https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Thu, 30 Apr 2026 00:18:49 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/birth-plan-is-it-really-necessary/page/2#post-2133215 Sun, 05 Apr 2015 06:44:06 +0000 MrsBananaGrabber 2133215@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm not going to have a "birth plan," even though the hospital gave us one to fill out. I will, however, write out (and copy!) some preferences we have- mainly just 1) we want alone time with the baby before they let our family swarm in (it's a large and intrusive family) and 2) if I poop on the table, I don't want to know!!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/birth-plan-is-it-really-necessary/page/2#post-2132981 Sat, 04 Apr 2015 19:07:35 +0000 AprilFool 2132981@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My birth plan was whatever baby needed but the birth centre gave us a form to fill out and return that let us tell them our birth preferences, like did I want to birth the placenta naturally, do delayed cord clamping etc. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/birth-plan-is-it-really-necessary/page/2#post-2132775 Sat, 04 Apr 2015 11:43:49 +0000 Caly 2132775@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I had your attitude and I had a great delivery. I honestly don't think it could have gone better. My only small request to the dr was "hey, if at all possible I'd love it if my husband could announce genders when they're born" since we didn't know sex. Definitely didn't need a birth plan. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/birth-plan-is-it-really-necessary/page/2#post-2132765 Sat, 04 Apr 2015 11:16:22 +0000 ineebee 2132765@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm happy to report that I went through labor and delivery without a birth plan and had a pretty great experience. The doctors and nurses were wonderful with communicating my options, making sure I was prepared for what was ahead, understanding the possible risks, benefits, everything. I really can't think of how a birth plan in advance would have made it any better! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/birth-plan-is-it-really-necessary/page/2#post-2132706 Sat, 04 Apr 2015 09:50:49 +0000 getjazzy 2132706@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I don't know if I'll write one this time. Most of mine were easily communicated verbally and then went out the window when I requested an epi and ended up with a c-section. After all those long hours I didn't give a crap anymore as long as we were both safe. It all worked out. </p> <p>Unless you feel extremely strongly about specific things that are not necessarily hospital norm, I don't think you need one. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/birth-plan-is-it-really-necessary/page/2#post-2132604 Sat, 04 Apr 2015 07:27:22 +0000 Anya 2132604@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I didn't feel the need for a birth plan because everything specific I wanted was already in line with the practices of the hospital and midwives I delivered with. What I did do was read The Birth Partner with my husband and discuss in detail my expectations and preferences for the birth so that as my support person he would be prepared for what the stages of labor would probably look like and think about contingencies. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/birth-plan-is-it-really-necessary/page/2#post-2065336 Wed, 11 Feb 2015 20:39:07 +0000 Andrea 2065336@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My doula made me write one, as an exercise, but I didn't show it to anyone. Ha! At the hospital, I just told them "no drugs". :happy: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/birth-plan-is-it-really-necessary/page/2#post-2065247 Wed, 11 Feb 2015 19:26:42 +0000 sarac 2065247@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>If your birth plan is 'go to hospital, follow doctor's directions, have baby safely' then no, you don't need it. If you're delivering in a hospital, but you have midwives, or you have any really specific, fairly atypical desires (no drugs, no epidural, whatever), then it's helpful. I had one, but I found that the midwives basically agreed with all of my desires, and typically practiced them anyway, so I really didn't need it.</p> <p>My midwife said that everyone at my hospital took birth plans very seriously, that they weren't mocked or disregarded. She did ask that we keep them brief, because if she had to spend 20 minutes reading it, that was 20 fewer minutes she had to spend with me. So keep that in mind. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/birth-plan-is-it-really-necessary#post-2065233 Wed, 11 Feb 2015 19:20:11 +0000 Tanjowen 2065233@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I didn't write one, but the hospital I went to and the OBGYN I saw were linked through an on-line system, so my wishes/preferences/allergic reactions, etc. were in the system on my arrival and in my chart. DH was on the same page as me regarding C-sections (avoid if possible, but not objected to if needed), so I didn't see the need. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/birth-plan-is-it-really-necessary#post-2065226 Wed, 11 Feb 2015 19:16:31 +0000 mrsjyw 2065226@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I didn't hAve one and I have no regrets about my labor and delivery! </p> <p>All I really wanted was skin to skin and the hour after to myself dS and dh. Which our hospital encourages anyway! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/birth-plan-is-it-really-necessary#post-2065211 Wed, 11 Feb 2015 19:09:56 +0000 littlejoy 2065211@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We wrote one. We planned a home birth, and in case of a transfer, certain protocol was very important to us. If I was planning a hospital birth, I would just ask my OB or midwife what their standard policies are. If they were different than my preferences, I'd have a simple plan written. For instance: birth "plan" for my midwives was "nothing past periodic Doppler tones" ... I delivered the baby into my husband's hands, then they took over. If we were at the hospital, I would have written: "periodic monitoring only. Delayed cord clamping. Skin to skin immediately. Pending no emergencies." -- that's it. There are some really intense birth plans, and I think they are a little overkill. No matter where you give birth, you should trust they will take amazing care of you. :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/birth-plan-is-it-really-necessary#post-2065206 Wed, 11 Feb 2015 19:03:48 +0000 Mrs. Pickle 2065206@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm not going to write one. All I care about is a healthy mom and baby. The hospital I'll deliver at already does skin to skin right after birth which is the one thing I would have requested. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/birth-plan-is-it-really-necessary#post-2065200 Wed, 11 Feb 2015 18:52:29 +0000 jedeve 2065200@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>The first time I wrote one. I has some health problems that I wanted to make sure the nurses knew about. It was helpful to write out. </p> <p>What was more helpful the second time was really talking things through with my husband. But I had the benefit of experience to be able to do that. </p> <p>I didn't write one out the second time. We told the L&amp;D nurses to please not offer an epidural since it failed with my first birth and that we wanted to delay cord clamping. That was all! </p> <p>I think it's good to separate out what you and your DH need to know and what your nurses will need to know. They don't need to know you plan on cold washcloths or back rubs. They do need to know if you are team green and want your DH to announce the sex! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/birth-plan-is-it-really-necessary#post-2065197 Wed, 11 Feb 2015 18:48:57 +0000 woodentulip 2065197@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Mine had less to do with my birth process and more to do with my hopes for after birth should something to awry that would make it harder for me to communicate. Things like delayed cord clamping (which I would have forgotten to ask for otherwise) and to wait for vit. k eye ointment. The birthing part I was pretty whatever about and it mostly just let them know that. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/birth-plan-is-it-really-necessary#post-2065190 Wed, 11 Feb 2015 18:44:35 +0000 BSB 2065190@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm starting one but only because I have a horrible memory and want it written down so I don't forget. It only has three things on the list so far. (I want access to a mirror, I want to see the placenta and I want to be able to cut the cord (or try) if DH declines). I've thought about the other stuff but I don't have strong preference. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/birth-plan-is-it-really-necessary#post-2065183 Wed, 11 Feb 2015 18:41:36 +0000 Rainbow Sprinkles 2065183@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Nope, not necessary. With my first, I was induced to PIH and just wanted her out safely. My birth plan probably would have gone out the window anyway.</p> <p>With my second, I knew I wanted to go med free so I just labored at home as long as I could. When we got to thr hospital, we told the nurses I wanted to go med free and that was that. They put me in the tub and totally where there to encourage me and advocate for me. No interventions, no epi, and I only had to say 5 words to them. :-P </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/birth-plan-is-it-really-necessary#post-2065107 Wed, 11 Feb 2015 17:10:08 +0000 Greentea 2065107@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Mine was very helpful. The doc and res and nurses all read it right in front of me and we discussed it. It gave them a chance to communicate with me about those things. It went great. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/birth-plan-is-it-really-necessary#post-2065102 Wed, 11 Feb 2015 17:07:17 +0000 dolphin 2065102@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We did not have a birth plan and I did not feel it was necessary. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/birth-plan-is-it-really-necessary#post-2065101 Wed, 11 Feb 2015 17:05:33 +0000 matador84 2065101@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Def not necessary. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/birth-plan-is-it-really-necessary#post-2065096 Wed, 11 Feb 2015 17:03:28 +0000 Mrs. Blue 2065096@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>The first time I filled one out that the hospital gave us in a birth class, but never gave it to anyone. The second time I didn't even consider making one. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/birth-plan-is-it-really-necessary#post-2065093 Wed, 11 Feb 2015 17:01:49 +0000 anonysquire 2065093@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think most L&amp;D nurses think of them as a joke. Atleast in my experience working at my hospital. I was confident that my midwives were on my same page so it all worked out! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/birth-plan-is-it-really-necessary#post-2065089 Wed, 11 Feb 2015 16:59:01 +0000 Modern Daisy 2065089@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I always thought they were kind of silly, buti am also pro-doctor, pro-drugs, etc. i think for people who want midwives and natural births they make more sense. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/birth-plan-is-it-really-necessary#post-2064946 Wed, 11 Feb 2015 15:52:35 +0000 illumina 2064946@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Similar to pp's, mine was to get her out as quick and safely as possible. I said I was open to any pain relief and we'd discuss it at the time. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/birth-plan-is-it-really-necessary#post-2064942 Wed, 11 Feb 2015 15:51:13 +0000 HolisticMama 2064942@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I would skip the birth plan and get a doula if you have a particular birth in mind. ;) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/birth-plan-is-it-really-necessary#post-2064938 Wed, 11 Feb 2015 15:49:26 +0000 wonderstruck 2064938@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I had one and it ended up being completely unnecessary. Everything I said I didn't want ended up happening, but that's because it was what became necessary to keep LO safe. Trusting your doctors/nurses is definitely the most important thing! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/birth-plan-is-it-really-necessary#post-2064929 Wed, 11 Feb 2015 15:47:23 +0000 Maysprout 2064929@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I didn't write one but DH and I discussed a lot so he could be a good advocate. We didn't know who would be delivering baby so we wanted to be informed. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/birth-plan-is-it-really-necessary#post-2064924 Wed, 11 Feb 2015 15:45:24 +0000 SweetiePie 2064924@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@ineebee: I felt the same as you. I also felt that if I had a formal birth plan and something went awry, I would just feel disappointed. Nothing ever goes as planned and I fully trust the medical team to make the best decisions for my baby and I.<br /> That being said, I was also ready to object to anything I really was uncomfortable with. Like when I was induced for some reason the idea of a foley catheter to help me dilate was terrifying. Irrational pregnant woman :-) So I told them that and stuck to my guns and they said it was ok, I didn't have to.<br /> So I think if you go in trusting your docs to make decisions AND to listen to you when necessary, you'll be ok. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/birth-plan-is-it-really-necessary#post-2064904 Wed, 11 Feb 2015 15:40:24 +0000 loveisstrange 2064904@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I had some clear cut opinions about how I wanted things to go, but in the end.... I never even wrote one. I communicated to the midwives what I wanted and it was written into my notes. They told me that they all find it really unnecessary and I decided to trust them. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/birth-plan-is-it-really-necessary#post-2064889 Wed, 11 Feb 2015 15:37:57 +0000 PinkElephant 2064889@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My birth plan was "healthy mom, healthy baby". Whatever it took to get there was fine with me. My dr knew I wanted an epidural and had no problem with a c section if deemed necessary. And my husband wanted to cut the cord. We just relayed this to our dr., no formalities. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/birth-plan-is-it-really-necessary#post-2064822 Wed, 11 Feb 2015 15:11:02 +0000 MrsMccarthy 2064822@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My nervousness about vacuums, episiotomies, high pitocin levels and c sections made me wrote one up but this time it's a lot shorter. I just wouldnt want things to happen too fast or be pushed on me. Sometimes it happens even in te best hospitals. That said I think if you feel secure in all possibilities as trust then it's not necessary. Just depends on how committed you are to certain birth experiences. </p>