A while back, I told you guys that we were doing a few things differently with this pregnancy. This time, we have a birth plan. With Annie, I was totally clueless with everything that went on. This time I vowed not to be so uniformed.
After lots of reading and consideration, Barry and I wrote up our birth plan. There still might be a few changes that we make with our doula, but right now this is what we’re going with. We’re very happy to share it with you as a sample in case you’re interested in writing up your own.
I’ve shared it in detail with my friend Erin over at The Humbled Homemaker. You’ll note that I left myself lots of room for grace…and you should do the same. Things don’t always go the way we want them to go, but it does pay to be prepared. 🙂
Read the entire post and see our birth plan here.
I never even thought about having a birth plan written. I guess I really had it in my head just not on paper. My first was born with no epidural and after only 6 hours of labor. My second…we lived an hour from the hospital. I knew for sure I was in labor I think around 4 o’clock; at 6 o’clock I had him in the backseat of my inlaws car on the way to the hospital. Third time I was scared the same thing would happen so I went too early and ended up being induced therefore having an epidural. Fourth time I went in for an OB visit and she sent me to the hospital…to be induced (I just didn’t realize it…dumb me!) I had a horrible epidural experience with that one! Fifth time, my water broke at 22 weeks. The doctor on call at the hospital I went to wanted to induce me (I was not in labor at all…just ruptured membranes). She told me that I’d have to give birth and that there was nothing they could do for my baby. Thank God, I knew better! I was sent to another hospital and stayed there for the next 10 weeks before giving birth to a 5lb 3oz 32 week baby boy. He was born with a collapsed lung, but he only ended up staying in the NICU for 11 days!. It was so hard to be away from my husband and other boys while I was there, but every time I think about it and see my now (healthy!! Praise God!) 3 year old boy I know that it was worth it!
I’m praying for you, Stacy!
Wow, Tara!!! Thanks a bunch for sharing your stories. Hearing what happens in real life is always awesome.
We had a very loose birthing plan that kind of flew out the window when I got there fully dialated and ready to push and ended up having a C-section! One thing I so regret NOT doing is telling the hospital we did not want any residents. I gave birth in a teaching hospital and there was so much miscommunication between residents and doctors. It made us both very upset.
Hmmmm. That would be cause for concern – miscommunication always causes problems. BUT, Zach is such a cutie pants that it was all worth it. 😉
p.s. depending on the demeanor of your OB and staff, sometimes you need to be respectfully bossy. It’s great that you have a doula as an intercessor for you, they are invaluable!
You got that right – not sure how I did without her the first time.
Our birthplans are nearly identical, only you’re polite enough to say “please” 🙂 I made the mistake of watching the Business of Being Born and Pregnant in America several times before my labor and I expected to have an awful hospital experience overseen by SS officers- thank the Lord my (five minutes away) hospital is extremely progressive in their methods.
As for my birth plan, it remained in its folder the entire time because from admission to birth was less than three hours, oy vey. Regardless, it went according to plan and we got a healthy baby boy out of it. Also, oxygen tanks are where it’s at.
I watched The Business of Being Born a few weeks ago…and the other one is in my queue, but Barry thinks maybe I shouldn’t watch it. LOL
I actually watched The Business of Being Born over the weekend. Definitely, some interesting things from that.
Since I do not have children, I just learn from my nephews births. One of my sisters went to a birthing center, my nephew was two weeks past his due date and was induced. He was born the morning after my wedding day (my sister was at my wedding ceremony 🙂 ) and they were home that evening. My other sister was hospital all the way, my nephew was born via C-section but she had special requests where he mainly stayed in the room with her so she could have plenty of bonding time with him. They were at the hospital a total of three days.
One day I’ll be able to put together a birthing plan. Until then, I will continue to learn here and there.
OAN, I also checked out Food, Inc. and Fresh… So I may have been in the documentary section of the library DVD rentals 😉
Documentaries are one of our favorites. 🙂 Got SEVERAL in our queue right now. 😉
It looks like you covered eveything. With my first I didn’t have any prelabor and didn’t know what a contraction was until I was induced. With my second I had lots of prelabor so was confused when I was in actual labor. And with my third my water broke so that was a whole new experience in itself. The bottom line is every birth is different just like every child is unique. The look on your daughter’s face when she sees her sibling for the first time will be priceless. 🙂
I know!!!!!!!!!!! I can’t WAIT! 🙂 🙂
Good job, Stacy! Praying that the hospital works with you! You were so polite in your birth plan 🙂
Really? I thought at some points I was being bossy and I worried about that. LOL
We’ll finalize the birth plan over burgers today! 🙂 It looks really good.
Now, THAT’S the kind of plan I like! 🙂