Hi ladies - this is a tag on that got me thinking from 4hisglory's thread about her plans for her c-section so credit goes to her for starting the discussion!! Thanks for bringing it up!!

Anyway - just wanted to know what everyone's birth plans look like. I have been asked by my midwife what mine is and I just vaguely said that I wanted to use as little drugs as possible but am open to drugs when/if I need them. Really didn't know what else should go in a birth plan other than the fact that I don't want pethidine and I don't want anyone to hold baby other than hospital staff and DH until I am able to hold baby (my friend had gas or pethidine or something and was quite knocked out and not very conscious after her girl was born and consequently wasn't able to hold her for about an hour. Anyway - all her sisters, mother, MIL etc got to hold baby first and went into her saying how beautiful she was and telling her what HER baby is like! She was upset that she wasn't the one who got to meet her first and tell THEM what HER baby is like!!) So anyway thats just something I want to avoid.

So to make a long story short - I am after ideas as I am starting to think more seriously about what I want in my birth plan and after seeing 4hisglory's plan and it's wording and the great amount of thought that has gone into it I am wondering what everyone else's looks like (particularly those who are planning a vaginal delivery I guess...)

Will be fun to see what our plans are and how varied and different they are!

I copied and pasted the first draft of my birth plan. I modified a few things before submitting to my midwife, but not many. So this is pretty close to my end birth plan. Hope that it gives you some ideas.

Birth Plan for Tim & Ruth (put last name here)

We are very pleased to choose Linda Healey and her associates at Birth Alternatives Midwifery Service to aid at the delivery of our 2nd child, due February 26, 2009.

We are big believers in normal/natural birth and have every reason to believe that this birth will go as well or better than our first birth.

To this end, we would like to express the following sentiments:

Ruth would like freedom to labor and birth in whatever position is most comfortable at the time. This could include sitting, standing, laying down, water pool, etc. Ruth may or may not feel like a waterbirth at the time of delivery but would like the option to be available, at least at the very minimum, so that she can use the birth pool for laboring, if not for birth.

We will have a stock of healthy food for during and after birth in designated locations. Our fridge top freezer is solely designated for during and after birth food supplies. Our cupboard has a designated, marked shelf that is solely for after birth food.
We will also have a crisper drawer in the refrigerator marked solely for birth food. Ruth would like to have free access to this food at any time during the labor, birthing, or postpartum process.

Our birthing supplies are stored in the first small bedroom of our house in a Graco Pack 'n Play. The baby's after birth supplies, such as diapers, wipes, clothing, and blankets are stored in Tim and Ruth's bedroom.

Linda and any associates can feel free to eat any of the food or read any books, use anything in the house, etc.

As for the technical details of labor and birth, we express the following:

--Ruth did not tear during her first delivery. We would certainly hope that this trend will continue and are doing pre-birth perineal massage as well as other strategies to achieve this. We also ask for support while pushing, such as hot washcloths, olive oil, perineal massage, etc. However, if a tear does occur that warrants suturing, please suture the tear with a local anesthetic.

--A doppler to monitor the baby's heartbeat is perfectly fine.

--Ruth asks for massage and other relaxing strategies such as essential oil (we have peppermint on hand) to ease the pain of contractions.

--Tim would like to catch the baby and cut the cord after it stops pulsing if he feels up to it.

--Ruth would like the nurse the baby as soon after birth as possible. Please delay weighing and measuring for at least 15-20 minutes after the birth, so that we can bond with our new addition to our family.

--We view birth as a sacred and private experience that we prefer to keep to ourselves. To this end, we plan to have no one in the house other than us and Linda (and any help that she may elect to bring, if applicable) We would prefer not to have our older daughter come back to the house until about 2 hours after the birth or we are all cleaned up, stable, and Ruth has consumed her post-birth smoothie.






Postpartum Supplement to Birth Plan:
Due to Ruth's difficult adjustment time after our 1st baby, we are making some adjustments in our arrangements this time.

1) Ruth plans on consuming the entire placenta as a post birth remedy throughout the first postpartum month. She asks for Linda to make a smoothie with part of the placenta

and include the following ingredients:
Frozen Strawberries
Frozen Blueberries
Frozen orange juice
1-2 fresh or frozen bananas
Water
Pieces of placenta
Please note that the placenta needs to be washed and have the membranes cleaned from it before use.
I don't have exact proportions, so feel free to dump these in as it looks right to you.
Please chop the remaining placenta into small to medium size pieces, and freeze in ziplock bags. We will have the bags available on the after birth food shelf for use on this project.
After bagging the placenta pieces, please put them into the deep freeze, rather than the fridge top freezer. Please bury them deep down below the flours and other boring things in the deep freeze. We really don't want to have conversations with others about them!

2) Ruth would like periodic contact (either by telephone or in person) with Linda throughout the first postpartum 6 weeks to ensure that she is able to voice any concerns about postpartum adjustment.

3) We have pre-planned a number of easy meals for the first two postpartum weeks and Tim will have these completely off of work as a paid paternity leave, so Ruth will have minimal responsbilities during that time. Ruth's mom will come in during the month of March and help out for two weeks. Also, Tim's mom is available locally for on demand help, as needed.
We also tenatively plan to hire a weekly housekeeper for at least the first 6-12 months after the birth.

4) Ruth plans on continuing vitamin D-3 supplements and prenatal vitamins throughout the postpartum period, and beginning St. John's Wort supplementation as well.

5) Ruth is currently attending a postpartum support group and plans on continuing to do so after the birth. This group helps moms to identify and deal with depression.
They offer periodic assessments of a mom's well being and offer counselling and support resources close by, as well as other moms to talk to.








EMERGENCY SUPPLEMENT TO BIRTH PLAN

In the case of an emergency, we trust Linda's best judgment as to seeking medical care. Our end goal is a great birth experience and a healthy baby, however we are aware of the fact that at times, real life demands that the second goal be subservient to the first one.

--If the emergency is severe and life threatening, please go to Coldwater hospital. If it's simply a matter of maternal exhaustion or some other non life threatening matter, please go to Marshall hospital.

--In the extremely unlikely event that a C-section becomes medically necessary for safe delivery of the baby, Ruth asks for epidural anesthesia rather than general anesthesia and would like to hold and nurse the baby immediately afterward.
--Ruth is covered by Medicaid's Great Lakes Health plan and has 100% coverage for any emergency or routine pregnancy care in case the need for hospitalization arises.

--In the case of hospitalization, the baby is never to be separated from us, unless medical indications exist. If Ruth is not able to care for the baby, Tim or another family member will.

--In the highly statistically unlikely chance that the baby was ever separated from us during the course of a medical emergency, we decline any elective medical procedures for our baby. Those would include but not be limited to vaccinations, circumcision, eyedrops, vitamin K shots, etc.
We also do not authorize any formula supplementation or any bottle or pacifier use by the hospital.

We thank you for your prenatal care, help, and friendship throughout this pregnancy! We are anticipating a wonderful birth and appreciate your wonderful, personal, and caring midwifery services.

I haven't officially written mine out yet but it will look something like this:

I will be staying at home as long as possible

I would like to remain active and use whatever position I find comfortable, please do not make me lie down bcuz you might get hit (just kidding on the hitting part...LOL. have to add some comedy in here somewhere...LOL).

I would like to minimise internal examinations.

Please do not offer to break my waters, and please be very careful to avoid doing so during any internal examinations.

I would like to have music playing during the labor.

I do not wish to use drugs during my labor so please do not offer them.

I would like to give birth in an upright, kneeling, supported squatting or all-fours position to give the baby maximum space to descend through my pelvis. I do not want to be on my back or semi-reclining unless that position seems right for me on the day, having tried alternatives. If I am too tired to maintain an upright position then please encourage me to lie on my side instead of my back, to allow maximum mobility in my pelvis.

Under no circumstances will I allow an episiotomy. If I tear I will tear naturally.

Once baby is born, please immediately give baby to me (if I have not caught him/her myself) so we can have loads of skin to skin contact and let baby decide when he/she wants their first feed.

Please do not announce the sex of our baby, we want to discover this ourselves.

I would like a physiological third stage with the cord clamped and cut when it stops pulsating. I wish no drugs to be used unless specifically indicated. It is important to me that you do not clamp the cord until it has stopped pulsating, unless you need to take emergency steps which preclude this. **Please do not pull on the cord or use fundal pressure unless there is a specific indication to do so, as I have read that this is contra-indicated in drug-free third stages**.




I think that's about it.

I have never had a birth plan. Thankfully everything worked well and I never felt pressured or had any interventions that I did not want. I am going to make one this time. Cool thread. :-D This website is kind of neat it has lots of ideas.

http://www.earthmamaangelbaby.com/free_birth_plan/free_birth_plan.php

in my birth plan I am adding that there are to be no visitors for 3 1/2 hours after the birth so we can bond, and like your friend, my family/in-laws don't get to see/bond with her more then I get to after my surgery, also it will make our first bf'ing less stressful. We have let our family know and everyone understands. We also told our in-laws that our ds is their "meal ticket" in about 30 min before everyone else gets there so he can have some bonding time without everyone there.

I'm not much of a planner. I kind of go with what I need to do.

But I know I don't want a episiotomy, I would like to try things natural and with as little to no intervention.
If necessary I will get an epidural *not that it worked for me last time*
I would like family in the room at their leisure.
Dad will catch the baby and Abby will cut the cord.
That's pretty much it for now.

Here is my rough draft. I'll actually be calling it my "Wish List" since that is what my hospital uses. But it's the same thing. :)

The E Family Birth Plan

Mother-to-be: Michelle E Partner: Brock E
Support Person(s): Mom: Alison Due Date: 07/30/09
Practitioner: Dr. M Place of Birth: CSM

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 any extenuating circumstances, you will be able to keep us informed and aware of our options. Thank you. *Also, I understand I am a high risk pregnancy and there is a chance of C/S. However, I want to try all options and use as much time as possible to allow my body and baby to progress in labor, as is safe for us both.

First Stage (Labor):
* Dim Lights.
* Peace and Quiet.
* Visitors are OK while I am in labor.
* Music of our choice.
* Would prefer to keep vaginal exams to a minimum.
* Maintain mobility (Walking, rocking, up to bathroom, etc.)
* Encourage me to try different positions
* Eat and drink to comfort.
* Clear fluids.
* Heparin lock (I know I'm GBS+)
* Intermittent Monitoring (ACOG Standards) with an external monitor.
* Please do not offer me pain medications, I will ask for them if I want them.
* Relaxation techniques (breathing, focusing, etc.).
* Positioning as desired.
* Water (Shower or Tub).
* Massage (back, foot, counter pressure, etc.).
* If asked for one, please use an ultra low dose epidural (walking epidural)


Induction:
* I would prefer to use natural methods to start labor.

Augmentation:
* I would prefer to walk/try different positions to speed labor.

Second Stage (Birth):
* Only my husband and mom allowed in the room at this time.
* Choice of position
* Spontaneous Bearing Down
* Prefer to use people for leg support
* I would prefer no episiotomy, but please use compresses, massage and positioning.
* Local Anesthesia (for repair)

Baby Care:
* Delay the cord cutting
* Prefer partner to cut the cord.
* Delay the eye medication
* Breast feeding only
* No pacifiers or glucose water
* No separation of Mother & Baby

Cesarean Birth:
* Partner present
* Video/Pictures taken
* Screen lowered to view the birth or mirror
* Explain the surgery as it's happening
* Free one hand to touch the baby
* Partner to cut the cord
* Breast feeding in recovery room

Sick Baby:
* Breast feeding as soon as possible
* Unlimited visitation for parents
* Handling the baby (Kangaroo care, holding, care of, etc.)
* If the baby is transported to another facility, move us as soon as possible


************************************************** *******
* Compliments of Childbirth.org *
* http://www.childbirth.org/interactive/ibirthplan.html *
* mailto:info@childbirth.org *

My birth plan with ds was more detailed... this is our general plan.

Leave me alone, I'll stay home and have a baby.

Danou ~ love it! ha!

These birth plans are awesome!!! Thanks for posting them!!! :)

Love it Danielle! Does that mean that you're planning a homebirth or that you're planning on staying at home as long as possible before going to the hospital?