May 2014 - the Maybies get even closer to Definitely!!

[ClearlyMoo]

I've been brave and started a new thread. Hope the name is ok....

[dobedobedo]

Has anyone written their birth plan yet?
I haven't. There's so much to think of! I didn't have one with ds, I just did whatever I was told to before, but I'm 10 years older and more bossy assertive and confident now.

What's this vit k thing about? I don't think I had that option with ds before.

[MasterFlea]

I have mine done. Lots of mentions of my PGP and leaving me be as much as possible. Wanting a birthing ball. Added in that I want DH to cut the cord after it stops pulsing. Some MW's are super quick so best they know beforehand.

Vit K is to help blood clotting and bone development, I think. Must read up on it again.

[NannyPlumForPM]

Nope not even thought about birth plan.... ~buries head in sand~

[Spirael]

Glad the info was useful, Hezbean. :) I've been having general self-confidence wobbles lately, so it's good to know that I'm doing ok at something!

My birth plan is written. Mine is double sided, one is for home birth and the other is if I end up in hospital. Printed a couple of copies and put them into a plastic folder inside my medical notes to show the MW next time I see her. But that's not for another few weeks yet, I've not seen her since before Christmas!

I haven't got a copy of the plan here, but from memory I kept it brief and in bullet points. It covered things like listing DH as my birth partner, stating that DD can be present if she's around and indicating that I'm fine with student MW's witnessing or attending to me.

It covered briefly what happened in my previous delivery. Mostly the fact that it was very fast, that I went from 5cm to baby in < 30 mins and that I was very quiet and polite throughout. Basically when I say "I need to push" or "I can feel the head" I'm hoping the MW's might actually pay attention this time around, rather than getting into a flap and having to rush over after I catch and hold up a baby by myself.

I mentioned I'd prefer minimal examinations and to be able to move about and choose my birthing position. It also listed my pain relief preferences where applicable. (i.e. I didn't bother mentioning epidural on the home birth page!)

The hospital side covers my preferences if I need interventions or a CS, such as preferring to remain conscious, wanting things described but not wanting the screen lowered to see the birth itself.

I covered the fact that I'd like skin to skin time if possible and would prefer the cord to stop pulsing before it's cut. Also, to not ask my DH to cut the cord as he has been known to faint at the sight of blood. I've requested not to not have the injection to speed the third stage/placenta delivery, unless it's taken more than an hour. I had no problems last time around.

I've said ok for vitamin K injection. Vitamin K info. The way I see it, it won't harm a healthy baby (aside from an injection - but they need to get used to that!) but it could save the life of one with low levels. There are oral drops, but my feeling is best to get it over and done with rather than risk missing any or having them thrown up and not getting the required levels.

I also indicated that I intend to BF and would like support to do so, but that (on the HB side) I will have formula and bottles ready if needed.

Hope that is helpful! :) Is there anything I've missed that anyone can think of?

[Bornin1984]

I don't think ill bother with birth plan seeing as I'm having elective!

Although I've told dh a list of instructions thy he has to do when baby comes, ie feeding him to help his blood sugars etc

[LongTailedTit]

I did my birth plan a while ago, it's v brief! Last time I filled an A4 page with 'If this happens...' stuff and it just wasn't needed. This time I've just listed the basics and short recap of last time.
Any suggestions for anything to add?

Last birth at 36+0 after waters broke at 35+5, normal labour and delivery, stood throughout, small tear.
Was always further along than expected, confirmed upon examination each time. I was quiet throughout.
Pelvic girdle pain since around 24wks.

Please inform (DH) before any procedure is carried out and keep him posted on developments.
No sweeps without consent.
Don't break waters without consent.
No Pethadine.
Cord not to be cut until it's empty/15 mins later/stopped pulsing.
Skin-to-skin ASAP after birth.

[MoominIsGoingToBeAMumEEEEK]

I've got a basic birth plan written. Ordered another weekend bag for my hospital bag so now got bag for me and bag for baby, will make sure OH has a rucksack with a change of clothes and a charger in just in case he's out on deliveries and I need to go to the hospital so he isn't wearing his Dominos finest

Picked up some stuff at the Boots 3 for 2 today :)

[moobaloo]

I am going to take two bags to the hospital - same as Moomin - one for me and one for baby! I think I will take 10 nappies. Screw it. DP can always go out and get more (there's a 24hr supermarket near the hospital!) and I like to plan for what I want - rather than worst case scenario - IYSWIM? Don't want to stay in overnight, unless I have him at some unhelpful time. But my plan is to stroll in at 10 am, pop him out and be home by teatime!

Another thing that surprised me on the "Hospital Bag" thread was how many baby gros etc. to take. At least 3 newborn and 3 0-3m babygros and sleepsuits! Wow. I was only going to take one hadn't occurred to me it might get dirty (dim first time mum) and lots of hats.

Have written Birth Plan. It's brief. No Pethadine, DP to make decisions if I am unable to, NO VISITORS, no family during labour (they're not supposed to show up but if they do they can wait outside!), DP only and I may throw him out anyway.

Vit K by oral - don't want needles in my PFB!

I saw some stretchy, strappy black nighties in M&S that were 2 for £10 or something? Might get a couple of those for labour, plus a cardi for keeping my arms warm if I need one.

[MasterFlea]

Thanks for the vit K link Spirael.

[MrsFooCough]

About birth plan, I'm adamant on some things but others are DH's feelings on the matter and I want to make him as comfortable as poss, he's terrible when I'm in pain/bothered.
I didn't know that there was an option to wait to cut the cord? That sounds better than risking poor DH getting spattered with blood if they get him to do it too soon! He'd freak out!

But yeah:
Epidural ASAP, mobile if poss (for those that don't know, if there's a trained anaesthetist on duty while you're delivering, you might be able to obtain an epidural where you can still walk around, supposed to be easier for speeding along delivery as normal epidurals can slow the later stages of labour - also with a full epidural they'll catheterise you no thanks!)
No pethidine
No episiotomy unless forceps delivery is absolutely necessary
No forceps delivery/ventouse unless baby is in distress and I can't push any more

Other than that, it'll probably change depending on results of my GTT (which is booked now, 11th March, ugh) and routine 28wk bloods...

[McBaby]

Not sure I will bother writing birth plan this time seen a no one bothered to read it last time all it said really was no epidural or stirrups as they can make SPD worse.

The midwife spent the whole the telling me I needed an epidural as she didn't think I was really in labour and hence couldn't cope with the pain!

She pretty much forced me in to stirrups as she told me my DD was in so much distress.

I just had a very quick under two hour labour hence the intense pain and the distressed baby (it's very common and normal for there heart rate to drop during a contraction and if baby comes fast you essentially have contractions one after another)!

[Xavielli]

Nope, won't write a birth plan. Never have as they're not required to read it and more often than not they don't bother. I can see it might be useful for OHs to make your wishes known should you not be able to say for yourself.

If I were to write one it would simply say 'get us both out alive'.

Will be having the jab in my leg to speed up placenta delivery as this is my 5th the risks of haemorrhaging are higher than before. Baby will have the Vit K by injection. I will be asking them to check for tongue tie ASAP.

[impatientlywaiting]

Thanks for all of the birthing plan examples everyone. They were really helpful and interesting to know what others plans are.
Going to write mine this week so I can get hypnobirthing teacher to have a read over it for me when we have our second day of the course on Sunday.

[MoominIsGoingToBeAMumEEEEK]

I'm writing mine, I may not end up showing anyone as I've heard that often they don't listen, but it makes me feel like I have a little bit of control right now. Even if 10 weeks down the line they're ignoring it completely, for the next few weeks, I have set out what my 'ideal birth' would be, and I have control of that. It's helping with any anxiety I have.

[mrsmummytobe]

Quick question about breastfeeding tops. If I was a size 10 before getting pg what size bf-ing tops should I buy?? Obviously I'm much bigger than that now! Thanks :)

[randdom]

I think that my birth plan will basically be whatever it takes to keep me alive and get baby out healthily. I would however go for a managed third stage and I would want a vitamin K injection for the baby but obviously need to discuss with my husband as he might feel differently. I feel like I have time to write things down as if anything were to happen in the next few weeks it would be an emergency anyway due to prematurity.

[Xavielli]

Re: Nursing tops - if you're just bump bigger go for a size 10. Otherwise I'd buy a couple of nursing vests then leave anything else til you can try them on. Same with bras, I measure myself on day 6 after any engorging has settled down and order from Hotmilk

[Hezbean]

Really great to read everyone's birth plan. I hadn't really thought about writing mine down yet. Need to discuss with DH but my thoughts are as follows at the moment as long as everything is OK. Obviously subject to change if things become complicated!! Here goes....

• I really want to go to the MW led birth centre. Don't want to stay in overnight if it can be avoided.
  
• will be doing hypnobirthing
  
• delayed cord cutting and DH to cut cord
  
• immediate skin to skin (assuming all well) and BF as soon as possible
  
• as mobile a labour as possible and water birth if available
  
• as few internals as possible
  
• want to avoid epidural or pethidine if poss (but will have to see how I cope and how long it goes on - I might be begging for drugs!)
  
• fine with the Vit K injection
  
• Really scared of forceps / ventouse / anything being put in rather than coming out!!!!
  
• Ok with an episiotomy if really necessary - would rather that than tearing in the wrong direction (ouch)
  
• ok with the placenta injection
  
• but basically, if things go wrong, I just want us both to be OK. If things take a more medical or emergency direction then as long as we are informed and consulted as much as possible then I think we'll just have to go with it!!
  

This might all change when I've done hypnobirthing / NCT classes and actually found out a bit more about the whole thing....

At the moment I'm just concerned that LO will be the other way up - he/she has been feet down for weeks.

Love the Jojo Maman Bebe wrap, that sort of thing looks like a really good idea.

[Bornin1984]

What's the reasoning behind not cutting the cord straight away?

[Hezbean]

Some info here Bornin

www.babycentre.co.uk/x1043341/can-i-ask-for-a-delay-to-my-babys-cord-being-clamped

[pickletalk14]

Thanks for the link Hezbean I was wondering the same thing. No where near a birth plan here was waiting for nct too...

Also interested in the hypnobirthing. Have read half a book lent by a friend and still interested does anyone have the CDs? Don't think I have time to organise a course.

[LongTailedTit]

Good link, thanks Hezbean, I remember the blood volume bit but didn't know it helped with iron levels too!

It's estimated that a two or three-minute delay in clamping can increase your baby's blood volume by 30 per cent. This can mean your baby has 60 per cent more blood cells.
Delaying cord clamping may mean your baby is slightly more likely to develop jaundice because of the extra blood. However, on the plus side it can improve your baby's iron levels for the first six months.

The reason I had such a longwinded birth plan last time was more for DH's benefit tbh, as I wanted him to be certain of my wishes if things went a bit wrong and he was left making decisions.
This time I just feel more confident about the whole thing, so don't feel the need to cover all eventualities!

[mrsmummytobe]

Thanks xav :)

Really interesting to read everyone's birth plans. I'm going to write mine this week but I'm thinking:

• want an active labour, not lying on back
  
• no pethidine
  
• As few internals as possible
  
• I would like the injection for placenta
  
• Baby to have vit k injection
  
• skin to skin contact & bf soon afterwards
  

Not sure about the delayed cord clamping - I've heard arguments for & against.

[Xavielli]

So glad to be going to bed. A few bits that the bride has ordered for this cake haven't arrived yet so I've done as much as I can before they get here. Hospital for more bloods in the morning then packing bags for all the kids ready for them going to their dad's/my parents on Thursday whilst I'm at the wedding. Will be my first child free overnight in well over a year :) excited!

[Isean]

After a terrible night of puking & no sleep, feeling rotten all morning, my OH insisted I go for walk with him along my favourite beach, saying the fresh air would help me feel better! It was raining & cold, but I decided to humour him & hoped it would help.

Once there my darling OH asked me to marry him today & I said yes! I am overwhelmed, stunned & amazed!