Post by MixedBerryJam on Aug 17, 2013 11:00:58 GMT -5
The only plan I had was I made a wallet card for my husband and the friend I wanted with me in case he couldn't have been there (husband traveled for work a lot, and with little notice). The wallet card contained my various doctors' names and numbers, the hospital I should go to, and a notation about wanting drugs as soon as practicable.
Post by wildfloweragain on Aug 17, 2013 11:06:22 GMT -5
You should know your options and their side effects.
I thought I knew them - took a class and read books, but I was still mistaken about a few things. Part of it was that I didn't realize how very long my first birth would be, so I refused any additional meds once I had nubain once. Also I would not let them reposition the epidural that didn't take. Now I realize, if you decide to go with an epidural, might as well let them do it right:)
I also thought I should lay down, after all, this was hard, I should make it easier on myself. Except laying down slowed things down for me.
I had a "plan" in place for 2nd child: stand and walk as much as possible, go to hospital a bit later, try the tub, get meds if needed, don't if not. It did go a lot faster, and I ended up not needing an epidural.
I hoped the 3rd child would be like the 2nd: intense (I had broken all the blood vessels north of my chest) but quick. It didn't. But the 3rd child was the first one where the nurse actually asked if I had a birth plan. I ended up standing for most of it. Not really on purpose, but it was the only thing I wanted to do. I refused in the moment to have a birthing ball and I think I refused the tub. IDK why. I just stood and clung to H for hours. Then I had an epidural and it took and was amazing, but slowed things down. I also ended up with some scary complications that they kept me blissfully unaware of until the next day. It involved a hand up my butt. that was NOT in my birth plan, but saved the baby's life.
No. I found a hospital whose standard practice was pretty much everything I would have put into a birth plan (don't bring up drugs unless I do, doppler monitoring, no IV, eat and drink whenever I want, deliver in any position I want, etc.), got to know some of the midwives, then trusted them to do what was best.
ETA: I am very fortunate to have had a hospital like this 30 minutes away and in my network. I'm not sure what I would have done if I'd only had more "medicalized" options.
Nothing formal, but I did share my preferences for an epidural, minimal narcotics, and absolutely no visitors at any time. I also told them I wanted to do the skin to skin thing ASAP, but not because I thought it would have any magical benefits or anything. I just thought it would be a neat experience, and it was.
Really the only non-negotiable was the visitor part. I don't like company in even the most pleasant of circumstances.
Yes, both times. The first time it didn't matter much because the hospital wasn't too concerned with want I wanted, i.e. they were sucky assholes.
The next hospital I delivered at (Greenwich Hospital, Greenwich, CT) it mattered very much. They were wonderful and followed my birth plan to the letter and made me feel so respected and very well taken of.
My plan both times was for a baby to come out of me in some manner.
I didn't want forceps or an episiotomy (got one the first time, managed to avoid it the second), but other than that, anything that went on was fine by me as long as it lead to a healthy baby in my arms.
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.
Good luck! I was induced and was confined to the bed or a rocking chair for the most part before I got my epidural. They took me off the monitors to take a shower, but in hindsight I would have rather stayed in bed. The epidural was the best thing ever. I was asleep before the anesthesiologist even left the room, and I didn't wake up until the baby was halfway down the birth canal. Then I only had to push for 15 minutes.
Nothing formal, but I did share my preferences for an epidural, minimal narcotics, and absolutely no visitors at any time. I also told them I wanted to do the skin to skin thing ASAP, but not because I thought it would have any magical benefits or anything. I just thought it would be a neat experience, and it was.
Really the only non-negotiable was the visitor part. I don't like company in even the most pleasant of circumstances.
This reminds me! Put a do not disturb on your recovery room when you want to sleep, eat, be alone, etc. Not only do I not want company when delivering, I wanted all of the random ass people affiliated with the hospital (newborn photog, useless 2 days too late lactation consultant, etc) to gtfo when I wanted to sleep and watch the say yes to the dress marathon. Blah blah it's your workday, but I want to freaking sleep even though it's noon.
Just a general idea, but it was more of just basics that I wanted the nurses and doctor to know, like that I am allergic to penicillin, my H is partially deaf so they would talk louder, the only people allowed to come into the birthing suite were my mom, aunt, and H. The rest was just a wishlist for how I wanted things to go, but I knew it might change. This is what I really liked about my induction- I was at the hospital, they had me monitored already, I got the drugs almost as soon as I asked for them. But I was mostly just following instructions from the nurses the entire time anyway.
Nothing formal, but I did share my preferences for an epidural, minimal narcotics, and absolutely no visitors at any time. I also told them I wanted to do the skin to skin thing ASAP, but not because I thought it would have any magical benefits or anything. I just thought it would be a neat experience, and it was.
Really the only non-negotiable was the visitor part. I don't like company in even the most pleasant of circumstances.
This reminds me! Put a do not disturb on your recovery room when you want to sleep, eat, be alone, etc. Not only do I not want company when delivering, I wanted all of the random ass people affiliated with the hospital (newborn photog, useless 2 days too late lactation consultant, etc) to gtfo when I wanted to sleep and watch the say yes to the dress marathon. Blah blah it's your workday, but I want to freaking sleep even though it's noon.
Oh dear God, yes! I think they make it as unpleasant as possible in recovery so people will gtfo. My next plan is just to go home as soon as I can.
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
This was my plan exactly
You really can't plan for this shit or set any kind of expectations beyond a safe delivery
No. I just went over my few preferences when I preregistered at the hospital. The only thing I was really specific about this time was that I didn't want IV drugs because they made me sick last time. I told her I would go straight to the epi when I can't take it anymore. Everything else I wanted they really do as a matter of procedure there.
The only plan was that I wanted an epidural (after I'd reached 4cms). I didn't think I would have any drugs before that, but my water broke before I started having contractions and all I had was back labor. It sucked. So I got some drug before the epidural that made me vomit and didn't really help with the pain. I won't be doing that next time I really didn't want a c-section, but if it came down to it I would have been fine with it. I never really wanted a concrete plan because I figured it would just set me up for disappointment and why would I do that to myself?
Post by Bree Van de Kamp on Aug 17, 2013 12:08:22 GMT -5
I did, and fortunately, my body, my baby, and my midwife all worked pretty seamlessly, so it was pretty much fulfilled. Although, in the midst of it, I was kind of kicking myself for deciding against the drugs. Ouch. Fucking ouch.
I haven't read responses: I think a well thought out birth plan is very important. Not just one that focuses on what candles, lighting or music you want, but one that thinks through different complications and how you hope to address them. In the heat of the moment you don't want to be making rash choices based on limited info. I had a craaaaapppppyyyyy labor, delivery and recovery. However, having a game plan for various contingencies helped a lot when shit hit the fan.
Also: be sure to put all your relevant, important, medical details on the plan, on top in bold. (Medical allergies, etc.) For example, I have scoliosis. I wanted anyone who approached my spinal column for any reason to be well aware of that and take appropriate precautions.
Nope. I'm pretty much a go with the flow type of person. I did know I wanted an epidural, which I got about 20 minutes after getting settled in my room, thank goodness!
i will have one because my midwives have a form they require me to fill out. nothing hardcore, but still a birth plan. it's okay to have preferences for your birth and still be 100% accepting of the fact that things could go completely differently. doesn't mean your end goal is not a healthy mom/baby. this is kind of irritating.
I completely agree.
The things I've written down were because my Dr encouraged it (like being Rh-, formula feeding, wanting an epidural etc), and at the advice of my SIL who has delivered at the same hospital and knows how the nurses behave. My H also feels a little lost in regards to the whole labor process and having something for him to read and talk about with me is super helpful. I want him to know what I want and to be involved.
I see nothing wrong with having preferences and writing them down. I think having written words could be helpful in the event you are not being heard, or for you to articulate what you want.
But my doctor asked me about some specific preferences beforehand that they ask every patient, and I also discussed those with H just in case I was in a position where I wasn't able to make voluntary decisions. But we knew anything could happen.
Yeah, it's unpredictable. But having an idea about whether or not you want to try med-free or using various labor relaxation techniques, for example, doesn't mean you are setting up yourself for disappointment. Of course, the health of mom and baby is always the desired outcome.
I did not. I talked to my dr and she asked what I was wanting (beyond an epi) and everything else I wanted was the hospitals standard of card for a typical birth (baby put directly on mom immediately at birth, no formula, etc). She was right so I'm glad I didn't bother.
Actually, now that I think about it, the nurse went over my preferences for things like drugs, if I planned to nurse, etc., during check-in but I had an induction so there was plenty of time for that!
I wanted to go as med and intervention free as possible and for as long as I could handle (I told them not to offer me drugs and that I would let them know when/if I wanted them). That being said the last question on their form was "what is your one unacceptable outcome for labor and birth" and I said going home without a baby. At the end of the day all that matters is a healthy mom and healthy baby.
Post by hopecounts on Aug 17, 2013 14:33:42 GMT -5
I think doing a birth preference sheet can help an expectant couple make decisions when they are not in a panic or the heat of the moment. And some things are not standard but may matter to you (immediate skin to skin/nursing for one) I also had a c/s preference sheet which I am glad of since it made my c/s a more positive experience.
Yes, but it was mostly to keep my mom out of the room. "NO visitors until we say they can come in, NO MATTER WHAT."
Oh wait, I forgot, I had this too. That was really important to me. I didn't even want anyone to know we were in labor until the baby was here, and then I needed to get cleaned up (and made up - yes, I'm vain) before receiving visitors.
My mom snuck in while they were putting in a catheter. We're seriously debating not telling anyone for the next one until the baby's here.
Not really. When I was pregnant with Sofia, the only thing I wanted was to labour at home as long as possible. With theo I just wanted to be in the water for as long as possible. Oh, and no drugs. But other than that, not really.