Birth Plan; Part Dos

Happy 37 weeks Dosie!

I'm through about the second or third draft of our birth plan. I thought I'd offer it up for the world to see to help get us ready for your arrival.

Dudes, offer ANY suggestions if yous have any.

This one is MUCH more thorough than the last. Last time it said, "Go with the flow, TBone will announce the gender." Experience will do that to a lady. After a slow slope and failure to progress, meconium in the fluid, a chord around the neck, a pretty nasty muscle tear, a hospital transfer, two doctors trying to pull Maksim out...it didn't go like we thought. 

Here's a MUCH more thorough plan...and Maksim- if/when you read this...we're so happy to have gotten you here safely. You're our happy, healthy, hilarious, awesome baby boy. And we're glad to have had the care we had to get you here safely. 

BACKGROUND FOR READER who doesn't know us: we're going to a birth center and are hoping for a natural birth. I hope you're caught up. 

Now, part Dos:

Sarah and Todd Birth Plan- This birth plan is intended to express the preference and desires we have for the birth of our baby. It is not intended to be a script. We fully realize that situations may arise such that our plan cannot and should not be followed. However, we hope that barring extenuating circumstances, you will be able to keep us informed and aware of our options. Thank you!

Emergency Contact-

Margaret - Sarah’s mother- ***-***-**** cell, ***-***-****

Lauren - Sarah’s sister- ***-***-****

First Son, Maksi will likely be with Maternal Mother,  please allow him to visit with Sarah and Todd if they want to see him if he is present.

We believe that it is vitally important to keeping Sarah calm, which would then in turn, greatly increase her progression. She wants to do a lot of the work in the comfort of her own home. (Thanks, Dewee!)

All parts of labor

-          We want to know everyone who is attending the birth- and we’d like their names and how and why they’re assisting unless in a true emergency and there is not time to communicate this information. Same if we transfer to the hospital. Also we’d also like to be made aware of why various medical teams may need to be present.   

-          Please update us on the progression of the labor- if Sarah is not progressing, or if Sarah progressing nicely- please tell her of the progress. If there’s anything we can do to help facilitate the process, please make suggestions- this is only our second rodeo- we know you've done this a few more times before.

First Stage (Labor):

·         We would like the bag of waters to break naturally if possible. Please discuss this with Sarah and Todd why breaking it might be necessary.

·         Please do not offer pain medications- last birth Sarah had an adverse reaction.

·         Want to be able to eat and drink as tolerated throughout the natural birth

·         Maintain mobility (walking, birth ball, bathroom, water)

·         Heat or Cold packs

·         Massage (back, foot, counter pressure, etc.)

·         Please inform us if internal fetal monitoring is necessary

·         To help Sarah with pain management please be direct and use facts, “take deep breaths; get up and walk around; movement facilitates the birth; the stronger the contractions, the closer we are to delivery; you can do this; etc…” Sarah is a yoga teacher and college coach, and responds well to athletic-style coaching.  Please do not use metaphors “ ex: imagine you are a flower, imagine your body is opening…”-

·         

The Gender is a surprise! We do not want to know the gender of the baby until he or she is born. Todd will announce the gender.

Induction:

·         I prefer natural methods to start labor

Augmentation:

·         I prefer to walk and move about to speed labor- I should be encouraged to get up and walk around (no matter how much I’m might try to shut down from the intensity of the pain.

Second Stage (Birth):

·         Todd (husband/ father) would like to announce sex of baby

·         Choice of position

·         Birth / squat bar

·         I would prefer to tear than have an episiotomy. Please use compresses, massage, and positioning

·         Slow, controlled pushing w/ mineral oil to help avoid bad tearing

·         Should an episiotomy be absolutely necessary or stitches are required as a result of tearing, I would like a local anesthetic prior to stitching

·         If there is a tear, please tell Sarah the degree of tear after the birth and approximately how many stitches were needed to repair the tear.

·         If baby is healthy, no separation of mother and baby, please place baby immediately on mother’s chest for skin-to-skin contact and breast feeding

·         Todd does not want to cut the cord.

·         If any artificial means of getting the baby out (vacuum, etc) please talk with us about why this might be necessary

Baby Care:

·         If a pediatrician is required, I want to meet this doctor as soon as they are present in the room.

·         I want to be updated by the pediatrician after the baby is born and they have seen the child

·         No separation of mother and baby, please place baby immediately on mother’s chest for skin-to-skin contact and breast feeding

·         Breast feeding ONLY, no formula, glucose water, pacifiers, etc.
        If the baby is a boy, we want him circumcised. 

Possible hospital transfer:

·         Todd with me at all times

·         Please discuss the option of pitocin. We would like to try and progress naturally.

·         Please keep me informed of pain management drug options. Although I want a natural birth, please tell me when we reach the last possible time to get an epidural

·         In the event we are considering cesarean but it is not definite, I want to be awake for the birth. We can put the epidural in and not turn on the medicine as a precautionary measure.

Cesarean Birth (if necessary): only in an absolute emergency where baby is in distress and we need to get the baby out immediately.

·         I want to be awake and alert during surgery

·         Epidural anesthesia

·         Todd present at all times

·         Breast feeding as soon as possible

·         Spinal anesthesia is only done if Sarah and/or baby is in distress and the baby needs to be removed immediately and the epidural is no longer an option.

Sick Baby:

·         Continuous updates from attending pediatrician on baby’s condition

·         Mother consulted regarding all tests / treatments

·         Father to accompany baby to all tests

·         Breast feeding as soon as possible