What did you change from one birth plan to the next?

[luna moth]

I love thinking about this. For me, I had a fairly predictable birth plan for the average BB user. It worked really well for me, and I had a great birth.

This time I have a different midwife, who I click with even more than the last (who I was madly in love with, for those who recall) and a support person I adore.

Not sure why I added that bit. Hmmmm.

Anyway, just interested in what you changed from one birth plan to the next. Or if there's anything you would change. And your experiences.

[Novella]

Not so much a part of a birth plan as I didn't have a written plan but a general idea of the less intervention the better which I discussed with my midwife before each birth (midwifery group practice)

But with dd3 I had a waterbirth which was wonderful in its self but I also used my hand to feel/control her head when she crowned and it was the most amazing feeling. I hadn't planned on it but was so glad I did it, wish I had done it with my other girls too.

I had IM synto after the first two births to deliver the placenta but didn't ith my third and the after pains were more bearable.

I also delcined hep b for dd2+3 which isnt really to do with birth but something I had considered before hand

For me it was no prophylactic antibiotics if baby came early as dd1 and 2 were born at 35 and 36 weeks but if bubs was earlie than 35 weeks or there was another indication then I would have agreed to antibiotics.

Due to my first two some of my birth plan or 'birth ideals' weren't possible but I still had great births. I actually don't like the term birth plan as I'm a control freak and if things don't go to plan then I feel like I have failed but if it's a birth preference or ideal and things have to change I can cope with it better lol, I'm a bit anal I think . For me the importance was on being flexible as things can change quickly, but also considering a number of scenarios and what my preferences were.

[Bloom]

Interesting question Audax!

Birth plan for DS1 was the "normal" BB stuff: no drugs, no interventions unless all options explore and I was booked in with the birth centre. DS1 was a good birth - though had an vacuum as he was posterior with his hand up beside his face. Not a lot changed in the birth plan between DS1 and DS2, except for a few tweaks. I came to know what I liked and didn't like in labour and so was able to add that to the birth plan.

Changes to birth plan between DS1 and DS2:
- no canula unless it is an actual emergency (they put a "just in case" canula in and said they needed to give me fluids - but I would have preferred to have been told to have a drink!)
- more direction from the midwives in suggesting positioning and breathing
- no ARM (my one regret from DS1's birth is that our lovely pro natural birth centre MW suggested and did an ARM when I was fully dilated and I think I trusted her judgement a little too much and she did it but DS1 was still posterior and then couldn't turn)

Also, I had a lot of discussions with DH (who was a great support person) about minor things I wanted him to do as I might not remember:
- making sure I had lots to drink
- talking for me (i don't like to talk when sick or in pain)
- ensuring he understand how VITAL it was that I have the TENS machine on - I got very cranky when he didn't get it on fast enough when i said I wanted it.
- of course knowing the birth plan and being ready to stick up for me

[Jellyfish]

My partner haha

[AngelPants]

The only things I have changed were things that were because of my previous experience: No assumed consent, and things that will support the scartissue from last birth and subsequent surgery.

sent from my watzamajig so may not make sense....

[Heaven]

I added- no VE's, no routine cannula, no time limits, no ARM unless it's an emergency, no continuous monitoring. I was having a VBAC though so it was expected I would have all those things and I had to make it clear I was not.

[onthefly]

I didn't write one second time, I just made sure I had midwives who actually knew me and what I wanted and who I trusted.

[Sunny Love]

Easy.

No epidural, whether I beg/scream/threaten assault for it. No epidural.
No episiotomy, unless I say so.

[HotI]

i was wanting the same things 2nd time around, i just chose the right support people who would help me get them.

[LuluHB]

First time was I think relatively standard, but not overly long. I had less criteria second time around, with things like "if I want an epidural I'll ask for one, so please don't offer" and stuff like that. Pretty simple.

This time around when the midwife asked me what my birthplan was I said it was to have a baby. The only stipulation I had was that I was keeping my placenta for encapsulation. Otherwise, told her I've been there done that, have complete trust in my OB to be as low/no intervention as safely possible, trust in my DH to support whatever it is I say and not push me down any particular road, and trust in myself that I'll speak up if necessary. I know from past experience that I birth extremely well, so provided nothing goes pearshaped, it should all be fine.

[Jennifer13]

Next birth plan will be the same (it's mostly for in case of transfer) but I'm going to add some post-birth stuff, especially about the check for tears. I may even refuse that if I feel like I did this time, since I had no tearing.

I'll also put something in about expected speed of active labour.

[Sagres]

I didn't have anything I would call a plan, but I did have brief notes about stuff like I wanted to exhaust each pain relief option before trying the next, wanting to get in the bath, DH announcing the gender etc. that kind of stuff. A lot of the stuff I see in birth plans about skin-on-skin asap, BFing asap, and those types of things are just standard procedure with the midwives at my hospital so no need to document that. Like LuluHB says my ob and I had discussions about my hopes for the birth and she got where I was coming from and I trusted that would continue in the delivery room (and it did).

Second time around it was very much the same with a couple exceptions - saying no labouring on my back (pushing on my back fine, labour HELL no) and mostly just a few cautionary notes about the labour being quick and the midwives needing to be ready for a quickie - us being caught of guard with the pace of things first time around caused us some issues.

So pretty similar ideas going in, pretty different outcomes but that's babies for you!

[luna moth]

This is brilliant. Thanks everyone.

I'm pretty sure, then, that I can go in the same as I did last time. I didn't want to blindly do so just because it worked last time, but I think I have all bases covered. Including support personas, which is a really good point.

[HotI]

You will have your DD to plan for too this time, where will she go and when, when and how will she meet the new little person, do you have extra support in the early days for you as a family (either care for your daughter or help with meals etc so you can spend time with both kids). I found the freezer was my friend even more 2nd time around.

[kateo]

I wanted things to be almost totally different 2nd time around.
First time I actively avoided induction (This was very stupid), 2nd time lined up for induction 2 weeks early.
1st time tried to labour without gas or drugsbut ended up using them, 2nd time was willing to use gas but no other drugs.
1st time asked for a CS but ended up with an induction VB. 2nd time didn't want CS but ended up with one because the induction didn't work out.
I was supposed to hve skin on skin 2nd time (this didn't happen 1st time) and it didn;t happen because of emergency CS and baby needing oxygen.
The outcome was totally different 2nd time, I got a breathing baby.

[~clover~]

My first, I was only 18. So other than telling them I wanted it as natural as possible, I really had no idea. I'm still thankful it went as well as it did considering! They were talking about inductions & a c/s.

My second I was more prepared having been there before. This time I had better mw's who encouraged me to be active. I also waited til my contractions were 5 minutes apart before heading to the hospital, rather than going straight in. My fave birth out of all 4 of them. I handled it so well!

Third I had mecconium staining, so I was kind of expecting it to go haywire. I was trying to let go of all my plans, because I didn't know what to expect.

Fourth. Active labour, hands off middie, no internals & delayed cord clamping. Ended up having 2 internals, which I needed. The second one the mw felt swelling on my cervix, so it kind of woke me up to what I was doing (posterior baby, severe back pain, thought pushing would help ) I refocussed & got moving.

#4 was the only one I actually asked for specifics & had them noted on the hospital system. Its a midwife run labour ward thats only open when someone is admitted for birth. If i could I'd tell everyone to go there for their babies. There were no questions about what I wanted, when I booked in or in labour. Only thing they have is a BMI limit, which they think is unfair themselves. They will take somene over that limit in an emergency though They did when I was there, but the poor womans BP skyrocketed & they had to transfer her.

[luna moth]

You will have your DD to plan for too this time, where will she go and when, when and how will she meet the new little person, do you have extra support in the early days for you as a family (either care for your daughter or help with meals etc so you can spend time with both kids). I found the freezer was my friend even more 2nd time around.

Thanks, that's a good point. It's all covered as my mum will be here for the whole month of November, and, more importantly, my in-laws won't!

[~Hestia~]

The only thing I changed was in my first birth plan I asked to be left to labour on my own or something like that. This resulted in my midwife practically not speaking to me or offering any suggestions. So for my second I stated that I would like to be left but would appreciate any guidance etc if that makes sense Am happy to say it did the trick and I had a fantastic birth thanks to my midwife.