My Birth Plan

Birth Plan for Meagan DeLong and baby Karlie Sue DeLong

Our overall goal in the labor and delivery process is for both Meagan and our baby to be healthy and safe. We hope to accomplish that goal through a natural delivery with as few interventions as possible. We have included some of our wishes below, understanding that this is a guide and that unforeseen circumstances may require a change in the birth plan. Thank you so much for your support and guidance in the birth of our child.

Labor

· We expect the husband, Mark, our doula Carol Horrocks, and Meagan’s Mom, Susan, to be in the room with Meagan during labor and childbirth. Meagan’s father, Eric, will keep them company in the room only until it is time to push.

· We plan on a natural unmedicated childbirth. As a general approach, we prefer that any medical intervention necessary be taken incrementally, staring with the most minimally “invasive” approach, and going from there only after discussion with Mark and Meagan.

· Please offer non-medical choices for coping with labor. We prefer freedom of movement and mobility to increase comfort during contractions. Position during labor and delivery is Meagan’s choice, with the guidance of the doula. This includes the use of a birthing ball, squat bar, and shower.

· We prefer very little intermittent monitoring with an external fetal monitor. We very much want to avoid internal fetal monitoring unless there is an emergency.

· Meagan tested positive for GBS at 36 weeks. We would prefer to decline the antibiotics and instead do a simple blood test on the baby’s cord blood (or do a simple heelstick if we miss the window for cord blood testing) to check for C-reactive protein. If negative, nothing else needs to be done. If positive, please appropriately treat Karlie Sue for infection.

· We would like to eat and drink light foods and liquids as desired. Meagan does not want an IV unless there is an emergency. If necessary, Meagan will accept having a device (heparin lock?) inserted into a vein so that an IV can be started up quickly when needed, but without the IV being connected until it is needed. Meagan does not want a catheter, either, but would like the freedom to use the restroom.

· Because we want labor to progress at a natural pace, we hope to avoid artificial induction or augmentation of labor (e.g., amniotomy, stripping of membranes, pitocin).

· We would like for the nurse or doctor to do perineal massage and warm compresses whenever possible during labor and delivery because Meagan tore completely last time and we would like to avoid that this time. We also want to avoid episiotomy, unless necessary for the safety of the baby. If an episiotomy is suggested, please perform only after discussion with Meagan, Mark, and the doula.

· I will want local anesthesia for repair of tears.

· We hope to avoid the use of forceps or vacuum. If labor stalls or the baby seems stuck, Meagan would like to try changing positions and other methods first.

· We view a Cesarean Birth as a last resort and only because of imminent danger to Meagan or the baby. If it becomes necessary, we prefer to have husband, Mark, in the room seated at mother’s head during surgery. We would like the baby to be held by Mark as soon after birth as possible, and Mark will remain with baby. We plan to breastfeed as soon as possible!

Post-delivery

· Umbilical cord is not clamped or cut until after the cord has stopped pulsating.

· After the birth, we would prefer the baby to be laid directly on the mother’s chest without washing and allowed to nurse as soon as possible. All testing can be performed while baby lies on mother’s chest. Mark and Meagan should be present for all newborn procedures!

· Delivery of the placenta is spontaneous, without the use of Pitocin. Other methods of encouraging delivery of placenta (fundal massage, immediate breast feeding) are used.

· No eye-drops, antibiotics, or Vitamin K injection will be administered unless there is an emergency and any procedures done to the baby should be discussed and thoroughly explained ahead of time to Mark and Meagan. We are prepared to sign a waiver on this matter.

· Hepatitis B vaccine is not administered!

· We prefer to breastfeed only—so no bottles, pacifiers, artificial nipples, formula or water.

· We would like for the baby to remain with in our room with us at all times.