DD was a homebirth that was bluelighted, I've already been told no to HBs and I think DP is a little wary of having another one so I'm going to go to hospital.

Basically I wanna go as late as poss, give birth with no-one touching or asking if I want pain relief, hurry up time constraints etc etc etc, and GO HOME! lol. I dont want DP to leave my side at all either.

I'm against near enough everything they wanna do! lol

I want to read up everything I can but the problem is I have no idea of what risks I may have etc as to why they wanna do what they wanna do and I don't actually understand what they wanna do! lol, as soon as I have this info then I can argue more and I'm sure thats why they're not giving it to me! lol

I am assuming you want a hand with your Birth Plan and what to put in it, but it also seems that you really need to have a chat with your health professional regarding your want for a VBAC and this needs to be documented in your notes that this is what you are going for. The health professional should also write in your notes that this discussion has taken place. That way the health professional who will be looking after you in labour is aware. As regard to a birth plan this is YOUR plan, what you would like in labour. It will help the midwife who will be looking after you in labour become aware of your wishes such as whether you would like to Breast Feed, Baby to have Vit K, whether you want an Managed Third Stage (placenta) etc. Of course you should put at the beginning something along the lines of the wish to have a VBAC.

When you are admitted into labour the health professional looking after you should of course read your birth plan but will be reading your pregnancy history and previous pregnancies from your notes and everything a Doctor or Midwife has written regarding any conversations on mode of delivery for this time. That way they are aware of whether it was recommended, discouraged, discussed etc. Just so they are aware. You also have to be realistic with a birth plan, labour can't be set in stone. Some women come in with a birth plan saying nothing but in big letters across their Birth Plan page ''I WANT AN EPIDURAL'' or they have i.e. 'under no circumstances do I want an epidural'. Of course, labour is unpredictable. Not sure if that helps but Birth Plan is easier if you put the vital information in Bullet point especially with the limited time a midwife has to read it and all the notes you come in with

Thanks Lou that really helps, when I wrote a birth plan for DD (Which wasn't even looked at!) I wrote a 2 page essay!! lol

Will remember to bullet point it - do I have to give explanations about why I want to do specific things or can I just literally put things like DO NOT OFFER PAIN CONTROL I WILL ASK

My pleasure. You can simply put a list of wishes in bullett points, no need for explanation, she/he will ask if they wonder why you have put a certain thing.

Some women have in their list firstly that they would really like an Epidural as soon as possible or would like to stay mobile and start off with minimal pain relief.

Some state who will be present as their birthing partners, another would be whether you would like skin to skin, although this should be encouraged by all midwives. Also, any religous information such as some religions don't accept blood products. Perhaps you are someone who can only accept female practitioners, this would be worth popping in. Then like I said before, whether you consent for baby's vitamin K and which method. Also another thing you can pop in is whether you are happy to have a student midwife, object to students etc

That is just a couple things if you feel strongly about putting in then put it in But like you say not an essay.

You have peaked my curiosity... whats with the Vitamin K? Why do doctors use it and why might a mom NOT want it??

Evidence has shown that newborns are born with not enough Vit K which aids in clotting. Newborns especially those born by instrimental delivery are at an increased risk of Heamorraghic disease of the newborn i.e. Bleed in the brain. Paediatricians across the UK recommend a small dose of Vit K either by Injection or Oral. The problem is that many parents have refused it due to this belief that its linked to Lukeamia but this research was prove unfounded and therefore dismissed. The preferred choice to give this and get into the system is by injection, its one off and that is it. Where as oral method needs to be given a few small doses over a space of the month. It could be argued whether baby actually gets it via this route due to vomiting or spitting etc.

And then there's the counter argument (aside from the questionable leukaemia link) that human beings have survived for millennia without the need for additional vitamin K at birth. The dosage is actually around 100 times that of the recommended daily intake for newborns and the vaccine contains various other things as carriers, preservatives etc such as aluminium. Here's what AIMs, the Association for the Improvement of Maternity Services has to say on vitamin K: http://www.aims.org.uk/Journal/Vol13No2/vitk.htm

It's a tough decision to make. I researched this one at length when I was pregnant and decided that if my baby ended up having a traumatic/instrumental delivery then I'd probably opt for the Vit K jab due to the increased risk of haemorrhagic disease for babies with that kind of birth. As it happened I had an intervention-free home birth so my daughter didn't have it. I came to the conclusion that there's no easy answer to this one - both sides have valid arguments and reasoning, so it's got to come down to your own parental instincts at the end of the day. Good luck with it!

Gina. x

I've just realised that I have no idea if my daughter had it as no-one asked me and they never saw my birthplan at the hospital so I don't know.
Hmmm, gonna have to ask that one I think.

Thanks for all these everybody

I imagine she had it Lucky. It's considered the normal course of action so if nothing got specified either way they'd have probably given it as a matter of course. I'd be very interested to hear if you learn otherwise though.

Gina. x