The birth plan can contain information on pain management, infant care, words or phrases for the nursing staff to avoid using, and other things that the mother feels is important.
Although I have never made a formal birth plan, I have always discussed my plans with my husband and my mother so that both were aware of my preferences.
This time around, my medical and mental condition is very different than with my last live birth and I am making a formal birth plan to take with me to the hospital when it comes time to deliver Dash. I don't want something to be forgotten, since my mom is no longer there to pipe up with my opinion if I flustered along the way and because I hope to do things differently than with my other live births. My husband and I have talked about these and he understands my reasons for the changes, but I don't want something to be forgotten, so I'm writing them down.
Each item on my plan is dependent on Dash's intended live birth, as a stillbirth would change several of these.
I am attempting to do a natural childbirth, or as close to one as I can manage, knowing that my labor will likely need to be induced with pitocin. Once labor begins, there's a good chance that the pitocin can be turned off if my past experience is any indicator, since I've had that happen in the past.
The reasons for the natural birth are based on two things: a strong desire to see if my body can do something right and because I'm hoping to stay on lovenox until delivery and with twice daily dosing, it may well be 12-24 hours after labor begins until I'd even be allowed an epidural. As an anticoagulant, lovenox can cause very serious problems with an epidural, so a full 24 hours after the last dose must pass before an anesthesiologist will administer the medication.
My first and second labors were roughly 13 hours and 10 hours respectively, My third labor, the stillbirth of our son, was started entirely from scratch and took under 8 hours, so I want to be prepared, because I may not have a choice on the epidural even if I change my mind!
Birth Plan
- My son was stillborn in March. This birth is emotional for me. Be HONEST.
- Do not offer pain meds
- Do not check my cervix unless I request it.
- Wireless monitoring, with intent to use the tub and allow me to walk/move
- Hold baby immediately after birth, allowing her to nurse if she wants
- Delayed cord clamping, prefer to wait until placenta delivers
- NO antibiotic eye ointment
- Vitamin K and heel prick: YES
- Vaccines: NO
- Cloth diapers ONLY
- Placenta will be encapsulated
Many women write out long, detailed versions in paragraph form, but I prefer something short because I think it'll be easier to follow this way. I imagine that nurses just don't want to read 3 pages of birth plans for every patient they see each day and even if they did, remembering everything wouldn't be easy. This list has 11 items on it and can easily fit on one page in large print for every person that walks into my delivery room to see.
There are additional items that women delivering in other hospitals would need to consider. Such things would include specifics on the use of pacifiers, the use of formula, when to bathe the baby, and preferences for rooming in or time in the newborn nursery.
The hospital I'm delivering at already has those policies in place, and they are all policies that are in line with my preferences, so I feel it isn't necessary for me to include them in my birth plan. Why add to the list if it's already policy, right?
A few of the items on the list are absolutely non-negotiable, such as the vaccines, eye goop, and cloth diapers. In the event that something goes badly, I know I will have to adjust my plan. For example, if my daughter's heart beat suddenly goes crashing and doesn't come back up, I know I'm in for an emergency c-section that will require general anesthesia if I haven't had an epidural. This would also mean I don't get to hold Dash right after birth, the cord clamping would likely not be delayed by very much, and nursing would be forced to wait a little, too. I can roll with the punches if needed, but I hope this birth is as smooth as each of my others has been.
Now, if I could just get this little girl to keep her head down, I'd feel a whole lot better about this plan!
There are additional items that women delivering in other hospitals would need to consider. Such things would include specifics on the use of pacifiers, the use of formula, when to bathe the baby, and preferences for rooming in or time in the newborn nursery.
The hospital I'm delivering at already has those policies in place, and they are all policies that are in line with my preferences, so I feel it isn't necessary for me to include them in my birth plan. Why add to the list if it's already policy, right?
A few of the items on the list are absolutely non-negotiable, such as the vaccines, eye goop, and cloth diapers. In the event that something goes badly, I know I will have to adjust my plan. For example, if my daughter's heart beat suddenly goes crashing and doesn't come back up, I know I'm in for an emergency c-section that will require general anesthesia if I haven't had an epidural. This would also mean I don't get to hold Dash right after birth, the cord clamping would likely not be delayed by very much, and nursing would be forced to wait a little, too. I can roll with the punches if needed, but I hope this birth is as smooth as each of my others has been.
Now, if I could just get this little girl to keep her head down, I'd feel a whole lot better about this plan!
