Birth Connections Stillwater's Grassroots Pregnancy, Birth & Parenting Resource Group

Birth Choices – Tori and Charles Caswell

Hello, this is our first baby.  It is very important to me to have an unmedicated birth.  I’ve had a previous traumatic hospital stay and would appreciate your patience with me.  I plan to have to have my husband (Charles) and my doula (Amy) with me.

Labor

• I would like a hep-lock, rather than an IV

• I want to stay mobile

• If I want pain medication I will ask for it, please don’t offer them to me

• I would like to choose my position while pushing

• I do not want an episiotomy

Postpartum

• Please wait to give pitocin until after cord is cut

• Please wait until cord stops pulsing to cut

• No Hep-B vaccine for baby

• Please wait to take baby for weighing, washing etc… until I’ve nursed and held him for about 30 minutes

• I want to breastfeed exclusively

Reverse side for in case of Cesarean

We greatly appreciate the hospital staff’s expertise and support.

-Tori and Charles

It is very important to write a birth plan.  Some women like the wording “BIRTH CHOICES” or “BIRTH GOALS”.

It is important to ask yourself the following questions and in turn include your answers on your birth plan because the following things are routinely done WITHOUT permission or consent from the mother or father at a hospital birth.

REMEMBER that you have the right to informed consent and informed refusal of all things, and even though most individuals in the hospital have your best interest in mind, the hospital as a business puts many practices in place that DO NOT have your best interest in mind, and it is up to you to make sure your choices are made clear and followed by the staff.  Sometimes it’s easy to forget that a hospital is a business and it’s goal is to make money.

This information is most useful to your nurses.  They have never met you before and don’t know anything about your personal needs and choices, and they are going to be your main caregivers during your stay at the hospital.

Things to think about when writing your birth plan:

LABOR and DELIVERY

1.) Who do you want with you?

2.) Do you want an IV? Do you want a heplock?

3.) Do you want to stay mobile?

4.) What kind of pain relief do you want access to?

5.) Do you want an episiotomy?

AFTER THE BABY ARRIVES- MOTHER

6.) Do you want the cord blood saved?  Do you want the cord to stop pulsating before it is cut?

7.) Do you want to be given pitocin to speed up delivery of the placenta?

8.) Do you want to breastfed right away?

AFTER THE BABY ARRIVES- BABY

9.) Do you want your baby washed?

10.) Do you want your baby vaccinated?

11.) Do you want your baby to be offered pacifiers and bottles?

IN CASE OF CESAREAN DELIVERY

12.) Who do you want with you?

13.) Do you want your arms restrained during the birth?

14.) Do you have a preference on how your uterus is stitched?  (This could affect your ability to have a VBAC.)

Here are some more great tips on writing a birth plan.