Moms-Did you have a birth plan?

[snickers]

Do I really need to make one of those?
I feel like it rarely goes as planned anyways..

[messykitchen]

My only plan both times was that I wanted all the drugs. I figured the doctors knew what was going on.

[speckledfrog]

I did not.

[ElizabethBennet]

Nope. I trusted my doctors and knew they would do whatever needed to keep me and baby safe.

[Deleted]

My plan was drugs.

[cinderbella]

Aug 17, 2013 9:42:40 GMT -5 messykitchen said:

My only plan both times was that I wanted all the drugs. I figured the doctors knew what was going on.

Yes. Drugs and getting the baby out.

[Ohhmm(bligo)]

Just a general idea. I wanted to walk, tub, use the birthing ball, etc, until I became too uncomfortable, and then get drugs.
I went way too fast and was near transition by the time I got to my room. Get me some fucking drugs.

[Booze Raccoon]

This sounds crazy, but I willed myself to have a c-section.  Granted, I realize that there is no such thing, but I wanted one so badly and my wish came true.  

I'm not sure that this constitutes as a plan but I was induced by choice a few days before my EDD.  I asked for and received every drug possible.  I had an epidural, dilaudad for pain and a lot of whatever else they give you while I was on the table.  

[snickers]

Okay, that makes me feel better. All of the baby apps and stuff are telling me to make one, but I have no idea how I want it to go. I have never had a baby before, and I am no medical professional. I know I want all of the drugs except anything that has a strong possibility of making me puke, lol.

[eb777888]

Nope.

[eav2c]

No, which was fine and not a huge deal even with an emergency csection. Although, I know with birth plans some people include that they want pictures of mom/dad/baby right after birth and I didnt think of that so our first family picture is like a month later. That bothers me so if you want a really candid family picture, make sure to let the nurse know. I feel like I am the only person that doesnt have that right after birth csection picture with dad holding the baby next to my head, lol.

[snickers]

Aug 17, 2013 9:48:51 GMT -5 Booze Raccoon said:

This sounds crazy, but I willed myself to have a c-section.  Granted, I realize that there is no such thing, but I wanted one so badly and my wish came true.  

I'm not sure that this constitutes as a plan but I was induced by choice a few days before my EDD.  I asked for and received every drug possible.  I had an epidural, dilaudad for pain and a lot of whatever else they give you while I was on the table.  

Did any of the drugs make you vomit?

[eb777888]

Aug 17, 2013 9:44:59 GMT -5 @bettyhomewrecker33 said:

My plan was drugs.

lol!

[litebright]

I had preferences that I let my OB know about. But yeah, nothing turned out as planned anyway.

The first time I was trying for a natural birth. Selected a doc & hospital that were supportive of that. Needed to be induced due to pre-e at full term, labored for 8 hours on pit before I begged for the epi. But still had a vaginal birth.

Second pregnancy, DD2 was breech from 30 weeks on and never flipped despite all my efforts. My OB and I had a lot of discussions about things to try and the fact that as I got further and further along that I was more and more likely to have a c/s, which I really didn't want -- but had even less desire to try a breech delivery (I would've had to switch hospitals, too) after going through a regular vaginal birth. Things eventually got decided for me -- my water broke with DD2 still breech, and c/s it was.

Both experiences were ultimately positive, even though they weren't necessarily what I'd have chosen as an "ideal." Very few births are ideal, IMO.

I think there's nothing wrong with knowing your options, asking tons of questions about options that your doc may not mention, and knowing which of those options you prefer or would prioritize. I think it's very good, in fact, as long as you recognize that it can all go out the window at a moment's notice, and make sure you're with an OB whose opinion you ultimately trust to help you make the medically necessary choices in the moment.

[snickers]

Aug 17, 2013 9:50:41 GMT -5 eav2c said:

No, which was fine and not a huge deal even with an emergency csection. Although, I know with birth plans some people include that they want pictures of mom/dad/baby right after birth and I didnt think of that so our first family picture is like a month later. That bothers me so if you want a really candid family picture, make sure to let the nurse know. I feel like I am the only person that doesnt have that right after birth csection picture with dad holding the baby next to my head, lol.

That's a really good point, thank you. I'm sorry you don't have that

[rex]

I have a few things written down, but nothing really specific to the birth. Even if I did have a "plan" it's unlikely any of it would happen.

ETA: I really only have anything written down so my H remembers and can advocate for me if needed. No one is going to see it.

[Deleted]

My plan was to birth a baby with the least amount of pain. I figured the Dr. could handle everything else. I was right.

[katiescarlett]

I did not have one, but with the third I had a short list of what I called birth wishes. Things like putting baby on my chest immediately, tell me/ask me before doing things like membrane rupture, etc. Luckily I had a great team of doctors and nurses and we were able to make it a great experience.

[karmasabiotch]

My plan was to get the baby out healthy. I let the Dr. decide how to accomplish this. It worked out nicely.

[auntie]

My BFF did. It was a source of endless amusement for her labor nurse and embarrassment for her. Hers was pretty extensive though; she put a lot of work into selecting the hospital with the Jacuzzi birthing suites after touring every other program in the city and inner ring suburbs. She endured 6 months of Bradley training. She actually had pages listed for books her DH was going to read aloud during labor when it turned out the sound of his voice made her want to nut-punch him. A playlist for music. Healthy snacks packed.

She had a pretty unpleasant labor, got turfed from the fancy L&D suites and rushed underground to the regular L&D ward where the rooms were all taken. She had meds, just missed getting a c/sec and delivered in what was once a closet. She felt really, really bad about it.

After being with her for that, I made no plans. I did a crappy Lamaze class, ended up being induced by amniotomy and delivered med-free using the Bradley I practiced with her. It wasn't fair.

[rugbywife]

I have a plan.

In order of importance...

1. get the baby out safely
2. if I give in because I can't take it, give me drugs
3. if it looks like my hips are doing to displace, give me a c-section

[TrudyCampbell]

I took a lot of time to write one and then never ended up giving it to the nurses because I arrived at the hospital 10cm and pushing.

I don't think it hurts to write a short, simple one. My hospital had a template.

[ECB]

Depends on what you mean by birth plan! Basically to follow on others, I let my preferences be known - and that was that I was perfectly fine w/ getting an epi. Aside from that, all I cared about was having a safe birth that ended w/ a healthy baby.

That was my "plan".

I think having everyone know you're overall preferences is important. But - I am always concerned about women who have really, really, really detailed plans. I just feel that they are setting themselves up for disappointment. Giving birth does NOT go by a script.

[Booze Raccoon]

Aug 17, 2013 9:50:49 GMT -5 snickers said:

Aug 17, 2013 9:48:51 GMT -5 Booze Raccoon said:

This sounds crazy, but I willed myself to have a c-section.  Granted, I realize that there is no such thing, but I wanted one so badly and my wish came true.  

I'm not sure that this constitutes as a plan but I was induced by choice a few days before my EDD.  I asked for and received every drug possible.  I had an epidural, dilaudad for pain and a lot of whatever else they give you while I was on the table.  

Did any of the drugs make you vomit?

Oh yes, all of them do so I ask for Zofran in the IV and it works like a charm!  I have to have it with all pain meds and anesthesia.

[lolly]

Mine was pretty much give me an epidural and only do a c-section if one of our lives depended on it.

[AHappierHour]

No not really. With DS I was young and didn't know what I was doing and just did what I was told. I had a successful induced labor with no epi. He was 9lbs. I'm still shocked that I did that. With the girls I got the epi one worked the other didn't. With them Inwas more concerned with after the birth. I wanted to do skin to skin, nurse ASAP.

[pooh8402]

Ime, the deliveries with the moms with birth plans, rarely go to plan. And then the moms are upset because expectations are up to here and their baby's birth didn't go to plan. My thought is this: babies don't give a crap what your plan is. So just go with the flow, and take the delivery as it comes. Health of mom and baby is more important than a plan, imo.

Sent from my SPH-L710 using proboards

[Deleted]

Not really. I went through a worksheet provided by my ob and thought through the answers with my husband and took a birthing class and figured that was good.

[circa1978]

My OB requested I make one.

I think birth plans get a bad rap. It's a plan, not a prescription. For me, setting out my preferences ahead of time gave me a sense of what I could control. The lights, the temp., how and where I wanted to labor.

I'm lucky and Henry's birth followed my "plan." I wouldn't have been clutching it while they wheeled me into the OR screaming, "This isn't what I pictured!" but I think it is nice to think through what the options are re: skin to skin contact, cutting the cord and so on.

[rupertpenny]

I had a desire (plan might be too strong of a word) to have my birth be as intervention free as possible. It already turned to shit as I'm being induced tomorrow night.

I'd still like to avoid pain meds, but I'm not 100% sure how much I'll be monitored and if I'll be able to move around/get in the tub so that might change things. Being on my back is super uncomfortable right now so if I have to labor in that position for whatever reason ill probably need meds.