Birth Plans?

[steph_ut]

Is anyone planning to write a birth plan this time around?

[steph_ut]

JourneyJoJo - you just gave me one of those really good belly laughs that are welcome at the end of a long day! I'm glad they don't let the residents deliver - I guess I assumed they would be allowed to practice if something happened to my doc.

[JourneyJoJo]

I had a med student intern (not OB resident) come and monitor me early in labour.  I had the monitor on and my water broke.  We (my husband, friend and I) all heard it on the monitor and I, of course, felt the GUSH of fluid.  They called the doctor (med student) over and we told her that my water broke.  She said that it was too early for my water to break as I had only been induced a few hours earlier.  So I asked the obvious question, "Well if it's not my water breaking, what else could it be?"  She answered, "Sweat."  Seriously?  What is this, an Axe commercial?  I was so irritated.  She called the OB who took one look and said, "Oh yeah, your water broke", before she even tested the fluid.  I mean, seriously?  

Fortunately, OB residents only observe and assist with the actual birth.  I'm assuming it's to avoid lawsuits.

[steph_ut]

Yeah, I do believe in the teaching/apprenticeship model but I don't want an unsupervised, unprepared resident anywhere near me. I did have a family practice resident who observed my first birth. All he really did was keep track of how much I swore and helped my husband (I joke he was my husband's doula!). We will allow another to be present this time but he'll fulfill the same sort of role. I think that super-pissed off the OB resident who had been kicked out of my room by both the labor nurse and my doc!

[Msme3]

Lol I kick residence out! My hospital is a teaching hospital and it drives me crazy sometimes! I had one resident who took 30 mins to change the paper in the heart monitor machine! N also placed the monitors on me the wrong way! You can sit in the corner n be quiet fine but no way are you poking holes in me, practicing on me! I'm sorry this is labor were talking about here painful and serious!

[steph_ut]

I'm not necessarily thinking for "saintly" reasons, like completely swearing off drugs. My health provider is through our local teaching hospital so there are plenty of OB residences hanging around like vultures... at least that's how it felt last time. The labor nurses though, were incredible! We got one who called my doc and told him to come in to chase the residences away. :)

[JourneyJoJo]

I'm being induced, so as long as I don't go early it'll be earlier than my May 1 due date, giving me about SIX weeks left!!!!

[Msme3]

My 2nd was way fast then my first so I am hoping this third one is quick too. As soon as they say I'm ready for the epidural ill take it I don't want to wait around n wait til its to late! I'm just ready for that time to come! About 10 weeks left!

[JourneyJoJo]

hahahahaha...

I hear that second & subsequent births go differently and sometimes much faster.  My son went in 4-6 pushes, so how much faster can I go?  My bigger fear is that I'll go into labour too fast for an epidural.  I'm no saint.  I wouldn't have lasted through the pain of going into labour so fast from the induction.  Maybe I'll cough and deliver like my RE did for her second baby...

[Msme3]

In just gunna talk to my dr before hand and  if she's not on call that day just verbally express what I want when I go into labor. I am not writing me thing down or handing things out I'm sure the nurses don't read it! Hell they hardly read charts n ask u the same questions when they come in... How many pregnancies? What are u allergic to? Etc to me it's simple give me the epidural and just wait til it's time to push.

[steph_ut]

Thanks for the feedback ladies. I am planning to, but just wanted to make sure that I'm not *that* woman. Last time, not everything went according to plan but I did feel it helped guide the doctor's and nurses' suggestions since they knew my preferences.

[Houston79]

Yes! Absolutely writing a birth plan.  My husband and I wrote it together and are discussing it with our doctor on Friday.  I cannot imagine going in and letting them decide MY birth.  ;)

[madrede4]

I will be induced at 37 weeks in a different city due to baby needing surgery but I am planning a natural birth no medicine besides what Ill need to be induced. Nothing wrong with planning ahead I already have my bag all ready to go!! : )

[JourneyJoJo]

I'm being induced due to gestational diabetes, so I don't have a birth plan other than knowing rougly when it is, who I want in the room and that I really want it videotaped.  I also plan on having an epidural as I went into labour hard and fast with my first and the epidural was such a relief.  I was even able to push when the time came. It was a generally pleasurable experience (once I had the epidural) -- but not the tearing -- he came out so fast, that I tore.  Thank you LIdocaine!

I would have loved to have done a water birth.  I watched one on Baby Stories and it was amazing.

It's my understanding that the key to birth plans is flexibility.

[daniela_zim]

I definitely want to write a birth plan, and am leaning towards a water birth, mostly because baby goes crazy when I lie in the bath so I know he/she loves the water. Obviously if there are complications I won't be able to have the birth I wanted, and I realise that, but I think its nice to in with a plan. Even if that plan is completely chucked out the window at the last minute! :-)
What about you?