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I don't have one. I'll let you know after LO comes out:) I think it would stress me out more to have a plan that isn't followed.

We filled out a birth plan given to us by our doula, but we forgot to take it to the hospital. We didn't have a specific 'plan', but talked through some of our preferences with the midwives beforehand. They knew we wanted to avoid meds as long as possible, and that I wanted to use the labour tub, but other than that, I just talked to them throughout my labour. If you know what you want, I don't think a birth plan is totally necessary.

I don't have one. I started a preliminary one once fairly early in my pregnancy, but then realized most of the things I actually cared about (baby rooming in, delayed cord clamping, kangaroo care, skin-to-skin contact, encouraging breastfeeding, etc.) were things my hospital already practiced. So why put something in a plan if it's what my hospital already does? I'm really flexible on everything else: I plan on playing it by ear and seeing what's going to result in the happiest mama and healthiest baby based on my specific circumstances. For instance, with the epidural: I really don't know if I want one or not yet, but I wouldn't be opposed to it, so I really don't think I need it written in a plan! But since I haven't delivered yet, I'm not sure how it'll go: we shall see

I didn't have a birth plan other than healthy mama, healthy baby. I don't regret it at all. I didn't go in with many expectations, so there wasn't much disappointment to be had. I had an amazing medicated/vaginal delivery.

I didn't have one. Same as ILOVELETTIE - my hospital already practiced the things I cared about, and I gave birth in a room intended for med free births. I didn't find a birth plan to be necessary.

I didn't! Ended up being induced 10 days overdue. Labor never started naturally for me so I needed Pitocin to jumpstart things. Baby was face down so I had double contractions and back labor. I could barely catch my breath and the pain was really intense and constant. I labored for several hours before getting an epidural. I labored for several more hours but it was a much more pleasant experience with the pain taken away. After 15 hours of labor they had me do a practice push which broke my water. The NICU team was notified to be present at delivery because there was meconium in the fluid. An hour or two later it was time to get the baby out. They turned down the epidural so I could feel down there for pushing. A few hours into pushing the baby started getting stressed and stuck in the canal. DH said he could see the baby's head crown when I pushed but it kept going back in when I stopped pushing. I was exhausted but had no choice but to fight through the pain and fatigue. Finally, FINALLY, after a second degree tear she came out and ended up being alright. She needed heelsticks every few hours to check her glucose levels from the stress but the levels corrected in the next few days.

I was glad I didn't have a birth plan or an idea about how I wanted labor to go because I would have been stressed that things weren't going the way I planned. Labor is waaay too unpredictable.

I have a birth plan but it's mostly preferences. I don't expect it to go exactly as I have it on paper but I want something for the medical staff to be able to look at and know ahead of time what I would prefer to help achieve my ideal birth as much as possible. But I even have a note at the top of my birth plan that says "I do NOT expect everything to go as planned. This is only what is ideal."

I'm planning a med free hospital birth but I have my c section preferences included just in case.

I didn't have one for the same reasons as you. I went with the flow, talked with my doctor throughout my labor and thankfully had labor and delivery that I am totally thrilled with and have no regrets. We did what was best at the time.

A birth plan is a really good idea. It was a way to communicate with the doctor and nurses. They all read it and talked to me about it and we decided on revisions together. I think it is an important part of research prior to giving birth but by all means mine was somewhat flexible. But by having one it allowed me to be more flexible because we knew what to expect and they were able to talk to me about different aspects they were wondering if I could consider to revise.

I didn't have one. I had a few 'wishes' - safe, alive baby & mom, wanted to walk around as long as possible and drugs. Lots of them.
(Skin to skin and delayed cord clamping were standard practice where I delivered so that was a non issue).

I had a pretty textbook, fast labour and delivery and I got to do what I wanted/needed. I don't regret a thing.

Nope. Just to have a baby.

I didn't have any kind of birth plan. The only thing I was set on was that DH was the only person that was allowed anywhere near the hospital while I was giving birth. I didn't want a plan because I didn't want to get worked up if something didn't go according too.
I don't regret it at all, I just went with the flow and things went well so that's all I could have asked for anyways.

I didn't and I'm glad I didn't.h only plan was for an epi around five cm but l&d was unpredictable and I was admitted at 8cm. I think being flexible helped.. I was given te option to stay in l&d the night before but wanted to go home and sometimes I wonder if I would have ended up with a c section if I'd stayed.

Nope. No birth plan with this LO. After a preemie and a stillborn, I've learned that things can be turned on their head in an instant.

Actually my plan now is to just trust the doctors to get my baby out safe and sound.

@beaker: I would've been SO mad! My OBGYN kept telling me she was going to have to give me an episiotomy because my pushing was crap but I was adamant I did not want one.

I did not have a written birth plan. I was induced so I was not allowed to walk around like I wanted to. I tried to go med free and lasted till 6 cm when the OBGYN broke my water. I immediately requested an epidural. I just went with the flow.

@MapleMoose: your birth sounds almost exactly like mine except that my LO came out sunny side up.

During one of my prenatal appts, I was given one of those standardized check list from my HMO group about what I wanted during birth. Basically, you went down the list and checked whatever you wanted. I forgot to bring it. When I mentioned it to the nurse and the midwife, they both replied, "No one ever reads those. We will ask you and inform you of everything before we do it and respect your wishes" and that's exactly how it was done. I trusted the doctors and nurses there and had an amazing team of medical professionals. (I live in a big metro area and the hospital I chose is THE hospital to deliver as it's known nationally for giving birth).

My plan was to get the baby out safely and an epidural for me ASAP! I ended up with an emergency c section. I'm glad I didn't have a plan because I may have been disappointed in how the birth ended up

@swedishfish: Oops, that's a typo. DD was face up, not down. Sounds like we had the same birth experience!