was rude, thats why i asked for help.
cheers to all. i'd better get typing!
bel.

[justincredible]

yeah u can cut and paste mine if u want... it is just a collection from a heap of others i have read over the years.
my Ob and my mw both loved it, and didn't have a problem with it.

[~Lynda~]

Its brilliant B. Mine is similar but a bit tamer, I think i might 'take a leaf' from your book too. Some of my wording needs to be firmer, I think.

[MindfulMama]

I think it is important to keep in mind that whilst a birth plan is important & certainly hospitals seem to be ok with them (midwives that is), if you are transfering to a hospital rather than staying at home this is presumably because something has not gone the way you had hoped & you or your baby require some level of medical intervention. As such, compromises are likely to be a necessity in some areas, and there is little point in getting into a to-and-fro with medical staff at that point as you are there seeking help. Hopefully it's not an issue for you & you have a wonderful peaceful & healthy homebirth!