Post by dreadpiratebuttercup on Jul 7, 2015 18:07:58 GMT -5
I'll be induced at 39 weeks, and want the epi as soon as I can get it. I prefer to tear naturally, but beyond that I don't really have a plan for the actual birth. Whatever gets the baby here in as safe a way as possible for both of us.
I do care a bit more about what happens after the birth. I want to do skin to skin and breastfeeding as soon as possible, and want the baby to room with me, and all of the "baby checks" to be done in the room. I'm open to sending the baby to the nursery for a little while if I need sleep, though.
I did placenta encapsulation with DD, and didn't really even feel sad much. I was hoping it would help with my milk supply, but my supply was extremely low and DD had a tongue tie and terrible suck so it never increased. We may try it again if I can find someone who does it for a reasonable price. If not, we won't worry about it.
I have been thinking about what I would do differently since M was born. I am much more open to being induced this time around, but both an epidural and pitocin contractions scare me. I plan on talking with my OB later in the game to discuss what he thinks would be better.
We never had a formal birth plan, but H knew I wanted no epidural, skin to skin, and bf time, so he made sure that happened. Even in my rural area the nurses were cool with everything.
I had no plan with the first. I ended up getting pitocin pretty much right away and then an epi about 8 hours later. I would probably get pitocin again if offered, the contractions were ridiculous but I ended up delivering 12 hours after my water broke, no tearing, 30 mins of pushing. So I really can't complain. I'll go with the flow again. If I do pitocin, I'll get an epi right away. But if no pitocin, no epi (at least to start).
Post by piperhalliwell on Jul 7, 2015 18:39:07 GMT -5
I have very few ideas and am realizing more and more that this FTM has a good bit of research to do. Thank god for you knowledgable ladies and the fact that babies take a good while to cook!
I agree with others, you get what you get, and you deal with it because it's life. It's good to have an idea of whether you want an epidural right away or wait until a certain point in labor, or whether you would prefer an OB or midwife to do your delivery, or how under what circumstances you would likely consider an induction or CS. But speaking from experience, birth plans aren't like wedding plans, you have very little control once things get going.
I didn't even get to take birthing classes before my first 2 deliveries because of timing and complications, and by #3 it seemed silly to take one. If I could have taken one, I would have, and I recommend that you do if possible. But my point is that you will most likely be fine if you keep your mind open and have a medical team you can trust.
My birth plan is to get an epidural ASAP. Skin to skin right after birth is really important to me. I'd also like to breastfeed in the first hour. I tried to with the first but he didn't know what he was doing and I didn't know what I was doing and it just didn't work. Hopefully this time I'll be better able to show him/her what to do.
My plan with dd was to have a healthy baby. I wanted to try to go med free but was prepared to take them (and I made it to 5cm before I was ready).
This time I'm hoping to vbac but aware that it's not likely to happen. I have to go into labor on my own and with dd my water broke but I neve had contractions plus she as a 40+ Weeker.
My birth plan for this one is the same as it was for my first: show up at the hospital and give birth. There are so many things that can change or "go wrong" that I prefer to go in with an open mind.
Don't get too wrapped up in birth plans- as PPs have said, much of this is out of our control. But what I did make clear to the nurses and Dr: delayed bath, non-immediate cord clamping (which my OB already does), immediate skin-to-skin, and no formula.
While I agree it is best to be prepared for the unexpected, there is nothing wrong with having preferences about how you would like to experience a monumental event in your life. I disagree with people who say birth plans "go out the window" when you get to the hospital/experience the first contraction. That doesn't have to be the case, though it can and does happen.
I am hoping/planning for another home birth VBAC. I did a lot of mental and physical preparation for my last one and will probably stick to that script.
Post by OrganicRosemary on Jul 8, 2015 7:38:06 GMT -5
Lurking from March 16--having a birth plan or "wish list" isn't a bad idea. It's good to do your research early if there's a particular type of birth you'd like to have. Preparing yourself mentally and physically can help things go closer to your plan. Also, making sure your provider is on board with your plans, so you can switch early on if necessary. Birth is unpredictable and it's good to be prepared for all situations, but having a plan and taking certain steps to help make that plan happen isn't a total waste of time. I had a hospital water birth last time and I doubt it would've happened as smoothly had I not taken the steps to prepare myself with good nutrition, exercises, supplements, reading, having an awesome support team, and mental prep. Managing a med free birth is 90% mental, in my opinion anyway. I realize I'm inferring a lot here, so if you're not looking at med free, please disregard. Good luck in your research and hope you find the birth plan that's right for you and your baby!
I suppose I'll add my 2¢ here. I didn't really have a birth plan going in with DD. I filled out the online templates and showed DH what I wanted so that he could advocate for me if I wasn't able to verbalize what I wanted in the moment. Really my only requests were to get epi when pain was too much, tear naturally, and avoid csection unless absolutely necessary. I got all of that but now that I've BTDT I have more that I want. I was induced for high BP so next time I absolutely do not want induction via cytotec, I want background music (I pushed for three hours with all the glorious fart noises standing out in the dead silence lol), I want skin to skin and BF immediately, and I don't want any visitors for several hours. I remember having my ILs in my room just 2 hours after birth and I had to pee so bad for the first time and I pretty much screamed at them to get out of my room bc I was about to piss myself. Seriously, if you are independent and private like I am then make sure everyone knows your boundaries so that you can take the time to heal. I didn't not need my FIL to see my half naked self try and hobble to the bathroom.
I agree with leahks77 that it's nice to have some of the post-birth things that you can (somewhat more effectively) plan on the table with your midwife or OB in advance. With #1, we wanted delayed cord clamping, immediate skin to skin, access to a lactation consultant, and no bath the first day. Most of this was routine for our midwife, but I'm glad we talked about it all in advance. We also wanted to leave the hospital as soon as possible, so we cleared that with both the midwife and pediatrician in advance. Also, although my birth did not go too close to what I had hoped, I don't regret one minute of the research and thought I put into it. I had hoped to go med free but ended up being induced. Big change of plans, but I was really glad I had read about all the various medications and procedures that were being discussed--it was a stressful enough time, and feeling even more bewildered by not knowing about the use of various drugs and potential side effects would have made it even tougher on me, I think.
My birth plan for this one is the same as it was for my first: show up at the hospital and give birth. There are so many things that can change or "go wrong" that I prefer to go in with an open mind.
mishy2010 This is why it's good to have STM+ around to share their experience. I never would have thought of the music/farting thing on my own, or the visiting hours. Good to know.
Post by Dominican Dreamer on Jul 9, 2015 18:42:27 GMT -5
I'd never really considered a birth plan beyond the actual delivery. In my mind I think no drugs but the reality is I won't know until I experience it so I figured I was pretty open.
But you've all brought up a lot of good points about after delivery too that I plan on researching more now. So thanks for the suggestions. I will be bookmarking this thread for a later date.
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