Hellobee Boards

Yes for my first and it was placed in my folder. But I don't think the nurses ever referred to. We just talked about it during admitting and DH advocated for me.
No for the second one!

I did not have one. My Dr and I had had discussion in the later weeks of my pregnancy. She knew I was open to pain meds but unsure if I wanted them (had no idea what labor would feel like so how could I know?!). She also knew that my overall opinion was "you are the Dr - I trust you - lets make decisions together when possible but do what you gotta do".

The only questions I remember being asked with regard to big decisions was 1) do you want an epidural - now would be a good time (I was 6cm)...I had already had a dose of pain meds when admitted so this was a no brainer and 2) do you prefer an episiotomy or to tear naturally...I told her "whatever she recommended" and then tore.

First time I wrote one out but didn't give it to anyone. It did help to guide my thinking though. DH was aware of what I wanted and helped me during labor. Everything went fine. This time, I just feel comfortable knowing that I'll make decisions that are right for me in the moment because I've already had the experience and confidence to know. I don't feel a need for a written plan.

No. With my first, I was too young and uneducated to even know anything about a birth plan. I delivered at a "baby friendly" hospital for #2 and #3, so my wishes (such as pain management, BFing, skin to skin, dad cuts cord, etc) were verbalized to my nurse on admission and written on a whiteboard in the room.

I had discussed a few things with my OB but then I went into labor early and he was on vacation! I never wrote anything down. The next time I am going to write a few things down knowing that it may or may not happen. Last time I didn't get immediate skin to skin because of breathing issues and next time I want to try. I also don't want constant monitoring unless absolutely necessary.

Yes, my HMO provides a form. For LO1's birth all the medical staff on each shift reviewed it. I could tell from their reaction to it I had essentially picked the "granola package." I showed up with a doula so probably wasn't a surprise. The form had questions on pain management, do you want a mirror, do you want to hold baby before he/she is wiped off, circumcise, light or dark room, etc.

With birth #2 I dragged my feet on filling out the form. Birth #1 had been traumatic and I just couldn't put myself in the headspace to think about birth again. They asked me to complete it during my GD test (what's that 27 weeks or so?) and bugged me at every appointment thereafter. I filled it out the day before I went into labor. I was already 10cm when I arrived at the hospital though. I remember I walked in holding my water bottle and birth plan. When I crawled onto the bed DH threw the birth plan across the room very dramatically. The staff did read it after the birth to review post-birth instructions and probably to laugh at my plans.

Now that I think of it we did have a birth plan form from my HMO that DH and I filled out. But I think it was more important in that it cause DH and I to have a conversation about what we wanted. The only thing I really kept reiterating was that I wanted my placenta to encapsulate. We were so easy going during labor the staff couldn't believe it - but we birthed at a hospital where most parents lean more natural and the staff usually has to tread lightly with their suggestions.