Confused about Birth plan?

[BeanInMyBelly]

Hey all, am 26 weeks pregnant and just reading up about birthplans. I'm not quite sure what I'm meant to put, or how to put it, if that makes sense? Do I write down a dictation of what I want, do I do a 500 page, colour coded and alphabetised presentation, do a scribble down a few random musings?
Basically, if everything was happening in the land of Perfect, and everything is natural (gas and air) and smooth sailing then all I really want is the chance to have as natural labour as poss (ie: no epidural unless I proper chicken out, and no Cs unless medically needed/advised). Also I really really want to breastfeed, so from what I've read about the best time to latch on etc, I guess I would like skin-to-skin contact asap after delivery, and would like to try to breastfeed before 30 mins have passed after delivery. Is this a reasonable request? Can I put that if possible I would like to try to feed during placenta delivery/any stitches -- is it possible to try to feed while being stitched up? Or can you ask to wait to be stitched up so you can try to bf first? Sorry for the barrage of questions! x

I've had 3 DC and never written a birth plan

It's good to have an idea of how you'd like your labour to go, and for your birthing partner to be aware of it

But IMO if you have stuff written down and you're all dead set on it and it doesn't go that way, you are ripe for disappointment

Everything you've said in your OP re your birthing choices sounds fab

I've had stitches twice and couldn't have fed during it (you're on your back with your legs akimbo on the gas and air...)

Skin-to-skin is the best bet immediately post-birth. DC1 wasn't interested in feeding until about an hr later (was fine, I had a chance to get stitched up and showered etc. No problems getting feeding going)

DC2 fed within 5mins of being born, DC3 was about 20mins later

I'm 35 weeks and I'm still just as confused as you - but my MW said at my 36 week apt next week we are having a double one to discuss all these things and I think they the pretty much write your birth plan with you. If you look on your antenatal notes if they're like mine there should be a page with things they discuss with you and here they will write down your preferences, so it might be worth looking at that if you've gfot it and have a think about what you'd like.

I felt the same as you, a bit unprepared, but they do just tend to leave it til what feels like is quite late - though recently I have had classes that have made me feel a lot better prepared and more clued up, so they probably wait until you have these as these give you better knowledge of your options. Also make everything seem a bit less scary. They proabably don't want to scare you too early on!

DC1 birth - wait for placenta - showered - stitched - fed (and fed and fed and fed )

DC2 birth - fed - placenta - stitched - showered

DC3 birth - placenta - fed - showered - NO STITCHES HURRAH!

I think birthplans are a really good way of making sure you think about what you would ideally want to happen, and also about what you would want to happen in X situation. You wouldn't walk into a hairdressers without a plan and just tell their staff to go with the flow would you!

For example in mine, I put what I would ideally like (active water birth), what I would like to happen if I had had to have a EMCS (skin to skin with DH if not possible with me, lower the screen to see baby being born, baby not be moved out of room unless medically necessary) and also explicitly said that I did not consent to certain things such as episiotomy for which they would need to ask my permission.

Some medical staff always do things the same way (I know there is a doctor at the hospital I used who always does epi's for example which obviously is not always medically necessary) and I think that the birth plan is a good way to let them know what you want when you probably won't be in a state to tell them! Of course, all plans can go awry and you and the baby being safe is the important thing (I had to have an epis in the end due to assisted birth) but it doesn't hurt for the staff to know your preferences.

I fed while being stitched up as I fed DS to help get the placenta out and there was no way he was going to stop for them! Took my mind off it to be honest.

HTH

So it doesn't really make that much difference if you try to feed straight away or wait for a little bit? notnowbernard - have you got any tips on the best way to get newborns feeding? I was worrying that if I waited to long then it would make it really difficult, as in baby wouldn't latch on or something - but I am completely new to all this so wouldn't have a clue!
GlitteryBalls - not long for you now, how exciting! It is all very confusing, but I guess I will just have to keep my uber impatience and over-organisational urges to a minimum, at least for a few more weeks!! x

I think ideally it is best to feed as soon after the baby is born as possible

But as I said, all my babies were different. DC1 came out very chilled out (didn't cry!) and wasn't rooting for the breast until about an hour later. Luckily once she latched on she didn't really want to stop, so bf got off to a great start

DC2 came out BELLOWING so a few minutes after being born

ANd DC3 started rooting about 20mins or so later. IME the BEST tip for newborn breastfeeding is lots of skin-to-skin (which is lovely) and letting the baby feed whenever it roots. If it's a sleepy baby (DC3 was), it's a good idea to offer the breast often

I have a page in my notes for a birth plan but I guess this is probably not standard for every health trust. It is basically a question and answer sheet on different aspects of the birth and different things that may need to be considered. I've copied out the questions it asks below in case it's of any use to you as I know I wouldn't have a clue where to start if I didn't have it!

• Labour Companion - who would you like to be with you.

• Pain Management in Labour - are there any methods that you would like to use to help you cope with labour.

• Positions in labour - you may have a preference for giving birth in a certain position.

• Interventions - sometimes it is necessary for the midwife or obstetrician to intervene if labout is not progressing or your health or the health of your baby is at risk. What are your views about interventions?

• Birth: Do you have any feelings about:

- Episiotomy - this is only done if absolutely necessary & with your verbal consent. - Syntometrine - this is an injection which is usually given immediately after the baby is born to help your womb contract, aid delivery of the afterbirth and minimise blood loss.

• Skin to Skin - encouraged

• Feeding your baby - breatfeeding recommended but they will help with what you decide.

• Vitamin K - Consent for this to be given (assume that they'd ask you this seperately)

• Induction of labour - Have you any concerns about your labour started?

• Caesarean Section

- would you like your partner present if possible? - spinal/ epidural anaesthesia if possible? - to hold your baby in the operating theatre if possible - breastfeed in recovery ward if possible

• Are there any religious customs you would like observed?

I always wrote a plan. I was flexible to pain relief, but wanted option of epidural. Didn't want students (bad experiance) and wanted to go home in 6 hours.
Never been home any less than 2 days later so not even bothering this time.

Just remember, its a plan of what ideally you would like to happen. Remember that it is all subject to change, and can end up not followed at all. Some mothers have put things such as NO pain relief under any circumstances, then as soon as they have gone into hospital, begged for everything going then after felt as though they have failed. No medals given for suffering pain.

At the end of the day, its nice to have an idea of what you want, but you can change your mind in there and they will generally ask you before they do anything and nowadays they generally give you baby and get you feeding, with skin to skin contact asap. Unless its something like religious grounds and blood, I wouldn't worry too much.You could always discuss it with your hubby, or whoever you are having with you, so if you are in a lot of pain they would know, but tbh the midwives would still insist on checking everything anyway in case you have changed your mind :)

Every you've put down sounds feasible.

I didn't write a plan for DD1, and got a very overmedicalised labour which was hellish. I don't think it was the lack of a birth plan that led to this, but in my case not having made a plan was a symptom of not having prepared for the birth.

With DD2 I wrote something of an essay (albeit in bullet point form). That birth didn't go straightforwardly either - in fact I ended up with a crash section so even my preferences for cs were useless - but having planned and thought the various scenarios through meant I had a much better labour.

Skin to skin soon after birth is a good thing for a number of reasons (e.g. it helps the baby regulate its temperature) but some babies just don't feed right away. My DD1 latched on by herself as I slept 12 hours after birth. They don't starve if they don't feed right away, and IME (having been asleep for an hour after DD2 was born!) it doesn't have to have an impact on breastfeeding. My DH did the skin to skin until I came round with DD2 and until I was able to hold DD1 too.

This was mine:

1. I have tested Group B strep Positive

2.I am allergic to MORPHINE 3.I would like to use the pool in early labour if possible 4.I f I ask for an epidural during labour it means I really want one please don?t try and persuade me otherwise 5.If I am induced and require a Synto drip I want an epidural BEFORE the drop is started. 6.If it comes down to it I would prefer to have an emergency c-section rather than instrumental delivery 7.Happy for injection to deliver placenta 8.Baby to have VitK injection 9.Baby delivered onto me and not taken way at all unless medically necessary 10.My Husband to cut the cord 11.If baby needs to go to Special Care my husband to go with her and not leave her at any point 12.I will be breastfeeding no formula top ups to be given.

The MW's said they liked it because it was short and concise. It gave them all my preferences but also said that should it all go tits up then do what you need to to ensure I have a healthy safe baby.

Hi there,

Can I ask blueberrysantabait why you would of preferred an emergency c-section rather than instrumental delivery? Just curious as I am all new to this, and wondered whether this choice was because you had a previous bad experience with forceps/ventouse? ta.

Hi Leila - In the weeks leading upto the delivery of my DD2 I had 3 friends who had terrible forceps deliveries at the hospital I was due to deliver on. 2 still have continence issues nearly 6 months on and one has had extensive repair work. I didn't want the risk of it being me and if the time and position of the baby allowed it I didn't want forceps unless it was a situation where baby was unable to be delivered by section.

As it turned out as it was DD2's labour was less than an hour and she was nearly delivered in the car park! so many of the labour things went out the window.

One thing I asked for which might not spring to mind, but is definitely worth it was: if you need to site a drip for any reason, please put it far enough up my arm that it is completely clear of my wrist.

Having one sited in your wrist is perceptible and can slightly reduce its movement - not somethingI wanted when the handling of a possibly slippery newborn was in the offing.

One thing I asked for which might not spring to mind, but is definitely worth it was: if you need to site a drip for any reason, please put it far enough up my arm that it is completely clear of my wrist.

Having one sited in your wrist is perceptible and can slightly reduce its movement - not somethingI wanted when the handling of a possibly slippery newborn was in the offing.

Thanks! Think that I might have the same clause in my birth plan...Sounds horrendous! :(

Soz..that last post was meant for blueberrysantabait! xx

I had a birthplan and found that the labour ward was being refurbished so most stuff was not available eg birthing balls/pools etc.

It didn't matter because as I went into labour ( lasted 3 hours)nature took over and all i wanted to do was pace up and down with gas and air. The thought of lying in a pool with soft music sounded great before labour but terrible once it all started.

I then had morphine when my waters broke and after that I really didn't care what happened and thought the whole experience was bliss!! - didn't notice the stitches, breast fed - all perfect!