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463595 tn?1333997222

i made a birthplan checklist is there anything missing what should i add

Labor and delivery


-  No pain medication unless necessary and requested

- Permit partner to be present at birth

- Provide only intermittent fetal monitoring
- I would like a mirror available so I can see the baby's head crown if possible
I would like to touch my baby's head as it crowns
- no extraction devices unless babys health is at risk
- I’d like to see placenta

-AFTER BIRTH immediately place a baby onto my abdomen and leave hit for at least 70 minutes if I can provide body to body contact give the baby to father

- Help to breastfeed right after birth

-  Perform initial care of baby while baby is on my body

- Delay weighting and measuring for later

- Let us cut umbilical cord

-Permit breastfeeding only - no bottles pacifiers or formula

- Allow rooming in with a baby and perform all baby exams of baby in my presence

-Donate steam cells if possible

- No circumcision
- Make hospital stay short as possible

Full-term newborns who were allowed 70 to 80 minutes of undisturbed skin-to-skin contact with their mothers right after birth slept more, cried less, and were less stressed overall than infants who were held briefly (for 15 to 20 minutes) by their mothers, then taken for washing and dressing. Also, if a baby nurses during this time, it tends to be easier to establish breastfeeding.
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Avatar universal
You say "Some of the items you are wanting aren't available during a hospital delivery" and you are probably right that in many hospitals that would be a challenge.... but isnt that a shame?????

Isnt it a shame that the list of things Colorado_g wants are not available in hospitals?  Why not?  Medical intervention is of course sometimes needed and a wonderful thing, but in many cases is not needed.  All she wants to do is let mother nature take its course, and do what millions of women have done for centuries - give birth normally and naturally and then bond with her baby uninterrupted afterwards - why would that not be available to a women in a hospital?  I think it is a shame!

I had everything on her list (except rooming in, because I delivered "outpatient" and we roomed in at home (but for the record, midwife did come to house next day AND pediatrician did too just to check up on her) and I didnt donate stemcells from cord, but I will this time.) and I am glad I did.

I bet that if I were in a hospital, I would have been rushed through the pushing phase.  I made it to 10cm within 3 hours of water breaking but then I pushed for 2 straight hours and it was sooooo hard and exhausting.  She made progress with each contraction but it was the tiniest amount each time.  I bet a dr would have decided that enough is enough and wanted to take action.... and I am grateful that it was just me, my husband and a midwife.
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Avatar universal
Love your list :)

I had my DD at a birth center and went home 4 hours after she was born.  We got home at about 2:30am in the middle of the night and put our little one in our bed and just watched her sleep.  It was wonderful!

You write no pain meds.  I assume you mean epidural or other "harder drugs" :) I  had only homeopathic meds and accupuncture for pain relief...and would accept that again.  They of course dont numb like an epidural but that isnt what I wanted anyways.  Giving birth was the hardest thing I ever physically did, but I am sooooooooo glad that I did it naturally - I think you will too.

I didnt rip or need episiotomy (I dont think my birth center even does episiotomies anyways since they do not use any extraction devices)

Now I am pregnant with twins and MUST go to a hospital.  Birth centers here wont take twins as they are considered "high risk".  It *****.

Did you ever see "the business of being born"?  Just watched it the other day. It didnt really change my opinion as I already shared that point of view, but it was interesting and reinforced what I already though.  I think once you start medical intervention that isnt necessarily needed, you start a vicious cycle of other needed interventions. Unfortunately I have no choice but to go to hospital.... (although I have not given up home that my twins will just "plop" out int he bath tub at home unexpectedly!  ha!)
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463595 tn?1333997222
thanks for sharing:)
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Avatar universal
With my first child i was in labor for 28 hours, then it got to a point where i would not dialate after 4 or 5 cm and they had broke my water bag and induced my labor, oh my was i in pain, after two hours of that i requested epidural, then two hours later he was born.  I did not hold my son after he was born, actually i was like can you wash him off first(i was 19, didnt no any better).  And he was a quite baby and didnt even have his days or nights mixed up.  I think it just depends on how babies react.

Its good you have a birthing plan and i hope all goes well with it
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463595 tn?1333997222
he wont after epidural but they say if you chose other pain killers
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178698 tn?1228774338
Well i give you kudos for trying to do this au natural...share your experience with the others!! I remember when I went in to labor with my first one and I wasnt quite dilated enough but the hospital didn't make me go home, they made me walk around the hospital for an hour.  I started with full on contractions and I about died.  They were so incredibly painful that they stopped me in my tracks.   And they seemed to last forever.   I whoose out right away and fortunately they admitted me after that hour and I immediately requested epidural.   It was helpful because taht was about 9PM the day before and I delivered at 11AM the next day.  I don't think I could have dealt with the pain for 14 hours...it was crazy.  But when my baby was born, he wasn't drugged or anything...he was completely alert and not groggy...so I don't know why they say the baby gets drugged.  He was awake for a good two hours after he was born...of course they were doing things to him and cleaning him up. ...but he was very very alert.
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463595 tn?1333997222
yes i want to be abble to walk i hate to lie in one place that would drive me nuts:))) yes meds afterwards are ok i just dont want to drug the baby , and spinal is not an option for me so if i will have to have c-section i will be put to sleep. I ont think they have a balll thre so i will use it only home but they have some spa for water relax before pushing.
thanks for all the coments , yes i know some things might  be not available and a lot my changee durng:))
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178698 tn?1228774338
oopss...i meant advantage not advance.
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178698 tn?1228774338
I thought so.  You will probably be able to get most of what you want in a birthing center.  

Though I don't understand why don't want fetal monitoring...is that so you can move around?  labor is pretty distressful on the baby esp if you're in a lot of pain, which you will be since no meds, and this way they can make sure you're baby isn't in distress during labor.  I wouldn't consider not monitoring the baby.  

And you really can't breastfeed right after birth.   You may be able to get the baby to suckle, but you're milk doesn't come right away.   You do produce colostrum which is good for the baby, but it's not milk.  Also baby may not want to eat right away so don't be suprised about that.  They come with a little reserve (a built up food supply) to hold them over until milk supply comes in, compliments of Mother Nature.  

And honestly , even if you don't like hospitals, it's to your advance to stay as long as you can.  This way you and your baby are less at risk.  They can catch things like infections, etc. that don't show up immediately after birth.   It's not such a bad thing.  Stay your 48 hours.  I highly recommend it.   You'll need a little babying yourself after you deliver.  

Just some thoughts to consider....

also you many want to look into waiting to cut the cord after it stops pulsating.   Sometimes they cut the cord tooooo sooon.  

And if you get an episiotomy you might want some pain medication for that.....you wouldn't want them to stitch you up without any.   And you probably need some pain medicine for it afterwards.    

And maybe look into and request types of devices (i.e. excercise ball, water therapy) that will help you relax during labor.  

Some of the items you are wanting aren't available during a hospital delivery.   That's why I thought I remembered you saying you were doing this a birthing facility.  I am keeping my fingers crossed for you that all goes  well.  
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463595 tn?1333997222
yes it is my first , i am having it in hee hospital birthing center
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178698 tn?1228774338
Are you having your baby in a birthing center??????   Is this your first baby??
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