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Childbirth

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

Birth plan - comments and suggestions?

10 replies

EffiePerine · 11/12/2008 16:51

DC2 due in a few weeks, so thought I had better write a birth plan despite most of it being ignored last time! Any comments on important things I've left out, or if it looks realiistic? Labour with DS was quick (3 hrs in hospital) and I've tested positive for Group B Strep which complicates things rather.

The main things I want to avoid are: ending up on my back and with an episiotomy, being told how and when to push (just confused and scared me and contractions promptly stopped) and too many people faffing about. DS was born with the cord round his neck, so a bit frantic at the end.

So here it is...

GROUP B STREP +VE IV ANTIBIOTICS REQIURED
Fast first labour: will need ABs asap after arrival at hospital

Preferred place of birth: Midwife-led unit. Transfer to main labour suite/call doctor in only if needed

Birth partner: DH

Aspects of labour:

  • IV drip to be removed as soon as possible
  • Keep room dim and quiet and restrict number of people
  • Movements not restricted and not told to stay on bed
  • Keep active and upright where possible, adopt different positions
  • No coaching on pushing

Pain relief: TENS and G&A, further pain relief if requested

Checks: NO continuous fetal monitoring unless necessary and keep internal exams to a minimum

Birth:

  • Adopt most comfortable birth position, preferably not on back on bed
  • No forceps: ventouse preferred if intervention needed
  • No episiotomy unless necessary: if needed then administer local anaesthetic
  • Local anaesthetic for stitches
  • Skin to skin immediately after birth and breastfeed asap
  • If baby requires IV ABs, keep him in the same room and continue skin-to-skin and/or feeding if possible
  • If the baby has to be taken out of the room, my partner should go as well

Third stage: happy with injection

Baby:

  • Planning to breastfeed: skin-to-skin and bf immediately after birth
  • Happy for baby to receive Vit K injection

Other: Happy with student midwives attending birth but NOT student doctors

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
nuttygirl · 11/12/2008 17:15

Do you have a preference for dh to cut the cord or anything?

belgo · 11/12/2008 17:17

Why no student doctors?

laumiere · 11/12/2008 18:05

I know what you mean about ignoring, my DS was born at 31w5d after 2.5hr labour and we spent the whole time yelling NO LATEX (I'm allergic) and NO pethidine,as I have a bad reaction. I lost count of the number of times we had to tell people.

EffiePerine · 11/12/2008 18:18

Re: students, am happy to have (hopefully) supportive mws but not student doctors goggling if I have to have any intervention.

Cord: not worried, pretty sure DH isn't either.

Will try to be more assertive this time and get them to read the thing!

OP posts:
storkycake · 11/12/2008 18:20

You should maybe put something about if you need to be induced/have labour augmented etc and also whether you want AROM or not.

StarlightWonderStarlightBright · 11/12/2008 18:29

Hi,

Personally I think it a little too open to interpretation.

Why put doctors if needed? Are they likely to call doctors if not needed?

Why put transfer only if needed? What is YOUR definition of need?

What do you mean by restrict number of people? Who should be restricted? How many should it be restricted to?

Keep active and upright where possible. In what circumstances would you agree that this were not possible? Would your interpretation be the same as the mws?

Checks: NO continuous fetal monitoring unless necessary and keep internal exams to a minimum - what would you consider to be necessary fetal monitoring? What would you consider too many internal examinations?

Sorry, you've done well at getting all of that covered, but I'm worried it could be ignored on the grounds that you seem to be leaving a lot open to them to interpret.

hth

mazzystartled · 11/12/2008 18:39

I agree

I would write it in a slightly more assertive tone and be as specific as possible

Think keeping it to bullet points on one page is good though

Hope it goes well!

EffiePerine · 11/12/2008 20:03

Right have taken out the possibles and what ifs

OP posts:
MGMidget · 15/12/2008 17:24

Suggest you ask for justification to be given for the varous interventions you mention before you grant consent rather than just putting 'if needed'. You could always add that in the event you are unable to give consent (e.g. unconscious) then hubby is authorised to do it for you.

Also make sure hubby is fully briefed on birth plan and is briefed to bring it to their attention and to remind them on your behalf if they are ignoring it.

del1 · 16/12/2008 11:46

Don't rely on the plan! I was looking forward to candles,massage, watching harry hill etc. but didn't realise when i was had started labour.( waters broke, and contractions 2 mins apart. by the time i got to hospital, didn't have time for pain releif or anything. the only thing that went to plan, was hubby's part! he did exactly what i had asked of him - cutting the cord, and giving me water and spraying face etc.
advice would be - expect the unexpected. just make sure your partner knows his role back to front and inside out!!

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