These are copies of the birth plans I wrote for my last two births, Ricky's and Macha's. I created this page because many people aren't sure where to start when writing their own birth plan, and I am often asked what mine included. Please feel free to use these examples in creating your own birth plan, but remember your birth plan should be unique and individual.
This is the birth plan I wrote while pregnant with Ricky, my third child. His birth story is posted here. As you can see, this was very a very brief, simple plan, because I only had a definite opinion about a few things concerning the birth. I was also very close to my midwife, and was attending births as her apprentice. It was written on a 3x5 card.
Me or Scott help catch
Metallica always on & in room w/me
Tommy & Sam present unless they want to go-if they do bring them back immediately after
Videotape birth-if no one to hold it set it up somewhere
No overhead lights for birth-lamps in bedroom-dim in front room
See if Tommy wants to cut cord
Put placenta in freezer-yes, with the other one-haha
This is the birth plan I wrote while pregnant with Macha, my fourth child. Her birth story is posted here. This time, I felt more strongly about my preferences for the birth, and I knew that I had some unusual requests. I wanted my wishes to be clearly understood, so my birth plan was more detailed. It was 2 pages long.
Debbie's Birth Plan
As the general rule, we would like you (*midwife* and *apprentice*) to be at the birth as labor support and to help with various tasks, to offer verbal support and encouragement, both for me and for the boys. I would prefer Scott to be free to support me physically and emotionally during labor. Please ask me what you can do to help. These are the only people who will be invited to the birth: me (duh), Scott, Tommy, Sam, Ricky, *midwife*, *apprentice*, and possibly my best friend, Penny (she will only be visiting a few days). If for some reason *apprentice* cannot make it to stay with the kids, my friend has volunteered to help; her number is xxx-xxxx.
Turn the ringer off on the phone once everyone is here. We will let the answering machine take any phone calls while you are here; we will return them later on (basically, once things have settled down.)
Metallica should be playing at all times; if it stops it should be restarted immediately.
Tommy (5), Sam (4), and Ricky (2) are welcome at the labor and birth, if they wish (and as long as I do not ask for them to leave). If they prefer, they may go outside and play in the back yard or watch videos in another room. Otherwise just assume they are supposed to be with me.
I intend to labor and give birth in the birth pool, depending on my preferences at the time. I would like to stay in the water even through most variations (breech birth, for instance), based of course on the circumstances and safety. I would like to have salt added to the water; it is in a pre-measured package with the rest of the birth supplies.
I would like the birth and at least part of the labor and postpartum videotaped, preferably by *midwife*. I would also like some pictures taken during labor and after the birth with the regular camera. (If things go fast then skip the pictures and focus on getting the videocamera on; there will be a tripod in case everyone is too busy to hold it.) Still pictures are of secondary importance to the video, although if at all possible I would like: one of me standing in early labor (last pic of me preg, basically), of labor, of pushing, head being born, body being born, me holding baby, one of placenta, a close up of the umbilical cord, Scott holding baby, kids holding baby, and I would at the very least like a family picture if everyone is awake before you leave. (If my friend Penny is here, she can take the pictures.)
I will do any vaginal exams myself, if I feel the need for it.
I would like both the fetoscope and the water doppler to be available; I will decide during the labor which I would prefer to use. I would also like to decide for myself when to check heart tones, keeping in mind that I may need to be reminded of how much time has passed since the last one.
Please do not announce the baby's sex.
I will catch the baby myself or with Scott's help. If I am in the water, I do not want any perineal support, however should I be "on land" I would like Scott to support the perineum with warm wash cloths (therefore those will need to be readied with the rest of the birth supplies) and to help me catch. The birth supplies should be set up near the birth pool, so that Scott can hand me the blankets and hat and help me cover the baby. I don't want to Scott to wear gloves (but you can remind him to wash his hands!)
I will suction the baby myself, if needed.
I do not want the baby to have vitamin K or eye ointment.
I would like to deliver the placenta while still in the water, although I do not plan to stay in the water longer than I want to just to deliver it there.
(Lotus Birth) I do not want the cord cut for at least two hours (and possibly longer) unless of course there is an emergency (such as a tight nuchal cord-however I would still prefer every attempt to keep the cord intact). The placenta should be initially wrapped in a chux pad and kept next to the baby. Later (probably during my herbal bath) it can be washed (in the sink, not the bath, thank you) and placed in a plastic bag, wrapped in a receiving blanket and kept near the baby. Once the cord is cut, the placenta should be placed in the freezer (yes, with the other two) and put it right on top of the other two so it'll freeze in the right shape. (Assuming you're still here when we cut the cord of course.)
In case of transfer:
Should there be a need to transfer during labor, I would prefer to go in our van, and would ask *apprentice* to stay home with my boys unless the emergency is such that we decide they can come. I would like to call ahead to the hospital so as to avoid as much of the ER panic as possible. Try to remember to grab the CD player, an overnight bag for me and the videocamera and camera, but especially the SLING!, depending on the circumstances, of course. Prayer is welcome, but I would prefer to be the only one crying or vomitting.
Should there be a need to transfer after the birth, I want the baby to stay with me no matter what. (This includes once we get to the hospital.) Again, I'd like *apprentice* to stay with my boys and to go in our own van, and to take an overnight bag, camera, and SLING! I'd like to call our pediatrician {see Dr's name and phone number below} as well as the hospital while on the way.
Please refer to my hospital birth plan for more details.
If you have read Sam and Ricky's birth stories, you know that they both wound up in the NICU after their births. Because of this, I wanted to be prepared for every possibility, and I wrote a birth plan specifically in case we had to go to the hospital.
Hospital Birth Plan for Debbie Frost
Please understand that I am writing this not so much as a list of "to do" or "not to do," but to give you an idea of what my basic philosophies are, to help you do your job to the best of your abilities. Obviously, the simple fact that we are at the hospital indicates that something is not normal, and therefore not all of the items listed are going to be possible. I do understand that.
Basically, I wish to be completely involved in every decision regarding my and my baby's care. I wish for me and my baby to be treated with respect and kindness. I do not expect you to agree with every request, but I do expect that my point of view be respected. It is these things that are important to me, not the minor details.
*Midwife's name* is not only my midwife, she is a very close family friend. In case of hospital transport during labor, she will act as my doula and advocate. In case of transport after the birth, she has legal power of attorney over the baby and can be regarded as a parent. She will speak for and can make decisions in the name of me and my husband in any situation regarding the baby in which me or my husband is not available.
In case of transport during labor:
Please discuss beforehand: IV, all lab tests, any injections, oral medications, vaginal exams, rupture of membranes, stripping of membranes, any fetal monitoring, use of doppler, and/or any other procedure. I would prefer to have any vaginal exams performed by *midwife*.
I like to labor upright, in positions of my choice. I tend to be rather noisy in labor; this is just normal for me, it does not mean I am in undue pain. I like to listen to Metallica while in labor, but don't worry, it won't be loud.
If we are here for a relatively minor reason, some or all of my children may be present. They are welcome at the birth and will have a support person to help take care of them.
I do not wish to take any calls or receive visitors (other than *midwife* and my children and their support person) while I am in labor. I do not wish to have any extraneous hospital personal in my room at all.
For the birth:
There will be no episiotomy except in the case that the baby is in major distress and birth is not eminent, and doing an episiotomy will greatly speed the birth. I also prefer not to be told when to push or for how long. I would prefer *midwife* to provide perineal support; if this is not possible, I do not wish for any perineal massage at all.
I would like to give birth in a position of my own choosing, in the place of my own choosing (for example, not necessarily on the bed.) If I am on the bed, I would prefer not to have it broken down.
Please DO NOT announce the baby's sex.
I wish to catch the baby myself, or to have my husband and/or *midwife* catch the baby if I am not in a position to do so.
I would like the baby to be handed to me immediately after the birth. Please do not cut the cord or suction on the perineum. (More details follow.)
I do not wish for the baby to be suctioned at all unless it is absolutely necessary (i.e. thick meconium).
I would like the cord to remain intact until I ask for it to be cut. This will probably be a while (at least two hours.)
When the placenta comes, you may simply wrap it in a chux pad and lay it in my arms next to the baby, assuming of course the cord is still intact. Either way, we want to save the placenta and take it home with us. (No, we're not going to eat it.)
If there is a problem with the baby:
I do not wish to be separated from the baby at any time unless it is absolutely medically necessary. Minor procedures (such as suctioning or giving oxygen) can be performed in my arms. If it should be necessary to separate the baby, I would like to have him returned to my arms as soon as possible. This is extremely important.
We will be exclusively breastfeeding and the baby should never be given anything except my breastmilk except in the most extreme situation and only after we consent. The baby should not be given any artificial nipples, including bottles and pacifiers.
I do not wish for the baby to receive vitamin K, eye antibiotics, or any vaccinations. If the baby is a boy he will not be circumcised. I do not want the PKU test performed. There is no need to bathe the baby.
If the baby should need to go to the NICU, he will be accompanied and preferably carried there by *midwife*, who, again, has legal power of attorney to act on our behalf. She is fully aware of our preferences, opinions, and religious beliefs.
Thank you very much for taking the time to read this. I realize you probably consider some of these requests to be rather odd; that is fine, we are used to that. We are nice, reasonable people who simply have some different ideas about birth and babies. As I said before, we do not expect you to embrace our philosophies, we only ask that you respect them.
