https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Sun, 26 Apr 2026 23:40:08 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-write-out-a-birth-plan#post-279879 Sun, 02 Sep 2012 16:58:51 +0000 cvbee 279879@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I didn't write one either, and planned on going with the flow. </p> <p> I did have a few things in mind, but I kept them in my mind and was ready to say them if they needed to be said. </p> <p>Looking back, I would have actually felt a bit silly if I had written a birth plan. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-write-out-a-birth-plan#post-279763 Sun, 02 Sep 2012 13:32:18 +0000 banana 279763@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>No birth plan whatsoever. I just went with the flow and trusted my OB's recommendations. I didn't want to go into it with this full out birth plan and end up being disappointed and not enjoy the birthing experience. Best decision I made! I ended up having a csection because my son was breech and it didn't bother me one bit. I just wanted a healthy baby. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-write-out-a-birth-plan#post-279754 Sun, 02 Sep 2012 13:24:02 +0000 kml636 279754@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My midwife prefers we work n one together. I'm going to keep it to a list of short preferences, on the important stuff. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-write-out-a-birth-plan#post-277896 Fri, 31 Aug 2012 09:15:04 +0000 sorrycharlie 277896@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm not because all the things I'd put on it are relatively basic - and my hospital promotes them all. Things such as skin to skin, breastfeeding, etc. We aren't doing delayed cord clamping because we're donating the cord blood, don't need to worry about circumcision or anything like that. Our hospital allows dad to stay with the baby, too.</p> <p>and I don't need a plan to demand pain relief, LOL - that is my #1!!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-write-out-a-birth-plan#post-277812 Fri, 31 Aug 2012 08:39:26 +0000 Mrs. Sunglasses 277812@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I didn't because I knew it was something I couldn't control. And I didn't want to have any disppointment about my plan not working out. I know so many who's plan just was something on paper and not in practice so why do it?! hehe. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-write-out-a-birth-plan#post-277806 Fri, 31 Aug 2012 08:37:00 +0000 regberadaisy 277806@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@mrsjyw: that is exactly how I was going in. There was only one absolute to me is no Nubain and I was able to achieve that.</p> <p>Labor is so unpredictable there's no use stressing yourself out over what you wanted during labor before you've even ever been through something like it! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-write-out-a-birth-plan#post-277791 Fri, 31 Aug 2012 08:34:10 +0000 ladyfingers 277791@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Yes but I'm not sure what we'll do with it. I'm going to discuss it with my doctor when we get closer. Kangaroo care (immediate skin-to-skin with all testing and cleaning done while baby is on mother) is already a default policy at our hospital so at least we don't have to worry about that.</p> <p>ETA yeah that's right, I"m 17 weeks and I already have a birth plan. OCD much? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-write-out-a-birth-plan#post-277732 Fri, 31 Aug 2012 08:15:53 +0000 LuLu Mom 277732@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I was not going too, however after attending our birthing class at our hostpial our teacher recommended it, so pretty much in it I made very broad statements including: no students administering epideral, ect. (it's a teaching hosptial), lights low, but that I would be going by the recommendation of my delivering team as I know they are best informed. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-write-out-a-birth-plan#post-277711 Fri, 31 Aug 2012 08:11:28 +0000 blackbird 277711@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm not going to. I trust my doctor and her staff immensely and have heard nothing but glowing reviews from the hospital I've chosen. I'm choosing to take a step back and go with the flow. I've also read Mrs. Jacks post on birth plans :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-write-out-a-birth-plan#post-277692 Fri, 31 Aug 2012 08:07:15 +0000 mrstilly 277692@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Trust in the medical staff is important. I watched the Business of Being Born which had me a little freaked out. I believe that for the most part childbirth can happen naturally without a whole lot of intervention, if any. But the video made it seem like many medical professionals work off of hospital policies, which are often outdated and not based on the best interest of the mother and baby, but on convenience and liability. And this was supported by a lot of birth stories I read where one intervention led to another and ended in a C-Section. A C-Section is major surgery and I didn't want a policy (i.e. mandatory IV, how you are allowed to labor, etc...) to start me on a path that would lead to a C-Section if it could be avoided. But in the end the midwives at my practice listened and reassured me. I am lucky to have a local policy that supports natural childbirth if that is the mother's desire. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-write-out-a-birth-plan#post-277477 Fri, 31 Aug 2012 00:42:59 +0000 looch 277477@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I wrote one out for myself and shared it with my husband. I didn't bring it with me to the hospital though. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-write-out-a-birth-plan#post-277400 Thu, 30 Aug 2012 22:59:19 +0000 CupQuakeWalk 277400@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I wrote one but I wrote it to keep track of myself...it probably wont be used as I already am becoming more open to the idea that anything could happen! And that's ok! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-write-out-a-birth-plan#post-277383 Thu, 30 Aug 2012 22:45:47 +0000 yoursilverlining 277383@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I didn't, because my only point of concern was that the baby was delivered as safetly/quickly as possible. I didn't care about the "how", and I trusted my medical staff to act in my best interest. They are the professionals, I'm not. Plus I found that many things women write up (skin-skin contact, being able to control lights, music and visitors) are all things you actually control anyways, so that seemed sort of pointless. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-write-out-a-birth-plan#post-277325 Thu, 30 Aug 2012 21:58:19 +0000 prettylizy 277325@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@mrstilly: this exactly! I actually made a flow chart for different scenarios for myself almost as an exercise to work through everything. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-write-out-a-birth-plan#post-277315 Thu, 30 Aug 2012 21:54:32 +0000 mrstilly 277315@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I wrote one up. I was very anxious about childbirth and being able to trust the doctors and nurses to not intervene when it wasn't really necessary. The process of researching and writing a birth plan alleviated some of my stress and anxiety. It made me more knowledgeable and gave me things to discuss with the midwives in my practice, as well as with DH and my stepmom who were both with me for the birth. I didn't even get the plan out at the hospital, though. By that time I had developed the trust in my midwife and had the support of DH and my stepmom to help advocate if needed. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-write-out-a-birth-plan#post-277298 Thu, 30 Aug 2012 21:45:24 +0000 Minnie_Girl 277298@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I probably won't, because we're planning a home birth and most of my concerns/wants are protected by the location. If interventions happen, they'll happen because they're needed!</p> <p>That being said, I think it's SO important for women to do their research and be their own health advocates. Learn what to expect in all circumstances, and how to deal with it. And include people at the birth who will protect your goals while you're busy having a baby. A partner, doula, or midwife can be the living birth plan. They talk back and you can't throw them in the trash! :P </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-write-out-a-birth-plan#post-277283 Thu, 30 Aug 2012 21:33:38 +0000 Running Elley 277283@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@yin: Thank you so much! One of our main concerns is that we get skin to skin before he gets bathed. We also want at least an hour before visitors. I really appreciate hearing your experience! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-write-out-a-birth-plan#post-277267 Thu, 30 Aug 2012 21:24:53 +0000 prettylizy 277267@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Typed our two sided multiple copies *shameface*. I got my unmedicated birth, I was very passionate about not wanting an epidural, delayed clamping and immediate nursing. My doula laughed at me when I pulled it out. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-write-out-a-birth-plan#post-277256 Thu, 30 Aug 2012 21:21:15 +0000 yin 277256@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Running Elley: A few things I lost track of... asking if DH wanted to cut the cord (he did), making sure we had skin to skin time before the nurses took LO away (didn't happen), and no visitors until a few hours after delivery (FIL came while I was still in delivery room). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-write-out-a-birth-plan#post-276908 Thu, 30 Aug 2012 19:08:50 +0000 Running Elley 276908@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@yin: What kinds of things did you find that you lost track of? I'm really curious about what will/what won't be on our radar! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-write-out-a-birth-plan#post-276884 Thu, 30 Aug 2012 19:03:50 +0000 yin 276884@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I decided against a written birth plan. Ideally I wanted a natural vaginal birth with no complications. I went without an epidural for as long as possible (7cm) and ended up with a vaginal birth but there were complications (insulin due to GD). I may write out a few details the next time around, more of a reminder for my husband and myself. You can lose track of things easily while in labor, and it's good to have a small reference. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-write-out-a-birth-plan#post-276834 Thu, 30 Aug 2012 18:50:14 +0000 meredithNYC 276834@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I didn't. All I knew was that I wanted an epidural and I got it! I just told myself going in that I chose my doctor for a reason and that I trusted her judgment, so I didn't have anything to worry about. Well, okay, there was tons to worry about, but you know what I mean. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-write-out-a-birth-plan#post-276815 Thu, 30 Aug 2012 18:45:10 +0000 lovehoneybee 276815@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Yes, and I brought it to the hospital with me (even though my labor went so far off expectations so fast that it never got taken out). I found it very helpful to write out my ideal birth experience, even if DH and I were the only ones to read it. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-write-out-a-birth-plan#post-276752 Thu, 30 Aug 2012 18:27:02 +0000 heffalump 276752@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I didn't. I knew I wanted an epidural and skin to skin. Those were things I could easily, and did, discuss with my nurse when I hot there. I made sure dh knew to tell her these things too in case I was in too much pain to talk about it.</p> <p>I also made sure dh knew how I felt about csections and other things, which pretty much was I don't want it unless it's needed for the safety of me or the baby. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-write-out-a-birth-plan#post-276750 Thu, 30 Aug 2012 18:26:27 +0000 Running Elley 276750@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I wasn’t planning on making one but recently I’ve started to feel more strongly about certain things so now I’m leaning towards writing one out just so that our wants are clear in case there comes a point where we’re both overwhelmed and out of it. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-write-out-a-birth-plan#post-276746 Thu, 30 Aug 2012 18:25:40 +0000 chopsuey 276746@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>nope! I just wanted a vaginal birth and was open to an epidural (which I got. praise the Lord for meds). When I was younger I wanted immediate skin to skin, but didn't get it with LO.<br /> It wasn't a big deal to me since my LO is super healthy, happy and well attached. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-write-out-a-birth-plan#post-276743 Thu, 30 Aug 2012 18:25:08 +0000 Rubies 276743@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>The only thing I was adamant about was that no one but hubs was in the room. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-write-out-a-birth-plan#post-276740 Thu, 30 Aug 2012 18:24:06 +0000 DillonLion 276740@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'll probably make one but just for myself /DH to flesh out my hopes. We don't plan on handing a copy out to anyone at the hospital or anything. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-write-out-a-birth-plan#post-276733 Thu, 30 Aug 2012 18:22:08 +0000 mrsjyw 276733@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>even though im usually atype, ocd -- this is something i have chosen not to do....im going to go with the flow; because i really have no idea what to expect and also don't want to be let down if things "don't go my way"</p> <p>i want to at least try to go natural though im not against an epidural before the door shuts; and i really want to have skin to skin.... but other than that -- i really don't have any expectations..</p> <p>oh and that dh/my mom are the only ones in the room with me. </p>