Breaking down your birth plan
Birth plans aren't for everyone. You need to consider whether you are soothed by diving into the details, or whether you're more of an "in the moment" kinda person. Personally, I'm as far into the "soothed by details" category as one can get. Even though I fully understood that my birth plan wasn't written into destiny's events, guaranteed to me to achieve it because I wrote it; I knew that I would rather plan for curve balls than be surprised in the moment. It also was a great learning experience for me. I'd never been in labor before and had no idea that some of the options on my birth plan were even negotiable.
So if you decide that you are a birth plan kind of girl, I'll walk you through some of the common birth plan options you can include. Remember there is no template. You can add as much or as little as you want, but I recommend keeping it to a page length.
Note: This is example of things to discuss and decide on with your birth team. This is based on my birth plan that I made with my circumstances in mind. This is to be used simply as a talking tool for you and your birth team.
So if you decide that you are a birth plan kind of girl, I'll walk you through some of the common birth plan options you can include. Remember there is no template. You can add as much or as little as you want, but I recommend keeping it to a page length.
Note: This is example of things to discuss and decide on with your birth team. This is based on my birth plan that I made with my circumstances in mind. This is to be used simply as a talking tool for you and your birth team.
Environment
Things you can include in your "environment" preferences:
- Private labor (only mother, husband, doula) in the birthing room
- Nurse that's supportive of natural labor and delivery
- Dim lights with minimal noise
- No students
- Minimal vaginal exams
Mobility
These items can positively affect your ability to stay mobile during labor. This is important because mobility is one of the surest ways we know to progress labor naturally.
- Maintain mobility (this means, let mama walk around if she feels like it)
- Heplock only - no IV unless necessary for mama/baby health
- Self-hydrate (this avoids IV, too)
- Intermittent monitoring (this may be up to hospital policy, call in advance!)
- No internal fetal monitoring
Induction/pain relief options
This section refers to the medications that may be offered to you, and that you plan on accepting during your labor and delivery.
- Natural birth with a preference for avoiding medications
- No Pitocin, amniotomy (water breaking), or stripping of membranes.
- If induction becomes necessary to avoid cesarean, I'd like to discuss options before proceeding with any given path. We prefer natural induction before medicinal induction.
- Please do not offer pain relief to me; I will request as needed
- Please do not ask me to rate my pain (My personal favorite. I hate when people ask that question!)
delivery
- Delivery in position most comfortable to mother
- No routine episiotomy; if it's required please get permission before doing so
- Hot compresses or perineal massage to avoid tearing
- Please use local anesthetic if stitches are required after delivery
- We prefer the father to catch the baby
- Delay clamping and cutting of the cord until it stops pulsating
- Natural delivery of the placenta
- No Pitocin after delivery unless necessary for hemorrhaging
- Retain placenta for personal use (Yes I did!)
Baby Care
- Place baby directly on my stomach after birth - avoid separating from mother
- Delay all routine exams to allow for bonding and breastfeeding
- Perform all physical exams and procedures in room with the mother/father
- No immunizations/vaccines at this time
- No eye drops
- Vitamin K shot is allowed
- No PKU test
- We will sign a waiver if needed for any of the declined procedures
- Breastfeeding only, absolutely no bottles, pacifiers, artificial nipples, formula or water
- Bath to be given by parents
- Baby should not leave mother's room unless there is an emergency situation
Cesarean birth plan
You're probably thinking, "I don't need this section!" but please consider including it. Every day, unexpected things happen in labor and delivery that make cesareans a valuable and life-saving option to mamas. Should you find yourself in a position of needing a cesarean, wouldn't it be better to still have options over your birth experience? The following things can be yours if you have a supportive provider.
- Husband and Doula in the O.R. to maintain continued support for mother
- Mother's hands to remain free/unstrapped
- Low transverse incisions and double layer suturing
- Delayed cord clamping
- Allow the baby to naturally transition on his/her own
- Choices of anesthesia to be discussed
- Parents allowed viewing of birth (by mirror or lowering the screen)
- If general anesthesia becomes absolutely necessary, father to remain during the birth in order to greet baby
- Retain placenta for personal use
- Skin to skin contact with mother & father and to be held by father: as soon as baby's systems are stable.
- Baby to stay with parents at all times: no nursery visits
- Mother has option to refuse routine immediate postoperative medications
- IV and catheder to be removed as soon as possible
- Parents & healthy baby to remain together in recovery & postpartum where breastfeeding can be established