Birthplan

 Hi girls!

I know it's early but have you started thinking about your birthplans?

This is the 1st time I've been asked to write one and while I think I know what I'd like I'd love to hear what things you ladies are including in your plans? 

• Limited internal checks - don't tell me the progress unless I ask
• No drugs
• No rupturing of the membranes
• No IV
• No cutting the cord until it stops pulsing
• Mama catches the baby
• Baby goes right to mama's chest
• No weighing, drying off, measuring until the hub bub dies down
• Hushed voices during delivery
• Mama is allowed all the food and drink she wants
• The only people allowed in the room are mama, daddy, doc and baby during delivery
• No use of the words, "pain, contractions, labor" or anything negative
  

alsestis:

No rupturing of the membranes

I'm putting this on my list too. I know it can speed things up but mine ususally rupture naturally when I'm almost 10cm. I've read it makes the pain more intense...

alsestis:

No cutting the cord until it stops pulsing

Never heard about this one, could you explain?

alsestis:

Mama catches the baby

Do you mean you pull baby out? I did that with one of mine- VERY cool!

alsestis:

No weighing, drying off, measuring until the hub bub dies down

Must be b/c I'm Swedish  I don't understand this! No weighing until when?

alsestis:

No use of the words, "pain, contractions, labor" or anything negative

Like this one A LOT!

Thanks for that AL, has given me lots to think about.

 "In absence of external interventions, the umbilical cord occludes physiologically shortly after birth, explained both by a swelling and collapse of Wharton's jelly in response to a reduction in temperature and by vasoconstriction of the blood vessels by smooth muscle contraction. In effect, a natural clamp is created, halting the flow of blood. If left to proceed naturally, this physiological clamping will take as little as five minutes and up to 20^[4] minutes. In water birth in a warm waterbirth tub, where the temperature of the water may be equal to inside the body, normal pulsation can be 5 minutes and longer.^[5]"

Here in the US - they cut the cord the second the baby comes out instead of letting the final blood pulse out on it's own which can take up to 20 minutes.  There are tons of stem cells and all kinds of good stuff in this final blood.  My docs won't cut the cord until the process is complete.

Yes, I will pull the baby out myself.  I want to be the first person to come in contact with my lil one.

Also here in the US, they take the baby immediately, dry it off in towels by rubbing the crap out of it, weight it, measure it and return it.  My docs won't take my babe away until we have had a chance to bond.  Plus, the cord will still be attached.  I don't want any loud noises or "PUSH, PUSH!!!" either.  Just calm.

Epidural to be administered when I say so and is not to be turned down or off unless that person wants me to punch them in the face

Do not tell me to push in my bottom like I need to have a BM - that is the LAST thing I want on my mind and I think it's disgusting that nurses keep repeating this.

No forceps

And for pity's sake please make sure you have ALL of my placenta out this time so I don't go back to my room and hemorrhage like a scene from Freddy Kreuger

 Al - thank you so much for the info about the cord, had no idea! They cut it quite soon after birth here in Europe but you have time for a cuddle 1st.

JJ4R:

Epidural to be administered when I say so and is not to be turned down or off unless that person wants me to punch them in the face

Do not tell me to push in my bottom like I need to have a BM - that is the LAST thing I want on my mind and I think it's disgusting that nurses keep repeating this.

No forceps

And for pity's sake please make sure you have ALL of my placenta out this time so I don't go back to my room and hemorrhage like a scene from Freddy Kreuger

  I totally agree! I really don't want forceps. If I need 'help' I prefer ventose but I know that takes longer to apply... Are you going to tell them you'd rather have a c-section than forceps?

I really hope I'll get the epi at 4-5 cm this time as I go from 5 to 10cm in less than an hour and the last two times I got it so late it only really helped with he pain while pushing... better than nothing but I wish they could get the timing right so it's starting to wear off at that point, pushing with an epi is not easy.

RainDreamer:

Stay away from me. Don't touch me. Don't talk to me. And get me some damn food. Oh and if you turn the lights on I will severely injure you. =P

RainDreamer:

Stay away from me. Don't touch me. Don't talk to me. And get me some damn food. Oh and if you turn the lights on I will severely injure you. =P

GIVE ME MY EPIDURAL WHEN I WANT IT!LOL

Don't break my water til AFTER it's administered

Do NOT give my baby a bottle

MY BABY STAYS IN MY ROOM AT ALL TIMES,I DON'T CARE IF THE NURSES DO FIND IT EASIER TO WEIGH THEM OR CHECK ON THEM IN THE NURSERY!!!!LOL Sorry,but nothing pisses me off worse than when they come and get them to check their vitals,and FORGET to bring them back!!!

 So girls, I've decided it's time to actually write out my birthplan. I think it will help me feel calmer about it, I am feeling a little anxious about it all at the moment as I've never given birth in the UK before, my 3 boys were born in France...

What is your opinion on having an injection to deliver the placenta faster? I don't think I ever had that before...

Does your hospital have a time limit you're allowed to push for?

How do you feel about having your waters broken or pitocin without an epi?

If you don't want forceps do you just say you want ventose instead or do you ask for a C-section in case of fetal distress?

And what about the choice between giving baby a vitamin K injection or drops after birth?

Thanks ladies 

vendela:

How do you feel about having your waters broken or pitocin without an epi?

With my first, my water broke on its own at the start of labor... and once my contractions started they were excruciating. Don't have anything else to compare it to since it was my first, but I've heard contractions are worse without the fluid there as a buffer. I hope that doesn't happen this time. So personally, I would prefer to have the epi before any breakage of water.

 Thanks Plum!

My waters have always broken naturally when I was almost 10cm so have no experience with this. Did read it increases the pain which you just confirmed. Have put 'no waters broken or pitocin unless I've already had an epi'