Birth Plan

[lostlilygirl]

So I have to make up a guideline of a birth plan to start talking with my doctor tommorow. I was just hoping people could help me cover all the bases...

C-sec
vaccum
forceps
epidural
laughing gas
Episiotomy
pitoson
fetal monitoring
membrane stripping
breastfeeding
enema
shaving
IV's

I'm just gonna list them and add a comment on my preference than talk with him about it all... just dont wanna miss anything if you guys have more i have missed PLS add!!!

[Mummy2Lucy]

I wanted my birth to be as natural as possible aswell. I looked at a bithing plan but realised that it was just to hard to forsee everything. As it turned out I had all of the drugs available and ended in an emergancy c-section after 25hours (and we have laughing gas in Australia). I think the best thing to take into a birthing room with you is the trust in the medical staff. You will feel alot more relaxed if you let go and trust people that do this day in and day out then getting yourself worried about everything that may need to happen during your labour. I believe in being informed but I also believe in getting to much information, which then tends to cloud or confuse your judgement. At the end of the day, all that matters is that your baby arrives safely and healthy.

[Trialanderror]

My doctor refused to even look at a birth plan saying that they would do whatever suits the situation best. Initially I was appalled but I do understand where they are coming from. So when I actually went into labor, I had a two-liner birth plan with a request to help avoid an episiotomy and a joke. They passed it around and laughed. I never saw my doctor and the delivery nurse made a huge effort to fulfill my only request. I got away without tears or episiotomy despite a large baby. Everything else we discussed during labor.

[tmv]

Oh, forgot to add that especially with the midwives, if the woman has delivered before, almost never got an episiotomy.

[tmv]

I think that one of the most misconceptions is that once you go into labor you cannot make any choices. That's just wrong. I worked and delivered in a small hospital, but also worked in the 2nd largest women's l&d in the state. Unless of an emergency ex. decreased hb in baby, crashing vitals, etc., you are in control of your birth. Things that are "routine" can be refused and it's not a big deal. Some dr's prefer certain ways and have reason's to back their beliefs. If you trust that your dr will do the best for you and the baby, I think that you would be able to do anything to get that little one out safely. I could not have an epidural bc of a past back injury and I told myself that I could do anything for 24 hours for my baby-luckily it wasn't that long but you get the point.
I've never met a nurse that didn't say whayt she was going to do before she done it. Like, I'm going to give you a shave or enema,etc-if that dr even uses it anymore. As for the episiotomy, the dr's and midwives that I worked around would let you push and see how well you could stretch out the perineum, some women are more prepared with it than others. Also, I've found that midwives are more patient in letting women push. BUT on the other end, in the event of fetal distress, an immediate delivery is necessary. Also, an episiotomy can help prevent jagged tears that are hard to repair and go into the rectum sometimes. There are medical reason's behind everything that is done, it's not done to be barbaric or whatever.
Anyhow, I'll stop here because I could probably go on for days. It is great to have an idea of what you would like or dislike before delivery. Knowledge is the key. But, just remember to be flexible. The staff is out to take the best care of you and your baby. They know what's best when emergencies arise.

[ImmortalOne]

Yeah that's what I heard about things as well Nicole.  I was rather annoyed that it wasn't the case, but then again #2 was purple and blue when she was born as well (cord around her neck and bruising on her face from my pelvic bone because she was born face upwards).  I never had normal BH contractions with their of them either, not like this baby, I am hoping for no more back labor, it might mean I can get through the labor.... I am concerned how my incision is going to feel with all that tightening though, even now (6 months later) its still sore....

[Nicole092907]

Yeah my mother is absolutely worried about me going into labor again ... she told me just rent a hotel close to the hospital so you'll make it... Yeah I guess I just wish I had more time to sink it all and kind of enjoy it ... I packed all these clothes for my daughter to and when she came out she couldnt fit one out fit I packed she was 6 lbs 2 oz ..so my mom rushed to wal-mart and bought all these premmie clothes for her...Wow I thought they always said labor is a lot faster with the more children you have and you went longer than the first one ... wow I hope number 3 will go by a lot quicker for you then