My birth plan has been submitted to and discussed with my midwife. She's t
otally on board with everything and most things are already standard procedure in her practice, which means the on call midwife who delivers me will be too. I'd be lying if I said I wasn't scared about labor and delivery but Mike and I plan to attend a natural child birth preparation class next month, which will hopefully help put my fears and anxiety to rest. I'm currently reading Natural Hospital Birth and Ina May Gaskin's Guide to Natural Childbirth, which have been incredibly informative and eye opening.
Birth Plan for Megan H Estimated Due Date: 17 August 2012
Michael H, Husband Christina M, ARNP, CNM
- We are attempting to have a natural,
un-medicated birth without medical or chemical interventions.
- I plan on not being induced until after
42 weeks, in accordance with ACOG’s recommendations.
During labor, we would like:
- To have minimal monitoring and
limited vaginal exams.
- To eat and drink as desired.
- To have a saline lock instead
of an IV.
- To move around as much as
possible.
During labor, we would
like to avoid:
- Artificial rupture of
membranes.
- Suggestions of chemical
interventions, to include anesthetics or analgesics.
- Any references to “things
moving along”, “pain”, “hurt”, etc.
During delivery, we
would like:
- To push at my own pace
(Mother-directed pushing).
- To birth in any position,
especially standing or squatting.
- To use warm
compresses, food-grade oils, and perineal support to help prevent
tearing.
- To lower the
bright lights at the moment of birth.
During delivery, we would like to
avoid:
- Loud coaching or counting
during pushing.
- Pushing while lying on my
back.
- The use of vacuum or forceps.
- An episiotomy; I prefer to
tear naturally.
Following birth, we
would like:
- To delay the
cord clamping as long as possible, until it stops pulsating at the least.
- My husband to cut the cord.
- To have baby placed on
Mother’s abdomen immediately.
- The APGAR to
be tested while the baby is on my chest.
- To delay any
non-emergent newborn procedures, including the vitamin K shot, the PKU
heel stick, eye prophylaxis, bathing, measuring, weighing, and foot
printing until after our bonding period.
- To bathe her ourselves.
- To breastfeed exclusively. (No
bottles, pacifiers, syringes, formula, etc.)To meet with an IBCLC or a
local La Leche League Leader as soon as possible.
- To retain my placenta for
encapsulation.
Following birth, we
would like to avoid:
- Clamping or cutting the cord
before the cord stops pulsating.
- The Hepatitis B shot and eye ointment.
- Pitocin during the birth of
the placenta.
- Wiping or rubbing off of the
vernix.
Back-up Birth Plan (for
a Cesarean Delivery)
Instead of
a cesarean, I would like to return home or remain in the hospital for
monitoring if my labor fails to progress. I do not consent to a cesarean
delivery based on fears of what might happen to my baby if we don't. I only
consent to a cesarean delivery if my baby is showing distress on the monitors
and if there is a time-sensitive emergency. If there is time for me to wait for
an operating suite, watch a consent video, or wait for my personal doctor
to arrive to do the surgery, then it is not a time-sensitive
emergency. I would like to obtain a
second opinion if my physician recommends a c-section.
During the prep, I
would like:
- To have my husband present.
- To be introduced to everyone
in the OR and have their roles explained.
- To be kept informed of what is
taking place.
- I do not
consent to tying down my arms unless I am unable to control them.
- I do not
consent to tranquilizers, sedatives, or amnesiac drugs.
During the procedure, I
would like:
- To have only necessary staff
present
- For the atmosphere to be as
gentle and unhurried as possible.
- To delay the
cord clamping as long as possible, until it stops pulsating at the least,
so that my baby gets all of its cord blood and so that my baby will not
need oxygen from a different source.
- To have the
baby be immediately placed skin-to-skin with an uncut umbilical cord on my
bare chest and covered with blankets for warmth, unless there is an
unusual situation.
During the repair, I would like:
- To keep the baby skin-to-skin
on my chest or in my arms instead of using a warmer, even throughout
suturing, recovery, etc.
- The APGAR to be tested while
the baby is on my chest.
- To keep the vernix on my
baby’s skin so that I can rub it in myself.
- My husband to cut the cord.
- To delay any non-emergent
newborn procedures, including the vitamin K shot, the PKU heel stick, eye
prophylaxis, bathing, measuring, weighing, and foot printing.
The opportunity to breastfeed the baby immediately, even while the
surgeons are finishing their work.
- To retain my placenta for
encapsulation.
In recovery, I would like:
- To be visited by an IBCLC or a
local La Leche League Leader as soon as possible.
- To keep the baby with me at
all times.
- To delay the baby’s bath,
weight, and other measurements until after our bonding period.
And a big congratulations to Jessica, whose twins made their very early appearance last Saturday!
