Anyone ever do a birth plan? I've been reading up on the subject, and it seems that there are a ton of websites to help you create one. I just gotta wonder if the hospital and doctors really even pay attention to them at all. Thoughts? Comments?
Jen~ We did a birth plan. Put a lot of thought into it and everything. Had a copy put into the front of my file. When the time came, it wasn't followed. Now, I had the same OB that you do. One thing I didn't think to do was to stress the importance of the plan to him. He's a good doc and I think would have followed it had he known/known the importance. Frogger
Well it seems my kid had her own "birth plan"....LOL Like Frogger said, it's probably very important to stress to your doctor how important it is to you. That being said, and I know you already know this, make yourself some room for flexibility in it, and don't get upset if things don't go like you want. Rarely do they when it comes to birthin' babies... Regardless of how it goes down, you will have a beautiful baby when it's all said and done and that's the best part!! I'm already over my bitterness at the anesthesiologist for the crappy epidural...LOL
Birth Plan? Does the baby know about this? i don't think I would waste the time. Kids never follow a plan anyway... Relax and enjoy the baby and the birth as much as you can without fretting over if the "pan" is being followed or not. Just my thoughts. May the birth be quick and painless and the baby beautiful and healthy!
No no, the birth plan is supposed to be just a document that lets the hospital staff know your wishes. You know, whether you want to breastfeed, or have certain people present in the delivery room, or whether you want to be offered drugs, that sort of thing. I know that no baby is going to follow a plan, maybe that's a bad choice of names for it, lol.
Put in the birth plan that you reserve the right to change whatever part you need to change during labor. My SIL's OB refused to deviate from the plan when she demanded an epidural. He literally held up the plan and told her that wasn't what she really wanted. After 32 hours in labor, he instead gave her medicine to "stop the labor" so she could rest a few hours before giving her pitocin to "speed things up." (All told, she was in labor for 42 hours!) Fortunately that SOB is in Florida. My OB said the plan was a guide, but every labor was different so I could change it at any time. I went from "minimal drugs" to GIVE ME AN EPIDURAL NOW!!!!!!
This was my birth plan: 1. Preferably get it done and over with within 3 hours. 2. Have a Whopper w/cheese waiting on the nightstand for me when I get back to my room. With fries...lots of fries. 3. Make sure hospital enforces the rule that mother-in-laws are not allowed near the momma's room for the duration of her stay in the hospital. 4. Do not...I REPEAT DO NOT...put a note on the bassinet card that indicates my new daughter is scheduled for a circumcision. NOTE: If this does occur, please make sure it's corrected in ample time to avoid having to get out the super-glue. 5. No, I do not want the "super-saver" discount reservation for the same time next year. In fact, I'd like to hand in my "Birthing Club" membership card. I will be more than happy to turn in my anniversary edition "soothing perineal squirt bottle" and my complimentary lamaze "focus" object in the form of a shiny 3-D free-standing rendition of my HMO card. Teasing Jen...as you know it's a wonderful experience. Although for the life of me I can't imagine the value of a real birth plan other than to have something to laugh about afterwards when you think about how you both thought it was going to make a difference.
I really think it is important to let the doc's know ahead of time what your wishes are. (before hand) I went natural with all of mine, and I did not want them asking me about pain meds when I was in pain!! I knew it would be hard to turn down and it was important to me not to have any. They were great about it. I knew if things took a turn, they would suggest things if needed, but since there were no complications, we did things as planned. There were times when the pain was bad that I was hoping someone would suggest some wonderful meds. But since no one did, I was able to stick to my guns. I say make a birth plan! If nothing else, it makes you think it through and plan what would be your ideal birth, but like everyone else said, be prepared for it to change. Also, let hubby know all your wishes, it was easier for me to send him 'the look' instead of trying to verbalize anything, and he could translate for me. :lol: Good Luck!!!!
We did the birth plan too. I think it was important when I was in labor with the first one. I also put that no one from the family is allowed in the room during labor. My mom kept knocking on the door and the nurse would only open the door a crack and tell her to go back to the waiting room. :twisted: After about the fourth time and two hours of pushing I was about ready to get up myself and slam the door in her face. I put on my second plan that we wanted to try a natural birth....or as long as I could possibly go without meds. My doc was against it from the get go since my first baby ended up as a forceps delivery. She said they couldn't take that chance. I stood firm, but the nurse came in after my water broke and said, oh the doc should let you get that epidural any time now. I said I didn't want one. She just turned and looked at me and smiled. Said "we'll see about that" and walked right out the door. I ended up giving in cause they kept pushing me to and the walk I went on after my water broke was a wake up call. ouch! I was resting peacefully about an hour before I was to push....the same nurse was in the room with me. We heard a scream like something out of a horror movie. I said what's wrong? She just smiled that same smile and said "She DIDN'T get an epidural!" side note...I think if nothing else doing the birth plan let's you and hubby discuss how you would like things to go. Let's HIM be a part of decision making and let's HIM know your wishes just in case you can't remember or answer for yourself when the time comes. :wink:
I want a natural birth too. MM was breech, and a C-section baby, and it was a terrible experience all around. It's very important to me that I be allowed to progress as far as possible as long as the baby and I aren't in any danger. I don't want some cut-happy intern to decide I need to be their science project, ya know? Thanks you guys, these thoughts and suggestions have been very helpful!
More power to you ladies who did it "natural", but that wasn't the road I wanted to go down. One of my sisters had a home birth, obviously no pain meds and it took her 3 days. Not me! I was induced unfortunately due to him being overdue and I was swelling like crazy, so I took the pain meds and the epidural (but it took 3 trys for that to work :roll: ). Baby was perfectly healthy and I only pushed through 8 contractions to have him, so meds and an epidural do not necessarily slow down your labor and delivery, trust me! They said if I ever had another one, I'd better get to the hospital at the first contraction or I'd have it in the car! No more for me and I wish you all the best of luck!
I say the good Lord helped scientists create wonderful meds to ease pain, so bring it on! As long as it didn't hurt my baby, give me more! :wink: A side note...I'm choosing not to have 2-legged babies...unless God has different plans and can out do my BC! My body was NOT made to do that! I will stick with my 4-legged babies!
Well, I don't think any less of anyone who decides to use pain meds, but based on my own personal experience, I'd just rather not if I can help it. I had an epidural with my C-section and I still have back issues because of it. The drugs they can give you in your IV can actually cause the baby to be less alert at birth, etc. There are pros and cons to both, but in the end, it's all about individual choice. And PG, you mean you don't want any Squire Jr's running around?? LOL
Amen Sista!!!!! I had the drugs and don't regret it. Having a child naturally doesn't build a better bond or anything and lets face it, in our whole generation our parents had drugs - i think. We know more today then ever, no smoking, no drinking, do dying your hair and a bunch of other stuff. I think the progress is great and made babies a lot healthier but as long as the drugs don't affect the baby - i'm all for 'em. You're a better woman then I Jen S. Just call me chicken little peppercorns! oh and Prirate Girl - Told my mother for years that I was going to have puppies and not a baby. I was very disappointed when I found out that wasn't going to work...lol :wink:
Well, I personally thank God for the person who invented the epidural and I highly endorse having one. I had an 11 lb. 4 oz. baby and I would not have made it through without the help of a doctor who believed in epidurals and other drugs. Yep, 11 lbs. 4 oz. and 23 inches long. . . I gave birth to a watermelon!!!!