Is anyone doing a birthplan? I finished mine and had my OB look over it. I've been preparing for a natural birth (bradley classes) and he was very supportive of all my requests. I plan on taking several copies of my birthplan to the hospital with me.

Yes, I did one. I did one originally for my expected vaginal birth (with a small section on c-sections in case one was necessary), and then when we found out that we had to do a c-section due to breech baby with cord wrapped around her neck and abdomen, I did a new one for my planned c-section.

I think the best thing about birth plans is letting everyone involved with your birth know that you know what to expect... that you aren't just letting the system run you and your choices. Ultimately, it's important that everyone know what you would prefer, but that you are willing to go with alternatives if you are given the proper time to give informed consent.

I was very glad to have a birth plan. It made sure that my OB and I were on the same page, which is always a good thing. :)

Explain, what exactly is a birthplan?

Who gets to see it?

It is a list of your preferences that is signed by you, and your birth care providers. It is given to everyone at the hospital or at your birth center to be sure that you have the birth that you want.

The best place to find info about birthplans, I found, was in the Dr. Sears book "The Birth Book" that had a whole appendix to help you write one.

jacqui

My doctor laughed at me when I asked about his views on a birth plan. He said he knows me well enough to know what I would and would not want, my records reflect it, and people tend to get unnecessarily locked into what their birth plan says and not able to be flexible for various situations that may arise. So I didn't write one and I couldn't have had a better birth experience! I don't mean to sound like I'm discouraging you, just encouraging you to not become tied down to the "letter of the birthplan" and not work with your doctor for what's happening at the moment.

My OB/peri last pregnancy gave us a REALLY long sheet that we had to write down our prefrences to a LONG list of questions on, like how and by who I wanted to be shaved if a c-section was necesarry on top of all the normal drugs or no drugs, iv or heplock, type questions. It was insanely long and I'd say 90% of it never came up. I don't know if my midwife with give me a sheet like this this time around (it's the same health system, so it's likely I'll get the same one) but if not I don't plan on writing out a birthplan...we will answer questions as they come up.

emm, I did I birth plan. All natural an just using the waterpool for pain relief then for delivery I wanted to do it naturally without the use of any drugs.

On the day itself, I had gas and air, diamorphine and my butt never went into the pool, I just didnt want to move.

For #2 I wont do a birth plan, my body and my baby will tell me what to do!

people tend to get unnecessarily locked into what their birth plan says and not able to be flexible for various situations that may arise. So I didn't write one and I couldn't have had a better birth experience! I don't mean to sound like I'm discouraging you, just encouraging you to not become tied down to the "letter of the birthplan" and not work with your doctor for what's happening at the moment.
I agree. We had so many unexpected twists during labor/delivery that I am not sure how a birthplan would have held up. That said... Although I didn't have a written birthplan, I knew what I wanted as did my DH. So, my best advice is to consider and learn about all of your options BEFORE labor so that you can make your choices with a clean (read "painfree") mind. :lol:

I did a birth plan for my first and I would do one again. If nothing else it gave me a starting place to discuss things with my doctor and gave me the peace of mind I needed. I felt that because it was on paper everyone knew my wishes which I couldn't express clearly during labor.

I had a birth plan and I gave it to my doctor--he never mentioned it again.... I had that I didn't want an iv, pitocin, an epidural, vacuum extraction, or an episiotomy...and I did want my baby on my chest right after birth.

I ended up having to be induced, so needed an iv, made it 41 hours and ended up getting an epidural for the last 10, the baby's head was stuck so I needed a vaccum and an episiotomy....and then he had his cord around his neck and merconium in the amniotic fluid so the second he was born, he was rushed to the corner... LOL...needless to say, *that* birthplan went out the window.

The day after the birth, my doctor said that he read my birth plan before my induction and knew that I wouldn't get to have it that way because he knew the head wasn't going to come out on it's own...but he said he didn't want me to get discouraged so he let me call the shots (meaning after 3 hours of pushing I was BEGGING for the vaccum! LOL!)

I had a birth plan and I gave it to my doctor--he never mentioned it again.... I had that I didn't want an iv, pitocin, an epidural, vacuum extraction, or an episiotomy...and I did want my baby on my chest right after birth.

I ended up having to be induced, so needed an iv, made it 41 hours and ended up getting an epidural for the last 10, the baby's head was stuck so I needed a vaccum and an episiotomy....and then he had his cord around his neck and merconium in the amniotic fluid so the second he was born, he was rushed to the corner... LOL...needless to say, *that* birthplan went out the window.

The day after the birth, my doctor said that he read my birth plan before my induction and knew that I wouldn't get to have it that way because he knew the head wasn't going to come out on it's own...but he said he didn't want me to get discouraged so he let me call the shots (meaning after 3 hours of pushing I was BEGGING for the vaccum! LOL!)
A lot of this is how it worked out for me. I didn't want to be induced, no IV, no epidural, no narcotics, no vaccuum or forceps, no episiotomy...

Then it all started with me being strep B positive...but I convinced them to use a heplock, and then 24 hours after my water broke I wasn't in labor yet, so we had to do pitocin...so that got me an induction and IV, then after 42 hours of labor I got the epidural for then next 14 hours...after pushing for 6 hours I also begged for forceps/vaccum, but they couldn't use one. I did get to hold her immediatly though, so I got that wish.

For #2 I wont do a birth plan, my body and my baby will tell me what to do!
:nod:

I didn't do one. I figured that I'd never been in labour before, so I didn't really know how I would want it to go. I didn't have any strong feelings one way or the other about IV's, pain relief, episiotomies, etc. so maybe that made a difference too. All I wanted during labour was to be lying at the very edge of the bed on my left side. I don't think I would have come up with that for my birth plan :lol: The one thing that I had my heart set on was having baby on my chest right after the birth, but there was meconium in the fluid, so she was taken off and checked over immediately.

If I were to do a birth plan for any future pg, the one thing I would put in it would be that if they have to do any procedures (blood draw, bp check, etc.) that they do it between ctx. if at all possible. My nurse would just grab my arm and slap the bp cuff on it without checking with me. There's no reason it couldn't have waited 45 seconds until the ctx. was over. I actually asked one nurse to wait on the blood draw until a ctx. was over. So that would be it. Baby on chest if possible, and ask me before diong those kinds of procedures. But I doubt I'll do one anyway.

Sarah

I didn't do one as well, I felt that the events that happened in labor, can go unexpectedly.

I did one with baby #1 and agree with the other ladies that for baby #2 I won't do one. Dh and I had talked about exactly what we wanted and wanted to avoid so he was there to be my voice. I kinda felt that my birth plan was read but that the docs knew that it was not really my decisions in some cases. (such as when my water started leaking so I had to be induced instead of going into labor naturally.)

It is good to write down what you want such as in a birth plan just to clarify what you really want, but I am not sure you will really need it at the hospital if your needs are clear and the people around you will support you.

I did create a birthplan, but like so many others, it went out the window when it got down to it. I ended up being vacuum assisted (something I REALLY did not want but was necessary after 3.5 hours of pushing and baby's head getting stuck under my pubic bone) and getting an episiotomy (again--something I really didn't want but needed since my daughter's crowning head tore me nearly from end to end). If I have another baby, I won't create a birthplan--I learned a lot from my first experience and now believe I have the knowledge necessary to make the most informed decisions possible, in conjuction with the delivering OB. That being said--I absolutely think it's great for you to create a birthplan because it shows that you've done your research and are making educated choices for yourself and your child.

I absolutely think it's great for you to create a birthplan because it shows that you've done your research and are making educated choices for yourself and your child. :tongue2: Yes!!! That's just it. You(general you) come across as informed and educated. I had a birthplan for both deliveries and my caregivers were impressed.

PS-I had a vacuum assist,too,Jen. And, yes, it fails...but we have healthy babies to show for it, and that's what matters. Sometimes I think we (general we) get wrapped up in the process of birth and not the end result :)

"I absolutely think it's great for you to create a birthplan because it shows that you've done your research and are making educated choices for yourself and your child."
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Exactly!

My birth plan was simple. DO NOT OFFER PAIN MEDICATION.

I knew that if I was in so much pain I would ask for it, which I did. Two shots of nubain and an epidural. I was also induced. I just knew what I wanted and I let the staff know while things where happening. This way I didn't have a piece of paper to try and follow.

I did a birth plan and I will do one again. But it was pretty simple and there were only a couple things that I stressed my DH telling me what our baby's sex was, I wanted the baby placed on my chest after delivery (if the baby was healthy) and I wanted a mirror. Thankfully everything worked out great.

My sister who is a LD nurse tried to discourage me from having a birth plan. She said that when a patient comes in with a birth plan you might as well take them to the OR for a section. I do not agree with her but I guess she sees a lot of different things. In hind site I am glad that I did one because at least they knew what I wanted to happen and if it didn't happen it was for a reason.

I didnt create a birthplan before going into the hospital. But, my nurse did ask me all of my preferences and they did follow all of them. If we do it again, I will definitely do a few things differently!

I had one for both of my other kids & plan on writing anotherone for #3 soon. Both of the births went like I had planned even though DH & I were very flexible about what could happen during labor. It helped the nurses where I gave birth to know my preferences for stuff and actually saved me from having an epiosotomy both times, something that we (Dh & I) felt very strongly about. Having been through labor twice before, I am flexible to what CAN happen but I would also like to have my preferences known as well. I was so out of it for my first labor (30+) hrs that the nurses even told me they appreciated my birthplan!

Tina

Other than undergoing hypnobirthing prep, my plan is to get drugged up if I need it and get the whole thing over as soon as possible. My experiences have taught me that my best laid plans are ultimately out of control. So will go with the flow!

I had a birthplan with my son, and most of it was followed, however - it was very simple. Mainly, I didn't want an epidural nor did I want to be induced, but I had to be induced because of PIH, but I still didn't get an epidural. I didn't have one with teh twins, but I knew it would be a crazy delivery at best!

I found one online that I filled out...but I didn't use it. We have a great relationship with our doctor and we discussed everything at my appointments and he was well aware of what our plans/wishes were. And should an emergency occur, Clint and I have talked about everything so he will be able to make decisions. I'll probably fill one out again this time...but I tend to do it just to get myself thinking about everything. I'll take it with us to the hospital just in case, but last time we didn't use it at all.

I also think it will be easier making one the second time around. The first time, I'd never known anything about giving birth besides what I had read/watched so I didn't know what types of *little* things would arise. I was asked before anything occured so it wasn't a big deal. If nothing else, I'll feel more prepared this 2nd time after going through it last time.