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BR: Are birth plans worth it?
99% of the people I know have not been able to follow their "birth plan" b/c, well, sh!t happens that's out of your control. So, is it even worth making one? Before being on TN/TB, I honestly had never heard of them. The only 2 things I plan on telling the doc/nurse is 1) give me DRUGS ! (this will be said the second I am admitted) & 2) get a chair for DH to sit &/or have a nurse watch him like a hawk to make sure he doesn't pass out. Is it worth me actually writing this down vs. just telling them? Do the docs actually read/remember what you wanted/didn't want ?
For the moms, did you actually have one that the doc read/remembered or did they just ask you questions along the way to see what you wanted to do (if you even had any choices)? These stupid checklists keep telling me to make a birth plan so I'm just wondering how important it is to have this stuff on paper.
Dx: Hashimoto's Hypothyroidism After 2 years TTC & failed IUs,we have our IVF baby born 9/24/11
LO#2 aka 'Miracle Baby' Orig. EDD= 9/28 EDD moved to 10/3/13
"Most of the important things in the world have been accomplished by people who have kept on trying when there seemed to be no hope at all." -- Dale Carnegie
"Our greatest weakness lies in giving up. The most certain way to succeed is always to try just one more time." --Thomas A. Edison
Re: BR: Are birth plans worth it?
I've ALWAYS said the best birth plan is no birth plan at all, and I'm sticking with it. Sure you can have ideas and suggestions, but in the end, everything is out of your hands. And I absolutely roll my eyes at pre-printed birth plan checklists. I think they're ridiculous, and you're just setting yourself up for failure and resentment if, gods forbid, something doesn't go the way you write it down.
Flame away, but I think you can know what you want or dont want (ie meds or no meds, c-section v.s no c-section) but please please please don't get down on yourself or your whole birthing experience if something sends your list out the window.
Just remember, in the end, all that matters is that you have a happy and healthy baby, and a happy and healthy mama. How you get there is never going to be judged.
updated 10.03.12
:Blog:
Dx: Hashimoto's Hypothyroidism After 2 years TTC & failed IUs,we have our IVF baby born 9/24/11
LO#2 aka 'Miracle Baby' Orig. EDD= 9/28 EDD moved to 10/3/13
"Most of the important things in the world have been accomplished by people who have kept on trying when there seemed to be no hope at all." -- Dale Carnegie
"Our greatest weakness lies in giving up. The most certain way to succeed is always to try just one more time." --Thomas A. Edison
I have a friend who is a nurse and she reminded me that they do this every day and dont need extra reminders.if I would have had one I wouldnt have been able to follow it due to medical reasons- cord wrapped around her neck, low blood sugar, and blood pressure issues. save yourself time.
Short answer: No.
When I asked my doctor about birth plans around 6 or 7 months, she reassured me that it really wasn't necessary. And she was very right, minus the fact that I had to have a c/s. All the things that I felt strongly about, my practice and the hospital were on the same page.
So if anyone asks me, I would just recommend if there is something you feel strongly about, discuss it with your doctor. I'm assuming, by this point* in your pregnancy, you should know where your doctor stands and how supportive or respectful s/he is of your beliefs and wishes.
*ETA
My Acme Box last update 3/28/11
I'm not trying to dissuade your from having a "plan" but you may just want to check with your doctor if the things on your list are things your hospital/doctor do anyway. For instance, the bolded, the hospital I delivered at, it's standard practice not having the baby bathed immediately after birth or soon after. Also, they encouraged me to breastfeed as soon as I was up for it (I was put out so it was a couple hours before I was "with it" again).
My Acme Box last update 3/28/11
Medically, I didn't even think that was an option....
Communication is key... especially between your OB/Midwife and your husband/partner/whoever is going to be in the L&D room with you, just in case you can't convey what you what coherently. Talking to L&D nurses is well and good, but I don't know about your hospital, but I had no idea who my L&D nurse was going to be, and I spoke to a couple myself before I was admitted. Just trust me, in the thralls of labors, whatever you may have on a physical list is probably going to be the last thing on your mind...
updated 10.03.12
I agree with everyone else.
Our hospital actually gave us a little questionnaire when we were admitted with some of the basic wants/needs questions. And I made sure to ask our OBs tons of questions about the process during my regular check-ups.
Unfortunately in my case, they didn't even follow the questionnaire. They let my mom into our suite while I was in surgery even though I had specified no visitors. My L&D nurse was in the OR with us and the nurses that let her in didn't know. It was too late to kick her out when we got back. What a NOT awesome surprise. My husband and I are still pissed at my mom!
Samesies.
Dih - Toe
updated 10.03.12
That and shift changes. In the process of getting admitted and prepped and etc. I had 3 different L&D nurses not counting the other ones that came in and out. And once I went into postpartum section, I had a new nurse again.
Just be nice to the nurses and they will go above and beyond for you.
My Acme Box last update 3/28/11
:Blog:
Agreed. My doctor and I discussed all these things beforehand, but seriously, I didn't care once I was actually in labor. All I wanted was a.) for the paint to stop, and b.) to hold my baby.
They didn't bathe Ellie until after I'd breastfed her and everyone had met her. Probably 2-3 hours after she was born was when they took her to be bathed and I took a shower of my own. Some of these things are just standard practice so there's no point in worrying about them.
Yep. My first L&D nurse was a real witch. But my second one was awesome. Also, my sister went out and bought them all cookies, so after that they were SUPER nice.
Yeah, South Shore is pretty big too... I talked about my plans with my Midwives and they made sure it was all in my file so that whoever was on would know what was up because in the end, they were the ones making the calls. Honestly, I had never even thought about the whole washing her before giving her to me because they informed us during our childbirthing classes and tour that the baby was always put right on mom's chest after delivery for the initial first meeting, then taken away for cleaning up and APGARs. Also in my file was that I wanted to BF, and they had asked me while I was there as well in L&D, so news that I wanted the baby soon after was apparent because the L&D nurses know their jobs and that BFing works best asap, etc. None of this needed to be on its own separate list. I trusted those around me, which is why I chose them, so I didn't feel like I needed another possible avenue of stress in the form of a list, and let the professionals do their jobs.
updated 10.03.12
1.) Some studies show that babies and their mothers need to "meet" immediately after birth, as it helps both baby and mom bond with each other.
2.) Breastfeeding immediately after birth does several things. First, it helps the baby to get the hang of BFing. Second, it gives the signal to your body that, okay, the baby has been born, it's time to start producing milk. Third, while it does take a few days for your actual milk supply to come in, your breasts already contain a substance called colostrum. This is a thick, yellowish substance that is chock full of nutrients and will sustain your baby until your full milk supply comes in. Babies are not necessarily ravenous when they come out, and they don't need much, but you do need to start the process immediately as it will help you and baby to be successful with BFing.
3.) I didn't read much except WTEWYE. I do recommend a DVD series called Laugh And Learn...there's Laugh and Learn about Childbirth, Laugh and Learn about Breastfeeding, and Laugh and Learn about Newborn Care. I found them especially helpful.
HTH!
1. I think one of the main reasons is the mucusy stuff all over the baby is actually full antibodies that their skin will actually absorb. Its sort of one last "gift" of protection the mother gives to the baby as they enter outside world.
2. Its good for both actually. It starts bonding and yes, baby will be hungry. Although it can (but not always) take a while for the actual milk to come in, once you go into labor your body will start making colostrum, which is a thicker, white substance. A little of that goes a long way for a newborn and should suffice until your full milk comes in.
Don't know about the bathing because as far as I know, baby doesnt get an actual bath until later. They might clean them up, but I'd never heard of giving a baby a bath in L&D.
BFing happens best within an hour after birth, and its not the milk, its pre-milk called colostrum. Milk doesn't come in for a couple of days after, but they call it "liquid gold" because there are so many nutrients in it that its all the baby needs.
As for all the info, other than actually doing it, our childbirthing classes were a plethora of knowledge, so that paired with What To Expect gave me all the information I needed to be prepared. IMO you can never know enough, and knowing what was going on was enough to keep me from freaking out in regards to the unknown.
updated 10.03.12
Dx: Hashimoto's Hypothyroidism After 2 years TTC & failed IUs,we have our IVF baby born 9/24/11
LO#2 aka 'Miracle Baby' Orig. EDD= 9/28 EDD moved to 10/3/13
"Most of the important things in the world have been accomplished by people who have kept on trying when there seemed to be no hope at all." -- Dale Carnegie
"Our greatest weakness lies in giving up. The most certain way to succeed is always to try just one more time." --Thomas A. Edison
Yeah... I thinik it's definitely going to be the last thing on your mind. With all the hard work, the only thing I wanted was to hold Sam as soon as I could. I really didnt give a d@mn as to what she was covered in or if she was clean or not....
updated 10.03.12
Ditto. It's SO different when it's your own. All you want is to hold her. Plus, the stuff came from you so it doesn't really matter.
And ya better get used to holding a baby that's covered in stuff....poop, pee, throw up, cracker crumbs, milk, drool, stuff it found on the floor, whatever...
I had a birth plan. My midwives' practice has you fill out a questionnaire that they put in your file and they read through it several times before your due date. My midwife knew very well what I wanted, so she didn't have to ask anything when I got to the hospital. Everything was pretty much how I wanted it when she wheeled me into the delivery room. (Lights dimmed, jacuzzi time, etc etc.)
Obviously all kinds of things can happen that might throw your birth plan out the window. I knew that was a possibility, but I hoped everything would go according to my plan, and it did for the most part. The only thing that changed was that I requested not to have my water broken. When it hadn't broken at 8cm, my midwife was afraid I'd be in labor for a lot longer, so she asked if I wanted her to break it, and in the throes of labor, I just said "Sure, whatever, sounds good." Haha.
I think birth plans are probably more important to women who are planning natural births instead of unmedicated ones, since with many meds (especially an epidural) a lot of hospital procedures are standard (like constant fetal monitoring, etc.)
If just getting the baby out is okay with you and you're not concerned about any procedures, then there's not really a reason for you to have a birth plan. They're mostly for people who've researched various procedures, etc and have strong feelings about them one way or another. (I was one of those people.)
As for bathing the baby immediately, Kyler didn't get a bath until we brought him home, 10 days after he was born! In the NICU they just wiped him down with baby wipes I believe. When he was born, the vernix was just rubbed into his skin. Like a pp said, it's actually very good for the baby's skin.