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Childbirth

Share experiences and get support around labour, birth and recovery.

Original poster

SPD poster girl again...I need opinions/advice on my birth plan please!!!!

37 replies

pie · 09/09/2003 17:55

Ok, I written my birth plan and would like all the advice and opinions you mighty mumsnetters have

I want to make sure the m/w knows what I can and can't do and how bad my SPD really is...

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Original poster
pie · 17/09/2003 18:52

Don't worry Aussie!!

I know that the entire plan could well go out the window if something unexpected happens. But considering I will not have met the m/w before the delivery I wanted to have some sort of testiment to everything I have learnt with the SPD, so that she knows that I know and so maybe I won't be badgered into doing the wrong thing.

OP posts:
AussieSim · 17/09/2003 17:00

I hope I did not make you feel uncomfortable about planning. The plan is important as is the journey to create one. All the best!

mears · 16/09/2003 23:53

Hope all goes well on Thursday. You will not get laughed at Pie - you are the person having this baby and you should have a plan.

Original poster
pie · 16/09/2003 21:57

Thanks for all the suggestions. I've updated the plan, hope I've struck the right note. I'll probably get laughed out the building on Thursday though when I have my antenatal appointment and show them my birth plan. But I have to feel like I'm doing something!

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AussieSim · 10/09/2003 14:30

Your birth plan looks really good and I can understand that with your condition you will certainly need the people present to understand its implications.

I had written a really long post with my story in it but I think suffice to say that my experience was such that my birth plan went completely out the window. Thankfully the people present ultimately made good decisions in the interest of ds.

It is a tough decision to go vaginal or c/s. With vaginal I can vouch for the ultimate thrill of that last push and the feeling of relief as the baby slips out. On the other side though I can appreciate the certainties provided by c/s and hopefully feeling more invulnerable to the unpredictable nature of the event.

I wish all the best for you and your baby and a swift and healthy experience.

Original poster
pie · 10/09/2003 14:13

Mears...you have no idea how long I have wanted someone to say 'if I were you'. I WANT to have a vaginal birth, but I feel very pressure to have a c/s, in fact have just had ANOTHER argument with DH, whose says as long as me and babe are ok then I'm making a fuss about nothing. He doesn't realise how totally powerless I feel and how much that is contributing to the depression.

I think that I will update my birth plan to say that I would like to deliver vaginally but should interevention become necessary I would like to be given the choice of a c/s. Is that more flexible but still assertive enough to make it clear I don't want to be trussed up like a chicken again?

www, my gut instinct is non existant, has been through this entire pregnancy, except when I did the pregnancy test despite having the coil in. Thats the only time my body told me anything!!! I cried hysterically for a week after they removed my coil, convinced I was going to lose the baby, I lost weeks of sleep after they said they thought there was a growth on the baby's spine. DH had to force me to ring for the amnio results as I just knew what they were going to say...erm but I was totally wrong. And I thought the SPD was a ruddy trapped nerve...

My body has simply given up!!!!

OP posts:
Enid · 10/09/2003 13:02

I had pretty bad pelvic probs and managed to give birth very quickly on my side. I had a small tear that they managed to stich whilst I lay on my side too.

mears · 10/09/2003 12:51

If I was you Pie (and you are never supposed to say that when you are giving any kind of advice), I would go for a vaginal delivery. The reason being that your recovery will be more straight forward that after having surgery. You have enough to deal with already.
I hope I haven't confused you with my earlier posts. I think that birth plans are better to have some fexibility rather than to have a definate stance on a particular issue, such as no forceps. I wanted you to see that there might be a valid clinical reason why they may be preferable to a C/S.
You are quite right about stitches being done on your side. The likelihood of not needing any are great since you only had a few last time. You probably needed a ventouse last time because of the effecrts of epidural and pushing with first baby. The fact that you had a vaginal birth makes it highly likely that you will manage without intervention this time (even if you do opt for epidural). You don't know how you are going to feel on the day. It is good to have in your birthplan what you want and do not want - it keeps everyone focused. Just make sure you have a degree of flexibility and that you are fully informed of reasons for any proposed course of action during labour. You have such determination Pie - I am sure you will know what way you want to go regarding delivery when it comes to it.

WideWebWitch · 10/09/2003 12:20

What's your instinct Pie? Or don't you have one? I think you should follow whichever option makes you feel safest and least worried/most reassured tbh. If that's a section, then go for it. If you feel you want to try for a vaginal delivery but ONLY within the criteria on your birth plan then do your best to achieve that (i.e make sure dp/doula/midwives know exactly what you want and why). You can always opt for a section half way through if it all turns out to be too much. Good luck m'dear and I'm glad to see you're still able to crack a joke about it too.

Original poster
pie · 10/09/2003 12:13

I have had alot of contact with the Pelvic Partnership and there are a couple of ladies who were wheelchair bound who opted to have a c/s due only to the SPD and the way it would inhibit a vaginal delivery. Basically their options for a vaginal birth were so limited (kinda like mine) that the c/s would be more straight forward.

My GP said there was no right or wrong answer to this and that it was purely my choice.

BTW I can't drive so not worried about that!!

OP posts:
pupuce · 10/09/2003 12:07

BTW - regardeless of your SPD you could well have a quick labour !

pupuce · 10/09/2003 12:06

It is entirely up to you.... do remember that the c-section will not (necessarily) make you better any faster.... You won't be able to drive for at least 4 weeks if not 6 - though with SPD you may still be "handicapped" for a while too.... that's tricky ! Have you asked SPD sufferers who were like you wheelchair bound ?
I got better quickly after my labour (2 weeks). That doesn't mean I was completely pain free but there was a major improvement.

Original poster
pie · 10/09/2003 12:00

pupuce, there are 2 pools at Queen Charlottes, one in the Birth Centre and one on the Labour Ward...to be honest I don't know which I'm expected to go to. Though of course if the pool is occupied in either one then I will be out of luck. I'm hoping that I get it though.

I have spoken to several women from the Pelvic Partnership and nearly all of them were able to have their stiches put in whilst on their side, the physio has said this is also possible but you really have to insist.

The more I try and write this plan though the more I think maybe I should just have the c/s.

What do people think?

Given the amount of stuff that will have to happen for a vaginal labour to be as SPD friendly as possible and given the fact then non of it may happen and I could get the worst SPD labour, maybe I should just by pass it.

ARRRGGHHHH what to do?

OP posts:
pupuce · 10/09/2003 11:48

Pie- another point - IME if you have started your labour naturally (i.e. no induction/no sweep) and your contractions build up naturally, you are likely to manage the drip WITHOUT pain relief. The drip is very painful if it is to induce... but when it is "only" to augment a labour well on its way - its much more manageable.

I DO hope you can labour in a pool - you know that I had SPD and was bed bound from 36 weeks onwards.,... water (birth pool) was my saviour ! This will be great for pain relief and is likely to make your labour faster.

pupuce · 10/09/2003 11:42

pie- FYI - if they need to stich you up because you tear you will very likely need to be in stirrups. Of course the same applies for an eipsio.

judetheobscure · 10/09/2003 11:28

Glad you're keeping your sense of humour pie

ThomCat · 10/09/2003 10:26

Just want to say well done and good luck.

Original poster
pie · 10/09/2003 09:57

I did have an epidural last time, but to be honest I don't know how far down the birth canal DD was, I only needed two more pushes once the cap was fitted. I was left in stirrups for a long time after though, over an hour whilst the staff chatted etc

OP posts:
mears · 10/09/2003 09:47

Pie - usually intervention is not required next time around because the way has been made for the next baby IYKWIM. However, that does not mean to say it is not an impossibility that intervention will be needed. Did you have an epidural last time? I can't remember if you said.
Sometimes a ventouse is used when a lot of the head is visible at the vagina but is not advancing. If that was the case - a C/S would not be advisable. This type of delivery if often called a 'lift out' because the baby is so close to being born. If that was the case the last time then iy is highly likely you will manage on your own. Keep positive

Original poster
pie · 10/09/2003 09:25

Thanks mears....

I was told by a mw that it was POSSIBLE to have a ventouse on the side, but I guess in reality it may not happen huh?

I think that I will change that part to if any intervention, such as ventouse or forceps becomes necessary then I want a c/s. Would that work better?

Mears, one more thing as DD was a ventouse delivery, am I more likely to needed interevention the second time round?

I appreciate all the input guys...I really want me and DH to know what is ok before hand so that we can't get pressured into anything when we are so emotional.

I just really don't want to end up on my back with my legs in the air...wish I'd said that 8 months ago

OP posts:
mears · 10/09/2003 09:10

Pie - your birthplan looks good but I do have a concern about you saying you definately do not want forceps but agree to a ventouse. I want you to think about that one because sometimes the cup of the ventouse pops off repeatedly. If that happens then the doctor should abandon that procedure and change to forceps. The head may be so far down at that stage that forceps is preferable to a C/S. I have only ever seen ventouse deliveries done in lithotomy position as well, never when lying on the side. Also, with an assisted delivery an episiotomy might be needed to avoid a difficult tear. I have seen forceps and ventouse done without an epis. but if the perineum looks as though it is being overstretched, an epsisiotomy might be recommended. I am not wanting to come over all negative - it is just that you might need to face these decisions at the time and at least you will have thought about the 'what if'. HTH.

WideWebWitch · 09/09/2003 23:19

Don't know the answer pie but just wondering whether a doula might be able to help with making sure you're looked after/everyone reads it etc?

Angiel · 09/09/2003 23:18

When I had my ds at home, I had to have an episiotomy and obviously I didn't have to use stirrups.

Like I've said before though, I had a really good midwife who had done a lot of research to make sure that I coped with my spd as well as I could.

Hopefully you will get an informed midwife and she will make the birth as pain free as possible for you.

Original poster
pie · 09/09/2003 23:13

Actually reading the plan its not very clear why the episiotomy is in the bold/SPD section is it?

If I do have an espiotomy then I will have my periniuem numbed and more than likely they will want to put me up in stirrups, I have been advised that a c/s is preferable to this in relation to the trauma being in the liothomy position can do to my pelvis.

Should I make that clearer in the plan or am I heading for some sort of essay proportion birth plan, will the m/w know that anyway?

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WideWebWitch · 09/09/2003 21:58

Oh Pie, I so want this to be over for you. The plan looks great. Will your dp be good at being pushy and making sure that anyone who comes near you is forced to read and understand it before attending you? I just think it's important they do and that all medical staff understand the seriousness of your condition and act accordingly. Thinking of you.