prefered pain relief and birth plans

[Chocaholic]

i was just wondering how many of you's actually had birth plans and found the useful and what you's had included on them

also what is ur prefered pain relief...it's all got me goin in circles

Birth plan for me was fairly basic. I wanted to be the one to make any decisions and I wanted it to be as stressfree as possible. I listed things like using the shower for pain relief, NOT lying down, walking around, as little noise as possible (i.e. no music, people chatting etc). Just things to make me comfortable.

For the pain relief, I wanted to try just gas for as long as possible. When that stopped working for me, then the lowest dose possible of pethadine. The epidural was to be the last resort to be avoided if at all possible.

Basically I wanted to be in charge and DH was only there to support my decisions and argue the point (if necessary) if I was contracting. I also warned him that if he dared to make an decisions without consulting me, sex was off the agenda for the rest of his very short life. He was happy with that!

[satya]

I didn't have a birth plan as such - like a written one - just in my head.

Basically it was to be as active as possible and to use a bath or shower as much as possible and to take whatever drugs I felt necessary (including epidural).

The reality was much different to what I planned. I ended up with a long labour (17 hours in total + pre labour).

Because of swelling I could not get in or out of a bath for the last few weeks of pregnancy so sitting in a bath was out. Once in labour I just couldn't face undressing and getting wet and drying off etc.

I managed with panadeine forte at home til I was 6cms dilated. It only took the edge off the pain.

Once at hossy I got on to gas. This took the edge off for a while. I ended up having a couple of peth shots which made me feel a whole lot better but was still in pain.

I forgot (yes forgot) to ask for an epidural. I told them when I was admitted that I wanted one but due to be looked after by different midwives the subject never came up again.

Whatever your plan is make sure you word up your birth partner so that they can speak on your behalf. My partner knew I wanted an epi but he didn't bring the subject.

When in second stage they took the gas away from me and I had to do it without anything. By that stage it was actually less painful than it was during 1st stage so I managed OK even though I had a vac extraction (shoulder distocia & 2 hours of pushing).

Make sure you read up majorly on labour. I didn't and I really regret it. I feel I could've done a much better job of it if I'd read about it a lot more.