First time mum to be, would like some advice!

[Ozziegirly]

At my next appointment with my Obs apparently we are going to talk about my birth plan. Now, I have done some reading and also have some ideas, but what I don't want is either to be bamboozled into something I don't know about, or not ask the right questions.

So, basically, I guess my "aim" for the birth is:

"To try to avoid induction for as long as possible, although I am happy with as much monitoring as you wish. I would prefer only to be induced if there is a medical reason and not on an arbitrary day.

I would like to labour in a calm atmosphere with minimal examinations, I would like to be able to move around as much as possible. I will probably want gas and air for these stages.

I would like to avoid pethadine. I am scared of a foreceps delivery more than of a c-section. I may want an epidural, but if a mobile epidural was available I would much prefer that".

So does this seem realistic, or will she look at me like this and think "here comes another one with unrealistic expectations"?

I was actually induced "to a date" rather than because it was absolutely medically necessary to do it on that day. But having spent some time in the ante-natal ward and seeing the difference between the times things were really slack and the times when the wards were choc a bloc and women labouring in the corridors, I could sort of see their point. As long as there was no medical reason not to be induced on that day, I did prefer the idea of actually having a labour room and a bed to climb into afterwards, rather than labouring on a stretcher in a corridor somewhere. It was not at all a bad or understaffed hospital, but some times just are much busier than others.

here was mine (3rd birth) might give you some ideas???

Induction of labour
I don?t want to be induced until at least 2 weeks late unless medical need ? counting from my dates. However I hope it doesn?t come to this; I would like a stretch and sweep every 3rd day from 40+7 onwards and acupuncture if possible to help bring on a natural labour.

Environment
I am really excited about coming to your lovely new birth centre! I would really like to give birth in a birth pool. I would like low lights, music, etc and as few interruptions. I don?t want extra people in the room. I would prefer to stay at home for as long as possible.

On Arrival
My husband is my birth partner. I do not want to have any internal examinations or CFM unless medically essential. I would like to be admitted directly to the room I will give birth in.

Pain relief
I have been listening to hypnosis CDs (both hypnobirthing and natal hypnotherapy).
Please don?t use the word ?pain? or ?hurt? etc as the mind is very suggestive.
I will have my own TENS machine and I like gas and air very much. I do not want Pethidine as I like to be in control and I am concerned about its effects on the baby.
I want to be in water, especially for 2nd stage.

Other considerations
I want to be encouraged to remain active and mobile throughout; please don?t ask me to lie on my back on the bed as I will refuse if you ask. I would like a hand off approach, i.e. to birth and deliver the baby myself. I do not want to be told to push (unless medically necessary e.g. baby distressed and needs to be born quickly) however would appreciate being reminded not to push to avoid tearing when baby is crowning.
I will listen to, and follow, medical advice, but please explain thoroughly so that I understand why something may be necessary.

Third Stage
I would like to try for natural third stage but if it?s taking too long I might ask for the injection.

Afterwards
I will probably be too exhausted to hold the baby so my husband will hold him. I would like the baby to have vitamin K orally. I would like to be discharged as soon as possible after the birth, directly from the birth centre.

MumNW that sounds great - did your birth follow that plan? It sounds really idyllic.

Hi Ozzygirl - yes hospital very respectful of birth plan. Only bit that didn't go exactly according to plan was that DC3 decided to be born a bit too quickly.... journey down birth canal in approx 90 seconds - with only about 2 mins warning before that!

So no time to fill pool (I had asked about 10 mins early and they didn't think I was in established labour) and midwifes ended up catching him not me as I was a bit shocked by the speed!

And he was tangled in his cord so needed it cut to have some external oxygen. But yes completely chilled out natural birth.

But yes dim lights, calm atmosphere no internals, CFM or any other intervention etc Only person who lay down on the bed was DH trying to sleep!!!!.