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Making your birthplan
Birthplan Suggestions
Your Birthplan is a letter to the nurses and doctors whom you do not know well. This is your chance to give them some reason to believe that they know you and give them a vested interest in your wishes. Tell them something personal and personable about yourselves. Keep you plan to one page choosing only items of great importance to you. State that you understand that in unforeseen circumstances that parts of this plan may be altered. Thank the staff in advance for the great care that you know you will receive. Take three copies to the hospital with you. Get your plan signed by your doctor after you have discussed it with them. You may need to make concessions after your doctor has explained his reasons for the changes. READ, READ, READ so that you can make a case for your point of view. The most important part of your Birthplan is you VOICE! Tell people what you want!
For a doula to assist you effectively in labor, we ask that you discuss the following Birthplan options with you doctor:
1. I may labor in an upright position (walking, squatting, sitting, ect), hands and knees or side lying, as I desire. I also wish to shower, use the birthball and have music during my labor. I realize that the hospital policy may limit these positions with the administration of medications and I will be confined to bed with an epidural if I choose that.
2. I wish my husband (significant other) and my doula to remain at my bedside at all times and accompany me to C-Section if that becomes necessary. (Make sure to get approval prior from the nurse director or hospital director and keep name on Birthplan.)
3. I wish to drink and eat lightly in the first stage of labor. My doula has advised me on a list of very light foods that will help me to keep my strength up without being hard to digest. I realize that if I am high risk for C-Section this will not be allowed.
4. I prefer to have a saline lock instead of an IV so that I may have more mobility. I understand that if you feel that fluids are necessary that I will be able to have them administered quickly connected to the saline lock.
5. I wish to be connected to the fetal heart monitor for 5-20 minutes out of the hour in the first stage of labor if everything is well.
6. I wish to receive perineal massage by the nurse if possible. I know that perineal massage does not always help and that it may still be necessary to do an episiotomy. I will leave that up to you. (or I am aware of the risks and still I prefer a tear to an episiotomy.) I would prefer a warm compress with a little olive oil placed to help relieve some discomfort.
7. I want to try spontaneous bearing down instead of directed pushing. I have read much on the subject and do not believe that prolonged pushing is good for mother or baby. I prefer to have the baby on the perineum to push if the baby is stable and tolerating labor well. I am very willing to abstain from pushing even if I feel the urge if you feel that it is the best for my baby or myself.
8. Baby: GENTLE suctioning please. No Erythromycin to the eyes until one hour after birth please. I know that we have 24 hours for administration and I wish my newborn to see me right after delivery. Breastfeeding only please unless I decide otherwise. Please place the baby on my stomach and allow me to breastfeed as soon as possible. I know that having your newborn on the breast helps shrink the uterus and reduces bleeding.
Make your plan a brief bulleted list!
List only three to five points that are VERY IMPORTANT to you.
Take at least three copies to the hospital with you! (Post one on the door?)
Always thank the doctor and staff again at the end of your plan.
Have you plan signed by you doctor, you and your spouse (S.O.)
Patient:____________________________
Husband:__________________________
Doctor:____________________________
Doula:____________________________
Date:_____________________________
Hospital where we intend to deliver:_____________________________
GET A COPY OF YOUR PRENATAL RECORD AT YOUR 36 WEEK DOCTORS APPOINTMENT!!!!! Take to Hospital with you.
Additional information you may consider adding:
In the Event of a Cesarean:
-Request that your partner be allowed to remain by your side.
-Make sure that the procedure is explained to you step-by-step. This will help you to feel like you are actually participating in the birth of you child, rather than just having him or her removed from you body.
-You can request to be allowed some sort of physical contact with your baby following delivery. This is so important to the mother's emotional well being!
-Your partner should be allowed to stay with your newborn at ALL TIMES!
-You can ask that separation from your child be minimal.
Postpartum & Neonatal Care:
-If you plan to breastfeed, make sure the staff is supportive of your decision and find out there a lactation consultant available. Do not allow you infant to be given bottles of sugar water or formula or a pacifier.
The sooner you establish breasfeeding, the better!
-You should be given some sort of nutritious food and drink as soon as possible.
-The natural vernix will continue to soften your baby skin and does not need to be removed by bathing. Whether or not your child is bathed should be your decision.
-Most hospitals and birthing centers allow husbands to stay with you for 24 hours a day. Make sure you are aware of the hospital/birthing centers policies on visitation of other family and friends.
In the event your baby needs specialized medical care:
-If you baby needs to be transported to another facility, make sure you or your partner is able to accompany your baby.
-If you a breastfeeding, you can ask to breastfeed or express milk to be given to your baby.
-Ask to be as involved as possible with your baby's care.
-You can request that your own postpartum stay be as short as possible so you can spend more time with your baby.
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Some sites you might try:
Baby Center, Create Your Own Birth Plan~
www.babycenter.com/calculators/birthplan/
This site has a "fill out" form where you check off the things you do and do not want for your labor. Once you have marked the items that are important to you, it is printable so you can have a copy immediately. You can use use this as your official birth plan, and take it to a copier for extras to give to your care-giver and nurses at the hospital.
www.BirthPlan.com
This one is similar to the one at Baby Center. Check them both out to compare
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Interactive Birth Plan (Create your birth plan online!) :
www.childbirth.org/interactive/ibirthplan
Birth Plan FAQ :
www.fensende.com/Users/swnymph/birthplan.all.html
The Birth Plan A Lawyer's Guide :
www.plague.law.umkc.edu/xfiles/x754.htm
Lots of information:
http://www.bestdoulas.com/
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