Emergency Birth Plan?

[nynaeve_sedai]

So with all the chatter about birth plans this got me thinking about whether or not I should do one and what it should include. Right now I'm planning on a water birth with my midwife at a freestanding birth center with my husband as support (I was considering a doula but that's not going to work out so... alas). I'm usually a nutty planner, but

Comments

[moondrunk]

My daughter's birth was a planned homebirth. I did not have a transfer or csection birth plan ready for a pretty similar reason, and I can say, I regret that. While her section was emergent for my sake, there are things we could have asked for and didn't because in the heat of the moment we forgot. A birth plan would have solved that. Even small things like the baby not getting eye goop right away or the vitamin K shot being skipped / delayed. It's worth having your wishes down because if the need arises, at least you can ask for whatever is reasonable given the new circumstances at the moment - whereas if you don't have them, in the spur of the moment with the chaos around who knows if your brain will remember the details that were important to you before. I know mine didn't!

[nynaeve_sedai]

You're right about being in the moment - with my first I didn't have a plan (or even a clear head about what I wanted to begin with) and it was easy for me to be swayed by the doctor. A plan would def. be good to have. Thanks!

[girlinahouse]

You have options, even in the event of an emergency C section. My third was not a dire emergency, but did happen very fast and because I had created a birth plan that addressed C section, as well as a separate baby plan, the staff all knew that I wanted delayed cord clamping, Dad to announce gender, no eye goop, no hep B vaccine, absolutely minimal separation from baby, no pacifiers or bottles, breast crawl, no baby bathing, etc. I would do it.

[nynaeve_sedai]

I think I'm being convinced. Better to have one than not it sounds like. Thanks :)

[sarpo]

I'd do it. It can be super short - your name, midwives name, pediatrician's name, and things like no circumcision (if applicable), you'd prefer an unmedicated birth if possible, what kind of C-section cut you'd prefer if it comes to that, partner cuts the cord or not, vitamin K or not, no episiotomy, prefer to have an IV in non-dominant hand if possible, etc. Better that you write it up and not need it than the reverse.

[nynaeve_sedai]

Good point. I'll have to sit down and organize my thoughts on this.

[sandokai]

I planned a birthing center birth, but had a backup (what I would want if there was a hospital transfer or c-section) and I was glad I had the backup plan because sure enough we ended up at the hospital... You probably have at least a 5-10% chance of a hospital transfer, so you may as well plan for the possibility. Also, if the hospital makes you nervous, do a tour just in case so you'll at least know what to expect if you have to end up there.

As for the plan, it doesn't necessarily have to be all that complex. Mine was basically wanting them to explain every single little thing they were doing and why, even if it was just checking my blood pressure. I just wanted to know what was happening to my body, and I didn't assume they would necessarily tell me all the little things.

[nynaeve_sedai]

A hospital tour just came onto my radar today. My midwife asked which of several nearby hospitals I would want to transfer to in the event of an emergency and I realized I knew nothing about them :-/ Like you, I just want informed consent. I felt like my doctors the first time just did whatever and didn't really stop to say "this is what we're doing" - unless I'm bleeding out or the baby isn't breathing, I'd like to know what's going on.

[sandokai]

Also if you have a birthing partner (ex: spouse) it's good to just have things in writing so if they're stressed about the birth they can take the paper out of their pocket and be like "Oh yeah, we wanted to do/delay/discuss such-and-such"