Hey Girlies

Ive just downloaded a birth plan from HiPP website (early to deciding things like this put i cant help but be organised!!) and it had a few questions on there which i thought would be good to get everyones views and opinions on, it might help some of us decide if we are unsure on something. here are some of the questions from the birth plan:

1. What position do you want to give birth in? (i.e. squatting/ in water/ on all fours/ on a bed on your back/ on your side etc)

2. What are your thoughts on episiotomy?

3. Do you want to delivery the placenta naturally or with the help of drugs?

4. Do you want your child to have the Vitamin K injection and if so do you want this done orally or by injection?

For the lovely ladies that have already been through childbirth maybe you could give us first timers some advice/ what worked best for you etc?

thanks girls xxx

Ooh! I'd be interested to hear from the experienced. I've started discussing my birth plans with my family so this thread has great timing.

Hiya,

I am not sure whether or not it is just my area of if this happens everywhere with the NHS is, but going through your birth plan is not like it shows you on these American TV programmes/websites. Maybe because they choose their own doctor etc??

In my expereince and those of my friends and family around me, many Midwifes don't mention the birth plan until you get to approx. 38 weeks (in some cases this is too late, as babies will come when they want to come). When mentioned early, all have been informed that around 37-38 weeks a home appointment will be made to discuss your birth plan. I have only ever had 1 birth plan in black and white on my notes, even though this is my 4th child.

The birth plan was with my first child, as I was constantly pressing for an appointment date to be made (I thought that if I didn't have one, then things would be harder whilst in labour).

Nothing I expressed in my birth plan went according to plan. I had originally said that I wanted to have the epidural and deliver on all fours. This went right out of the window as the epidural did not work (apparantly this is the case in 5% of women), so I had the diamorhpine instead and delivered on my back.

They did not mention or ask how I wanted the placenta delivered and just gave me an injection. I have had this injection 3 times and have never been asked if I don't want it (Maybe this has something to do with my choice of pain relief, I don't know).

Regarding the Vitamin, again my children have automatically been given this, this again may be down to the fact that they were all bottlefed, but I wasn't given a choice.

Therefore with baby No4. I will be doing what I always do.

1. Wait at home until my contractions are approx. 2 mins apart (I dilate very slowly, first birth 23 and 3/4 hours, 2nd. 18 hours and 3rd 14 hours, so I know I still have lots of time to go, at this stage, most women need to make a move at 5 mins apart)
2. Get diamorphine and gas and air as soon as I arrive at the hospital
3. Keep mobile, on my feet and walk around the room.
4. Get on the bed when the contractions are too strong (wahey nearly there)
5. Deliver on my back
6. Have the injection and push out the placenta
7. Baby gets checked, heel prick, weighed and liquid in mouth
8. Get showered and changed
9. Have a cup of tea and then throw it back up
10. Motherhood begin

I was stitched with my first child only. I asked the midwife if my labour would be longer with this child, as my youngest will be 6 when I give birth again, her reply was "oh no, it will just pop out" (I wish)

As this is my fourth, when I go to my midwife appts, they do very little. At my booking in appt, she said "Can I take all of those leaflets out of your book, as you won't need them, in fact you will be able to take the class". In fact there was one I was interested in, as it gave details on a class or aqua aerobics, which wasn't running when I had my other 3.

I know that there is a lot that I don't need them to tell me as I may remember, but there are still a few things I would like to know as I may change some things. I.e. this time I plan on expressing.

Sorry girls, I am leaving the thread a bit here, thanks for staying with me.......lol BUT this may just be my area, it might be different in other regions.

It is good to have a birth plan. Remember this may be your plan, but can change at anytime you want it to (within reason) or may have to change according to the situation. Some sites recommend having a 1st and 2nd choice plan, I think that this is a good idea.

It's interesting to hear whether or not the team take any notice of the plans. I've been thinking and making notes on mine (only particularly because I have PGP and really limited movement).

It makes sense that not much notice is taken of them- it is after all a hospital, where we receive medical-led care. A medical staff automatically do what they think is best; although to give them their dues the miscarriage ward I was on last year was excellent. Talked through every decision etc. Even though it wasn't MY decision to make.

Would be interesting to hear off other mothers too and see what it's like country-wide.

I plan to have a birth plan that covers the most common things that may come up. Luckily for me, I have the option of changing hospitals and doctors if they are going against my wishes without a valid reason (I understand that certain situations call for certain actions but there are too many horror stories of doctors ignoring patient requests without cause). I may be a first timer but I plan to go in there as well educated as I possibly can be short of taking a course in obstetrics.

So far, my doctor seems like a pretty easy-going guy that works with the patients but we'll be having a talk at my next appointment on what his personal policies are on induction and pain relief and such.

Well, it may be my first but I still have thoughts on the matter and having an idea of what you feel strongly about and keeping your plan with you at the birth will help you to remember things when the pain is making your head fuzzy.

1. What position do you want to give birth in? (i.e. squatting/ in water/ on all fours/ on a bed on your back/ on your side etc)

Since it's my first, I'm willing to be led by the midwives. They know best and whichever way they choose to get me through it and my baby out most safely is fine by me.

2. What are your thoughts on episiotomy?

I would rather tear than be cut, however... if the baby is in distress/there is an urgent need to deliver the baby I am, of course, willing to be cut.

3. Do you want to delivery the placenta naturally or with the help of drugs?

With the help of drugs. I don't want to risk PPH and know that, managing 3rd stage labour artificially is the safest way to avoid this.

4. Do you want your child to have the Vitamin K injection and if so do you want this done orally or by injection?

Yes, by injection. Since there is more evidence against it's link with childhood leukaemia than for.

Im not bothering to much with this be short, sweet and simple.
9 times out of 10 aint even looked out. Bit waste of time, as long as birthing parnter knows in & outs what you want, all you really need

My plan, after 2 births would be...DONT HAVE A PLAN!! complete waste of time ladies! sorry!! Ok so thats not really fair, but what I would say is never ever have fixed views on what will happen and what wont. If you do, say for example, have a 'no pain releif whatsoever rule you will possible feel like a failure once those contractions start and your screaming for an epidural!
One huge bit of advice is always keep an open mind, right up till the start stay focused, birth is the beginning, its the most miraculous, agonising and worthwhile thing any of us ladies will ever do so its something to be cherished if at all possible.
My first baby was born a week early after the most horrible induced labour, i was pretty naive, i felt totally out of control and I freely admit that it was hell. By the time i got pregnant again it was 4 years on, i was fit, healthy and wholly determined to take control, becasue I had no complications ( unlike preg no 1) i was able to do it my way. I gave birth to my son in a water pool with one midwife and just gas and air, It was the single most amazing thing Ive ever done and I will cherish the memory. I was lucky, everything went great. With a first baby you have to be realistic, your bp might rise, your body might not work as nature intended and you may need more help that you would like but what the hell does it matter as long as mum and baby are fine afterwards? If i was first time mum to be now I would do the following..
stay upright for as long as possible, gravity works!
use a tens machine, dont work for all but they just might work for you
have an extra person on standby if dad to be cant cope with the mess..
use gas and air but be ready to puke!
listen to the midwife,she has done it far more times than you and if she says push, you bloody well push!!

thats it ! hope i havent scared anyone!!!
xxx

Quailty ^ LOL

I want to be in a hospital, i want to have pain drugs, lots of them. i dont want more than 3 other people in the room at any one time and i would prefer them all to be female. Other than that i dont care, im sure at the time a plan on paper is not what ill be thinking about, ill be screaming what i want they wont need a bit of paper in the back of my antenatal notes!! haha, x