I just wondered who all is doing one and what site/resource(s) you're using? I've done them before, but they were never used - blah. This time, my OB has actually asked me to do one for him. To help me sort out my whole OB/MW dilemma, I decided that I'd go ahead and get started...that way I'm armed with specifics -- questions and what not -- at my next appts. with them. I'd like to have it ready to go over with my midwife in a week-and-a-half and again with my OB at the end of the month.

Any favorites or recommendations? TIA!!!

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No vaxes
Bring baby to me to nurse asap
Drugs--oh yeah!--well it will be a section but I'm talking about after birth drugs.
NO STUDENTS
NO VISITORS
NO pacis
NO Bottles unless needed.
hep lock only--no saline, please. That stuff makes me blow up like a balloon

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This is not my birt plan, just a mock model I saw on-line. It was close to the one I model I used with Isabella. I found it very usueful to have since I was not sure what to expect and my doula required me to have one. i will not use a doula this time around but I have started my birth plan for my nurse and midwife and will turn it into the hospital as soon as I am finished so it will already be in my chart prior to labor and delivery. I will give one to the OB, RN and the midwife once I finish as well. Good luck writing it. I had fun with it and felt more confident with mine and DHs wishes put on paper.


Birth Plan for First Middle Last

Due Date: 1/25/06
Patient of Dr Jane Doe
Scheduled to deliver at Medical Center.




12/12/05


Dear Dr Doe and the Medical Center Staff:

I look forward to sharing my upcoming birth with you. I have created the following birth plan to help you understand my preferences for my upcoming labor and delivery. I fully understand that in certain circumstances these guidelines may not be followed, but it is my hope that you will assist me in making this the experience I hope for. If you have any questions or suggestions, please let me know.


Sincerely,





First Last



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Labor
I would prefer to avoid an enema and/or shaving of pubic hair.
I wish to be able to move around and change position at will throughout labor.
I would like to be able to have fluids by mouth throughout the first stage of labor.
I would prefer to keep the number of vaginal exams to a minimum.

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Monitoring
I do not wish to have continuous fetal monitoring unless it is required by the condition of my daughter.

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Labor Augmentation/Induction
I do not wish to have the amniotic membrane ruptured artificially unless signs of fetal distress require internal monitoring.
I would prefer to be allowed to try changing position and nipple stimulation before pitocin is administered.

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Anesthesia
I do not want any kind of anesthesia offered to me during labor, though would like it available if I specifically request it.
Custom note regarding use of an epidural

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Cesarean
If my primary care provider determines that a cesarean delivery is indicated, I would like to obtain a second opinion from another physician if time allows.
I would like my husband present at all times if my daughter requires a Cesarean delivery.
I wish to have an epidural for anesthesia
If my daughter is not in distress, my daughter should be given to (blank) immediately after birth.

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Episiotomy
I would prefer not to have an episiotomy unless absolutely required for the baby's safety.

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Delivery
I would like my husband and/or nurses to support me and my legs as necessary during the pushing stage.
I would like a mirror available so I can see my daughter's head when it crowns.
Even if I am fully dilated, and assuming my daughter is not in distress, I would like to try to wait until I feel the urge to push before beginning the pushing phase.
I would like to have my daughter placed on my stomach/chest immediately after delivery.

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After Delivery
I would like to cut the cord myself.
I would like to have my daughter examined and bathed in my presence.
If my daughter must be taken from me to receive medical treatment, my husband or some other person I designate will accompany my daughter at all times.
I would like a private room if available.
After the birth, I would prefer to be given a few moments of privacy to urinate on my own before being catheterized.
I would like to donate the umbilical cord blood.

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Breastfeeding
Unless medically necessary, I do not wish to have any bottles given to my daughter (including glucose water or plain water).
I do not want my daughter to be given a pacifier.

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Photos
I would like to make a videorecording of labor and/or the birth.

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Other
My support people are my doula and I would like them to be present during labor and/or delivery.

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I will try to find the disk that has my first birth plan on it. I have switched computers 3 times since birth of Isabella so we will see if I can find it

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tried to edit too late:
No sites or resources.. I have to have mine in a hospital due to the surgery. Check out mothering.com they will give you some good pointers. (look in the unassisted childbirth section, but I have to give you a heads up--some of them are blatant NO ONE WILL BE THERE BUT ME types--pretty militant, imo)

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How to write a Birth Plan

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My births are always so unpredictable, my only plan is to try to roll with it and not get too freaked out. I am hoping to avoid a c-section at all costs and that is my only solid prefrence. Other than that....just do what it takes to get that baby out fine and healthy, that is my plan!
Monica

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LOL, emuone. I know what you mean.

Kim - This birth options document (http://www.birthingnaturally.net/bir...lanoptions.doc) is a great sheet to go off of - thank you!...I feel like I already 'know' most of what I'll want/need and not have any problems with any of it since I found like-minded providers. (Of course, always gotta allow for some flexibility for 'emergencies' and what not.) It's still nice, however, to have an overall list to review that hits about everything without being too textbook-like...if that makes sense. Kind of like a Christmas check-off list. Thanks!!

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I've never actually written out a birth plan. I had a VBAC last time, and I'm going to do that again, if possible. I had an epidural last time, and I LOVED it and would like to have that again. So much more peaceful and pain-free than my first two births, where I basically just had local anesthetic for the episiotomy and that was all. Other than that, I'll just go with the flow. Whatever makes the labor nurse happy is fine with me, really.

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I had one with my first but that got thrown out the window, lol. I like to just go with the flow, plus I tend to have fast l&d expereiences. I always go into it knowing what I want before hand and I try to be flexible because anything can happen since l&d's can be so unpredictable.

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Rachel
Proud Mother of 2 Boys and a Girl
Isaac David - February 2004
Carson Eli - January 2006
Kianna Rachelle - May 2008





***Just Add Baby ACD***

***Host of Baby Dust Grads***

Melissa I just write it for the fact that everyone there willnow what my preferences are and a reminder to myslef of how I felt prior to being in labor. Of course we cannot control the out comeof the delivery, but it truly does give me a sense of knowing what my choices are and how I want to go about them. We should pm our plans to one another and use them as a check list for each other in the event that i with my pg brain have overlooked something that might be important

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"Whatever makes the labor nurse happy is fine with me, really."

Korie! You are the one having the baby! LOL Why should you care if the labor nurse is happy? It should be THEM doing what they can to make YOU the laboring mom happy! That is the way I always saw it- I am a PAYING patient- paying for service THEY provide...SO they should be making me happy. KWIM? No matter if it is getting water to drink, or something to help, or whatever... we wouldn't accept this for any other kind of service- why should we accept the hospital treating us badly or making them happy when we are in labor? I am not picking on you by the way, Korie- just giving people something to think about. Don't worry about making the nurse happy- do what you need or want to do. It's YOUR baby and YOUR birth- not hers.

My birth plans were pretty specific- alot of the same as the one Bella's mommy mentioned- only I had sons so I'll add no circ to that one. I also said no pacifiers, no bottles, rooming in only and a few other things about the baby= oh- wait til cord stops pulsing before we tie and cut it, and I wanted dh to cut it, no vitamin K shot or eye goop unless necessary- yes you can decline it, no vax...what else....no constant monitoring...only intermittent after the original first 20 min- which about kills me! Oh- NO IV's unless medically necessary (and I didn't)...basically it is kind of like- leave me alone, but be there in support. LOL They just have to basically catch the baby. Since I am in the birthing tub, I don't need any drugs and I didn't use any pain meds after- I didn't need any.

"Melissa I just write it for the fact that everyone there willnow what my preferences are and a reminder to myslef of how I felt prior to being in labor. Of course we cannot control the out comeof the delivery, but it truly does give me a sense of knowing what my choices are and how I want to go about them. We should pm our plans to one another and use them as a check list for each other in the event that i with my pg brain have overlooked "something that might be important "

I agree- we can't always control what happens- but if you have specific things you do and don't want...my labors have gone fast in the past so I don't really have time to think about it...basically all I think is- get me in the tub, NOW!


Melissa- I don't think it would hurt to do the birth plan with Dr wonderful!

Another thing- I said no students or anything with my first- but when I had my 2nd, I had a midwife, and I had her apprentice come in= I didn't know prior, but I think I decided before to change that because I figured more midwives the better! And she got to experience her first water birth and it was very successful. She ended up being my friend's midwife a couple years later! So that is ok with me now. This time, I will allow the Dr. in, if the mw is on call, because he said he wants to learn about water births. Allright with me! So that is one thing that changed- I don't know that I would allow students- although now, it might not even phase me because maybe I can show a new and upcoming intern or med student how great water is in labor and how it benefits MOM, baby and the dr! They really don't have to do much- makes their job easier.

And of course after the baby is born, I let my parents and sister and the boys come in, and whoever wants to. I also request to try to go home within 24 hours unless there is a medical reason not to...I just much prefer recovering at home, where I can actually SLEEP. They come in to your room all the time and I just can't sleep in the hospital because I feel like I have to watch the baby so no one will come and take them. That is why I don't let them take the kid to the nursery, and I have dh go if they need to do any tests. Or I have them do whatever they need to do in the room. If they say- we can't do it in the room, I make dh or one of my parents go watch. If they can't do whatever they do in the room, what ARE they doing with your child?

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Francine mom to 3 awesome boys~Keiran 2/18/01 Aidan 11/14/02 (water birth)Breylan 5/02/05(water birth)
and and Hunter Grayce~born 6/7/2008 7 lbs 6 oz, a fabulous water birth
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Blinkie Maker
The day you deliver, outside will be warm. Your baby will arrive in the evening.After a labor lasting approximately 5 hours, your child, a girl, will be born. Your baby will weigh about 8 pounds, 15 ounces, and will be 17-1/2 inches long. This child will have blue eyes and dark hair.

You go girl - tell it like it is (um, or should be? haha)... No, seriously, that is true...very true...and I think it's better to go in prepared (with reasonable flexibility) than to just hope for the best. I'm not picking on anyone either...Just teasing you Francine. (And agreeing!) Even though I still have homebirth at my first choice, I was really happy to have a Dr. actually ask me to write one up for him so he would know my preferences. That was a big for me! (Never been asked before...)

Let's see...just off the top of my head so far (in no order)...

• Of course, we're going planned natural (much better than screaming, go-with-the-flow natural, IMO) this time and having our first waterbirth, hopefully.
• My DH has always cut the cord except for our third child...due to her respiratory distress from inhaling the meconium. Hopefully, he'll be able to catch the baby this time, too (MW says yes as long as things are progressing normally I doubt the Dr. would go for that, though, with liability and all...).
• No unnecessary EFT
• No IV in normal circumstances
• Definitely NO AROM!!!
• NO eye gunk this time!
• And I have always been very adamant about no bottles or pacis or anyone other than me feeding baby...and rooming-in as well.
• This will be our first time not vax'ing. Of course, no issue at home...but I do worry about that "slip-up" at the hospital. I mean, if they can bring me the wrong baby...they are certainly capable of things such as that.
• First bath either left to me or done in room...at worst, DH goes with baby (nobody's switching babies on me again - if in the hospital, baby will not leave room without mommy or daddy...for any reason!!! I am adamant about that!)

I need to go through that checklist to get everything in...but those are top things for me. I'm a really good patient (have always been well-liked during my births, etc.) but I have also learned to tactfully 'demand' respect. And, for the first time, I'll have a doula to help if needed as well. Kim - Sharing them sounds like a great idea!

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