One of the things I regretted about my last birth experience, is that I didn’t have a birth plan. I knew I was going to have a c/s, and so I figured I didn’t need one. I never put any thought into what options I still had with a cesarean birth.
Since then, I have learned that whether a mom has a cesarean or vaginal birth, a birth plan can definitely be a great help. As many people will point out, a birth plan doesn’t *guarantee* anything. It doesn’t mean that everything will go as you had hoped and planned because nothing in life ever goes that way. Even so, a birth plan is a way of setting goals, and preparing for them which can definitely pay off.
Some Benefits of a Birth Plan:
They lead you to ask the question “what do I want/not want for my birth?” I doubt your run of the mill provider will ever ask you that question, plus it’s nice to have it all on paper. They cause you to ask questions as to what you want/don’t want, the natural next step would be for you to become more educated about your choices and the risks/benefits involved with each decision you make. This is a very good thing.They can be given to your husband/doula/midwife/OB/ nurse so that they can better understand what it is that you want.
Recently, I read this blog post about birth plans, written by a home birth midwife here in AZ. She makes some really great points about birth plans, and what they should really be about. I think the main point is that if we want our birth plans and preferences to be respected and supported, then we need to FIRST find a provider and birth environment that already offers and supports exactly what we what we want. Getting the kind of birth you want shouldn’t be a tug of war between you and your provider. This is why it’s so important to go into your provider interview with your birth plan in mind, instead of waiting until you are 36 + weeks to discuss what it is that you want. Trying to convince a provider to do something that they don’t normally support is risky and could really backfire on you.
Your provider should be 100% supportive of what you want, and you should know this before you hire them. After many interviews and lots of pondering and prayer, we decided to go with the Bethany Midwives for this birth. During my interview with them, I found that they genuinely wanted what I wanted for myself, even before mentioning what it was that I wanted. There was no convincing needing to be done because they already offer the kind of support I was looking for. Although I’m not excited to be in a hospital environment, I know that I am going to have 100% support from my provider doula and husband. My written birth plan is really for the nurses and hospital staff, as they will not know what it is that I want, and are used to following hospital protocols unless asked otherwise.
Kevin & Melissa’s Birth Plan
We have chosen the Hypnobabies method for a relaxed natural birth. We have given careful consideration to each specific request in our plan. We realize that as labor ensues, special circumstances may arise that cause us to deviate from our plan. We trust that you will provide us with a clear explanation of special circumstances, the medical need for any procedures you may anticipate, and what options may be available. Thank you for your cooperation and support.
For hospital admission, we request:
- To be assigned a nurse who is partial to natural birthing.
- To self-hydrate and decline routine IV and or heplock upon admission.
- To be able to eat light foods and drink clear fluids to maintain hydration and energy.
- To have a quiet labor and birthing room with a Jacuzzi tub, subdued lighting, and hushed tones.
- To have intermittent monitoring after 20 minute required strip at admission.
- To respectfully decline to participate in the taking of pain scale information.
During the first stage of labor, we request:
- Freedom to walk, move, change positions and assume labor positions of choice as well as having full use of the Jacuzzi tub. Privacy when requested.
- Minimal number of vaginal exams, with permission.
- Natural means of inducement, moving to minimal doses of artificial induction, only if medically urgent.
- To be fully apprised and consulted before the introduction of any medical procedure – augmentation, amniotomy, membrane stripping, internal fetal monitoring etc.
- Husband (Kevin) and doula (Kimberly) to be present at all times.
- Please refrain from offering pain medications and or an epidural to Mother.
During birthing, we request:
- To be allowed choice of positions for pushing – avoid stirrups and breaking down the bed.
- Mother directed pushing with quiet guidance when needed. Guidance on when to stop pushing in order to avoid tearing.
- Perineal massage with oil as well as perineal support to avoid tearing. Episiotomy only if necessary and after discussion and expressed permission of Mother.
- Baby to be placed immediately on mother’s chest, skin to skin, and breastfed.
- Allow 20 minutes for delivery of placenta and please refrain from using Pitocin postpartum unless there is an emergency situation.
- Placenta to be placed in cooler that we will provide.
- Umbilical cord to be cut by husband after pulsing has stopped.
For baby, we request:
- That baby stay with parents at all times. Father to accompany baby if special care is required.
- To allow vernix to be absorbed into the skin, gentle rubbing with towels instead of bathing.
- Delay newborn procedures until baby has breastfed and has had a few hours to bond with Mother and Father.
- To allow baby to remain with Mother while performing newborn procedures
- To respectfully decline the hep b shot and eye gel.
- Breastfeeding only – no bottles, formula or artificial nipples
Cesarean Birth Plan
Should the situation arise where a cesarean is medically necessary, I would appreciate your support and assistance in making it the best experience possible for my baby and I. Thank you for respecting my following wishes.
- Unless it is an emergency situation, I would like to be given a spinal/epidural so that I can be awake and alert.
- I would like my arms to be kept free during surgery
- I would like my husband (Kevin) to accompany me in the OR.
- I would prefer to choose the type of music that is being played during my surgery if there is going to be music playing.
- I would like the atmosphere in the OR to be kept light and peaceful, and I would like it if the doctor could lower the drape temporarily so that I can see my baby right when he is born (before he is wrapped up).
- I would appreciate it if my husband could hold our baby next to my face after he is born, and while I am being sutured.
- Unless it is an emergency situation, I would like to have a low transverse incision that is closed with double sutures.
- Placenta to be placed in cooler that we will provide.
- I would like to respectfully decline the use of eye gel for my baby and the hep b shot.
- I would like the vernix to be left to absorb into my baby’s skin, and to do light rubbing with towels instead of a bath.
- Delay newborn procedures until baby has breastfed and has had a few hours to bond with Mother and Father.
- To allow baby to remain with Mother while performing newborn procedures
- I would like to breastfeed and have skin to skin contact with my baby as soon as possible.
- Breastfeeding only for my baby, no bottles, formula, or artificial nipples please.
Some basic tips on creating a birth plan:
- Keep it to one page if possible
- Bullet-point each item so it is easy to read
- Try to use wording that isn’t really negative or defensive,
for example: “DON’T YOU DARE GIVE MY BABY A BOTTLE!” probably isn’t the best way to get your point across. - Some things that you plan on doing may not need to be included in your birth plan depending on the situation. For example- I’m planning on wearing my own clothing when I get to the hospital, but instead of putting it in my birth plan I will just say “no thanks” when they offer the hospital gown. Also- I plan on laboring mostly at home before going to the hospital, but there is no need to put this on my birth plan, I just go to the hospital once I feel ready and that is that.
I was amazed at how much control I had in the OR. Since Olivia was born at 33 weeks, they knew I was nervous but they asked me what kind of music I wanted to listen to and they waited as long as they could for Curtis. As soon as he walked in, they rushed me to the OR and brought him in as soon as he was changed into his scrubs. I found out later that my wonderful Dr had called the OR (while I was in the ambulance) and told them how I would best handle the stress of the emergency. She told them that I could handle humor and to tell jokes. She also told them to let me be bossy, because I would tell them exactly what I needed, because I'm a very direct person. I really appreciated everything they did to help me, even though it happened so quick.
I really hope that you do get to have a VBAC. I think you are an amazing person and I'm impressed by your birth plan.
Shellee- I'm so glad that your Dr.and staff made your c/s a better experience for you. That is so wonderful! Props to them. Even the little things can make such a huge difference! Thanks for your support:)
i loved reading your birth plans. well done! 🙂
i haven't done mine yet, (i'm still deciding if it's totally necessary to have one for alison, since we're already on the same page…) and as much as we hope we don't have to transfer, it would be nice to have one in case of that emergency. anyways, it was helpful to read yours since our views are very similar.
i'm very impressed and motivated/inspired by all the research and thought you've given this, there's no doubt that you will have a better birth experience 🙂
I think its also important to give the birth plan to the nurse as soon as you get to the hospital and make sure they read it! We put on ours to do a heplock and the nurse gave me a normal iv… but I didn't know the difference so I didn't realize it until the next nurse came on shift.
Alli- Thanks:) I know not every mom that has a homebirth makes a birth plan, but it's sometimes nice to have just in case.
Robyn- That's a great point. It is so important that your nurse is given a copy right away so she can fully understand what you want. I'll be bringing several copies just in case:)