Birth Plan
Thought I would show you all my birth plan. It is a bit of a work in progress, but I took my last one and made a few amendments:
Birth Plan for Kimberley Scales
Due Date: 27th June 2012
BIRTH COMPANION
My partner Tim Latter, to be with me at all times. Also Student Midwife, Hannah Taylor
LABOUR & BIRTH
Ideally I would like to use the birthing pool for as long as possible
I want to keep mobile, and change positions frequently. I would like advice on this
I do not want to be confined to a bed unless medically necessary, and I do not want to give birth lying down
I would like advice as to the best ways not to tear.
PAIN RELIEF
Preferably water, breathing exercises and gas & air only. I do not want an epidural unless absolutely necessary. If I feel I would like other pain relief I would like advice
MONITORING OF BABY'S HEART RATE
Unless absolutely necessary, I do not want to have the baby's heart rate constantly electronically monitored. Periodical checking by midwife is preferred.
ASSISTED DELIVERY
If necessary, I would prefer ventouse to forceps, but would like to avoid assistance. I would like pain relief to be discussed with me before stitching
DELIVERY OF THE PLACENTA
I would like to deliver the placenta physiologically
My partner has not decided whether he would like to cut the cord or not, but I would like him to be given the choice when the time comes. If he does not I would like the opportunity to do this myself. I would like to see the placenta after delivery
AFTER THE BIRTH
I want immediate skin to skin contact, our baby placed on my chest immediately after delivery without being cleaned. We would like the baby to have the Vitamin K injection.
FEEDING THE BABY
I wish to attempt to breastfeed as soon as possible after delivery and I would appreciate some help. I struggled feeding my daughter and I am determined to do better this time. If I am separated from my baby for medical reasons I would like to use a pump to express milk.
UNEXPECTED SITUATIONS
My partner and I are to be kept fully informed at all times, should surgery be necessary. He is to be my advocate if I am unable to make a decision. If a caesarean is needed, I would prefer it to be under epidural so my partner can remain with me. If our baby needs to be taken away for medical treatment, my husband will accompany him / her.
Birth Plan for Kimberley Scales
Due Date: 27th June 2012
BIRTH COMPANION
My partner Tim Latter, to be with me at all times. Also Student Midwife, Hannah Taylor
LABOUR & BIRTH
Ideally I would like to use the birthing pool for as long as possible
I want to keep mobile, and change positions frequently. I would like advice on this
I do not want to be confined to a bed unless medically necessary, and I do not want to give birth lying down
I would like advice as to the best ways not to tear.
PAIN RELIEF
Preferably water, breathing exercises and gas & air only. I do not want an epidural unless absolutely necessary. If I feel I would like other pain relief I would like advice
MONITORING OF BABY'S HEART RATE
Unless absolutely necessary, I do not want to have the baby's heart rate constantly electronically monitored. Periodical checking by midwife is preferred.
ASSISTED DELIVERY
If necessary, I would prefer ventouse to forceps, but would like to avoid assistance. I would like pain relief to be discussed with me before stitching
DELIVERY OF THE PLACENTA
I would like to deliver the placenta physiologically
My partner has not decided whether he would like to cut the cord or not, but I would like him to be given the choice when the time comes. If he does not I would like the opportunity to do this myself. I would like to see the placenta after delivery
AFTER THE BIRTH
I want immediate skin to skin contact, our baby placed on my chest immediately after delivery without being cleaned. We would like the baby to have the Vitamin K injection.
FEEDING THE BABY
I wish to attempt to breastfeed as soon as possible after delivery and I would appreciate some help. I struggled feeding my daughter and I am determined to do better this time. If I am separated from my baby for medical reasons I would like to use a pump to express milk.
UNEXPECTED SITUATIONS
My partner and I are to be kept fully informed at all times, should surgery be necessary. He is to be my advocate if I am unable to make a decision. If a caesarean is needed, I would prefer it to be under epidural so my partner can remain with me. If our baby needs to be taken away for medical treatment, my husband will accompany him / her.
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Replies
xx
Can I ask why a lot of people don't like giving birth lying down? It seems this is what you most often see on TV etc but I've read a lot about people choosing other positions.
Thanks!
xxx
When I was in labour with DD, I pushed on my side and my back (although I didn't want to) but during the 1st stage I couldn't lay down, if I was laying everytime a contraction started I had to jump up quick smart! I really feel for people who are strapped to a CTG x
My birth plan for my son listed:
- the pain relief I was happy to receive and in which order (i.e. epidural only if I am really not coping and insisting on having it or it is medically necessary)
- I wanted an active labour, staying as mobile as possible... However when my waters broke, they were green which indicated baby is distressed so out came the monitors and that was that... I was basically strapped to the bed lying on my back and that was all I could do. Trying a different position (they would have liked my on all 4s to get baby past my anterior lip) made baby's heart rate dip dramatically so that was a no too. Was told I'd just have to push harder.
- I wanted to try the birthing pool and it was even free, but again because of the meconium in my waters I wasn't allowed
- I requested the injection to deliver my placenta and reduce blood loss and my son was to be given the vitamin K injection
- I also wrote in there that I would like hubby to be asked if he wanted to cut the cord when the time came (he had previously said he didn't want to, but then he also wasn't gonna watch and then he did, both of which I am very grateful for that he did)
Even though things didn't go to plan, they tried where they could to accommodate my wishes and it was a positive experience.
What's the vitamin k injection for?
What options are there for delivering the placenta?
Why are you so against an epidural? I have friends who swear by them and other who didn't want them - just interested in your choices.
Standard in this day and age for 3rd stage is active management. They inject your thigh which stimulates the contractions again and it takes maybe five minutes for the placenta to come away. When I had DD they also used some cord traction, so she pulled on the cord to remove the placenta. A side effect of the drug they use can be sickness. Alternatively you can have a physiological 3rd stage, but they tend not to do this if you have had to have any sort of induction, epidural, anything that takes it out of the realm of "normal" I would guess. Basically they leave it to come out in it's own, no drugs, can take an hour
Reasons I don't want an epidural- I don't want to be stuck on the bed unable to move. I know I can do it without. I want to feel when to push, not be told. I want a physiological 3rd stage. I want a quick discharge. Ideally I don't want to be catheterised as I don't like the struggle to go to the toilet after removal.
I can understand people's reasons for having an epidural- sometimes people have a very long labour and need the rest, or that lady on OBEM this week who couldn't keep calm. It is right for some, and not for others x
My mum also said the recovery time is long afterwards and others I know who've had it haven't remembered the birth properly because they were out of it which is not a nice thought.
But as Kimmy says that woman on OBEM this week, she was a different woman after having it and clearly it was a the right option or a midwife was likely to be punched!!
my husband to be with my when spinal block administered if possible and all the way through the c section,
me to hold baby first, skin to skin contact if possible,
vit k by injection.
As Aby said it's interesting to hear peoples thoughts and reasons.
Let's hope we all have births like the girl in the pool on OBEM!!
The reason they gave was I could get out of the pool if I wanted or stay there and deliver it myself.
I am so glad that I did it this way in the end and will be asking to deliver it myself this time as well.
I must add though that it took alot longer than I thought. Kept asking if I should be doing anything and they said no you will know when you need to push. After 40 minutes my contractions started again and I started pushing. It was actually really hard work and I had to push really quite hard (which I also didnt expect)they ended up having to give a little tug on the cord and I gave an almighty push and out it came. It was chuffing HUGE as well.
I didnt know anyone who had delvered it themselves so thought I would share in case annyone was interested.
Can I ask why a lot of people don't like giving birth lying down? It seems this is what you most often see on TV etc but I've read a lot about people choosing other positions.
Thanks!
xxx
Before having DD2 I really fancied e idea of giving birth kneeling up so gravity was at it's max but at the time I just got onto the bed (after ambulance transfer and being fully dilated!) and just didn't want to move. I don't think I could have to be honest as the contractions were so strong and frequent I didn't have the impetus or inclination to think about positions!
Re the epidural, I was dead against one first time round as my NCT classes had been so strongly against them as statistically they tend to lead to increased intervention (ventouse, forceps, c section) however they didn't mitigate this with the fact that there is also likely to be another reason for the intervention on top of the epidural (ie baby's position). I had no pain relief bar water and gas and air and ended up with a c section and I felt so cheated!
2nd time round I was 50/50 about having one but in the end they wouldn't give me one as I developed low platelets during my 3rd trimester so they wouldn't risk the possibility of me bleeding and not clotting.
Now, having experienced just how much crowning f*cling hurts I am quite tempted to have one this time! The main thing that puts me off though is that I know people who still get severe headaches from epidural side effects nearly 2 years after they had one which I am not sure I want to risk.
I think will try and go without but I am openminded...
Although i know now what i want it makes such sense to see it all written down as who knows what state i'll end up in!!
I'd love to have a waterbirth as like some of the other ladies have said i'm of the opinion lying flat on my back will not be the best way of getting baby out... The info on delivering the placenta was also really useful as this stage of the birth hadn't even crossed my mind atm!
Has anyone/ is anyone planning on giving the Vit K orally? When me and DH originally read the leaflet we decided orally as although it would have to be done x3 it has no risks involved.. the risks indicated were super small but we thought why even risk the risk.. so to speak! xxx
Vitamin K is essential as it helps makes our blood clot and prevent internal bleeding. Newborn babies get very little Vitamin K in their diet (unlike us) as they live entirely on milk. Their livers are also quite immature and baby runs a risk of developing Vitamin K Deficiency Bleeding or haemorrhagic disease of the newborn.
Thank you for your post Wif! I always thought you HAD to get out of the pool for the 3rd stage of labour, but I'll definitely consider the delivery of the placenta without injection if it means not having to jump out immediately after giving birth! If I can even labour in the pool that is ofc