Share your birth intentions (birth plan)

[HotI]

BIRTH PLAN OF KATE

LABOUR
SUPPORT PEOPLE
My husband Y will be my support person during labour and the birth of our child.

My estimated due date is 4th April 2010.

Please discuss all treatments with me before they are administered. We would like a few minutes to consider our options before any treatment.

MY SURROUNDINGS
I am hoping to stay home for as long as possible during labour.

PAIN RELIEF
I am planning to use active positioning during labour and birth, and my plan is to avoid narcotics for pain relief. I’d prefer not to be offered drugs; I am aware of the options for pain relief and will ask for gas and air if needed. I am interested in the use of heat, massage, water, sterile water injections and the use of a TENS machine for pain relief.

After birth, I would like to have the baby placed on my chest straight away without being cleaned up first – I would also like my child to be given the option of feeding straight away.

VAGINAL EXAMINATION
I would prefer to avoid vaginal examinations unless absolutely necessary. I trust that my body will do what it needs to do. If a medical need for an internal examination is identified, please discuss this with myself and Y and allow us time to discuss the options.

MONITORING OF OUR BABY
We consent to intermittent doppler monitoring, if this is required. I do not want continuous CTG monitoring unless medically necessary, please discuss this with us prior to it being organised.

BIRTH

EPISIOTOMY / TEAR
I want to avoid an episiotomy unless there is a genuine medical emergency. I prefer a small tear to an episiotomy. I have done perineal massage during my pregnancy to condition the tissues and to learn how to relax with stretching. Please allow time for the perineum to stretch naturally and I would like warm compresses used to assist with this. If there is a medical need for an episiotomy, please discuss this with Y and myself prior to making any incision.

CUTTING THE CORD
After the birth of our child, I want to delay clamping and cutting of the umbilical cord until after it has ceased pulsing, to allow my baby to receive the valuable blood and iron stores.

SYNTOCINON
I would like to birth the placenta naturally without drugs (although I may request differently on the day). If there is a medical need to hasten this process, please discuss the options with myself and Y prior to acting.

AFTER BIRTH
All newborn procedures (weighing and measuring) are to wait until after I have had time to bond with and breastfeed our baby.

I would prefer to not have our baby taken from my sight. If there is a medical necessity for our baby to be taken to a different room, Y will go with the baby.

If for some reason I am unable to hold my baby I would like only my husband Y to hold our baby until I am fit and able. Y would like to have skin to skin contact with our baby.

If there is a need for me to be separated from our baby after birth, I would like photos of the baby as soon as possible. Photos to also include babies hands and feet.

If baby and I are to be separated for an extended period of time, please notify my Mum, A on XXXX XXXX and ask her to come be with me.

BREASTFEEDING
It is my intention to breastfeed, and I have attended a class on breastfeeding, and joined the Australian Breastfeeding Association to prepare myself as best as possible. I am open to receiving advice from midwives and other medical staff, but do not wish health care providers to touch my breasts or other parts of my body, prior to discussing this with me and seeking my permission.

VITAMIN K
Unless forceps or a C-section has been required, or the birth has been very long and traumatic, we would prefer for our baby not to receive a vitamin K injection. If it is decided there is a medical need for this injection, please discuss this with us prior to giving this injection.

HEPATITIS B
We do not give consent for our child to be given a vaccine against Hepatitis B.

NEWBORN SCREENING
We are happy for our child to have a heel pr!ck for the purpose of newborn screening.


INDUCTION / AUGMENTATION
If baby and I are well, I would like my baby to decide his/her own due date. I am happy to discuss a plan should my pregnancy reach the end of term at 42 weeks.

I will try natural means to get labour started- i.e. acupuncture, walking, nipple stimulation.

WATERS
I would like my waters to break naturally.


CAESAREAN BIRTH
If a caesarean becomes necessary I’d like:

For my partner to be with me at all times. I would ideally like to be informed as much as possible what is going on at all times.

Unless prevented by medical emergency, I would like my baby to be placed on my chest skin to skin with a blanket covering us while you complete the procedure.

To be sure that a double layer suture is used and not a single layer in order to improve my chances for a future VBAC.

For the cord to stop pulsating before it is clamped and cut.

The opportunity to breastfeed our baby in recovery.

OTHER
The above plan represents our preferences; however we recognise that in the event of unforeseen difficulties it may need to be re-negotiated.

Please discuss all options with us honestly and openly. We would then like the opportunity to contemplate our options without the presence of any medical staff.

This is my plan so far. I have 'borrowed' from many of the plans here. I would love any input you have.

Thanks,

[Peg]

My birth plan should be pretty easy considering i'm having an elective c-s


I would like to be put into a timeslot as early as possible in the morning

I want to have the spinal epidural and to be awake.

I do not consent to having blood transfusions if it is deemed necessary. I do accept the alternatives to blood such as non-blood expanders and pharmaceuticals that control haemorrhage and stimulate the production of red blood cells. Or as an alternative to these, i would like the use of the cell-saver in case of emergency.

I would like the Misgav Ladach method cut to be performed.

I would like to spend a few minutes holding bub before being taken away.

I would like DH to be with me throughout.

DH to cut the cord.

DH is to stay with bub while midwife is cleaning and checking bubs apgar scores.

I do not want the placenta to be returned to me but I would like confirmation that it has been removed in whole before being sutured.

I absolutely DO NOT consent to the hepatis B injection for my baby or any other immunisations.

I DO consent to the vitamin K injection by oral dose only.

I do not want staples to be used for my stitching but prefer tape.

If Bub and DH can be in the recovery room with me, i would prefer this as i would like to try to bf. If its not possible then Im happy to wait until i am moved back into my room.


that should just about do it.