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BR: I feel like the dumb kid in class

So from this point on, I have to see the doctor at the high risk clinic at the hospital, along with my regular OBGYN - standard practice around here since we don't get many twins in my town (my OB told me 2, maybe 3 sets per year - so yeah, they get a bit nervous and like to make sure all their bases are covered, doctor-wise).

I had to make an appointment to see the doctor, and also the maternity nurses for something called "booking in". I've never heard it before and have no clue what this term means. "Booking in" for what? My appointment with them is in two days, so I asked a friend today what it meant. She explained that they start your file, discuss your case, and go over your birth plan (I've read that they also do some blood tests and things, but I think that's only if you go to them early on in pregnancy, not after you've already had all your tests done like I have).

But the bit that caught me off guard was: I need to have a birth plan? Already? I didn't think I needed one of those until weeks from now! So that's what I'm doing right now - researching online and typing one up. Is it really standard to have one at 19-20 weeks? Am I just way behind the curve on this? 

I feel like everyone else has some top secret Guide To Being Pregnant that I don't have, since everyone else seems to magically know what to do and when to do it...I've read all the books, but stuff just keeps catching me off guard.  Sad

Re: BR: I feel like the dumb kid in class

  • We went over our birth plan with our OB at the 28 week appt.  So 19-20 weeks does seem early.  Perhaps you don't need a formally written one just yet, but it might be a good idea to go over your preferences/wishes and see if they're even on board with them...then start negotiating from there!  GL!
  • I never had a birth plan (not that it would have mattered if I did). I asked my ob about it and he said not to worry about unless I had very specific requests that I needed known ahead of time. My plan was to just see what happened in terms of wanting pain meds, etc, so I never did one.

  • I agree with pp-- I didn't have a birth plan. I read about it online and babycenter and whatnot kept recommending I start thinking about it, but I didn't really have any specific requests... just to get the baby out healthy :)
  • Good luck!  That must be frustrating, after having read all the books and everything.  All that you guys (preggers and moms) know is totally overwhelming & foreign to me, so I can't imagine there is even more!

    Don't stress too much, it's not like they are going to say, well, since you don't have a birth plan, I refuse to deliver your babies.

  • imageSBMBride406:

    I never had a birth plan (not that it would have mattered if I did). I asked my ob about it and he said not to worry about unless I had very specific requests that I needed known ahead of time. My plan was to just see what happened in terms of wanting pain meds, etc, so I never did one.

    See, this is how I feel, so I wasn't even planning on drawing one up. However, I've been told by nearly everyone I know who had a baby at the local hospital that the nurses there are very anti-medical pain relief, so if you think you may want an epidural or other meds, you need to make that firmly known ahead of time or they'll spend half your birth trying to talk you out of it. And while I'd ideally like to go natural, if I start screaming for an epidural, anyone who tries to tell me no is going to get kicked in the nads lol. 

  • Don't feel bad at all.  I'm 30 weeks and I don't have a definite birth plan.  I do have a few things in mind but nothing concrete.  Being a NICU nurse and having gone to many high risk deliveries, I know that the more you try to control, the more things tend to not go the way you want them to go.
    image
  • LMAO! When I had my daughter they asked me for a "plan" and I said my plan includes drugs! When I go to the hospital I made sure every nurse knew that I wanted drugs! Yes

     

    I am sure they are asking you early since a lot of twin pregnancies do not carry full term.

     

  • Maybe they just want to know if you have any specific wishes for your birth and want to discuss them with you?  It does seem really early though? 

    Our birth plan (that I just finished at 37 weeks) wasn basically just that I understand the risks associated with nitris, narcotics and the epidural and that if I ask for them it means I want them.  That Russ wants to catch the baby if it's safe to do so, he also wants to tell me if it's a boy or girl.  And very it's very important to me that if I end up having to have a c-section I want to be the first (after Russ) to hold my baby. 

    I had a hard time writing a plan for the actual birth because, like every one else has said, you can't really plan it. 

  • lol, my birth plan was: get the baby out :) 
  • I don't think it's too early for you to be thinking about your wishes for childbirth. At this point I would just make sure your plan includes key points that are most important to you. If you wanted to make revisions could you give them a different copy later on? I had a request for each of the following: Labor, Labor Augmentation/Induction, Anethesia/Pain Medication, Cesarean, Episiotomy, Immediately After Delivery, and Postpartum. Hope that helps!   

  • Aw, sweety, don't worry to much.  I think the BIG secret is, none of us know what we're doing the first time around and it all turns out ok regardless.  I mean, I did all the research, thought I had a pretty good handle on everything, then when my water broke, I found myself walking over to my laptop to google what water breaking is.  I mean, I technically "knew" what it was, but no matter how "prepared" you are, you just have no idea until you go through it.  Information is a good thing, but when it causes us to think that we have any idea what delivering a baby is actually like, there is just no way to prepare.
    Arrived 4.5 weeks early due to PROM
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  • imageMrsNFB:
    lol, my birth plan was: get the baby out :) 

    Yes

    My OB laughed at me (in a nice way) when I brought up a birth plan. Like the pp mentioned, unless you have specific requests, I wouldn't stress over it too much.

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  • Thanks ladies! This makes me feel better. I really don't have very many specific wishes - Ben would like to cut the cords, and I'd like one of us to be the first to hold the babies, if possible - but otherwise, not so much.

    Truthfully, my plan is: we want a healthy mother and babies, and will do anything we need to reach that goal. If I don't want drugs, that's fine. If I get into labor and decide I do want drugs, that's fine too. If I need a C-section, that's what we'll do, without a moment's hesitation. I don't have super specific desires like being set on using a birthing ball or whatever - I just want to have the best end result possible, and honestly I don't really care about how we get there.

  • John's mom just sent us a whole bunch of books she ordered off of Amazon and just looking through them, I've been sort of overwhelmed too.  I had no idea how much of it is really necessary.  I don't think we'll get too specific with our birth plan.  Like you, we just want a good healthy outcome regardless of the path we might need to take to get there.  Smile 

    Eeek, you and the two bebehs are almost at 20 weeks!  Yay!!

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  • imageredshoegirl:
     Truthfully, my plan is: we want a healthy mother and babies, and will do anything we need to reach that goal. If I don't want drugs, that's fine. If I get into labor and decide I do want drugs, that's fine too. If I need a C-section, that's what we'll do, without a moment's hesitation. I don't have super specific desires like being set on using a birthing ball or whatever - I just want to have the best end result possible, and honestly I don't really care about how we get there.

    Sounds to me like you've got everything you need :)

    Arrived 4.5 weeks early due to PROM
    image
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    Cerclage placed @ 21w6d due to CI (IC)
  • I had one but it didnt matter. Kai was too quick. lol  However, and I HIGHLY suggest that whatever you feel STRONGLY about that you make sure that happens.  For instance,  the things I felt very strongly about was NO Hep A (or was it B) shot. Nope, nada. Not necessary for such young babies IMO.

    The other was DH cutting the cord- didnt happen because his cord was too short.  Eye drops are another that people feel strongly about.  When to cut the cord? Right away or after it stops pulsating (something about the extra blood/vitamins getting to baby).

    The Bump has/had a birth plan to help with some other things. HTH :)

    Perhaps they want you to think of it early because you are high risk?

    DS- 4 years old, Natural m/c @ 7 weeks-12/1/09. Infertility issues- low ovarian reserve- low AMH and high FSH. Looking into adoption. Trying to figure out where to go with your little one? My favorite website is: Trekaroo AlternaTickers - Cool, free Web tickers
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