Birth plan advice

[Tara1985]

Hello Ladies,

So I left it a bit late to write my birth plan as I’m supposed to be going through it tomorrow with the GP. I have always wanted the ‘natural’ birth experience that is offered by the MW led unit however I think I should have an open mind and write my birth plan to reflect this.

My ideal is to have a water birth and use gas and air as pain relief. I have been using a hypobirthing CD to learn relaxation methods but think if I lose control what pain relief should I use – I just want as many options as possible to try and ensure my experience is positive. I understand it is all personal preferences but want some advice.

Epidural – Heard it’s wonderful but then I won’t be able to move (obviously) and pushing can be affected causing intervention. Although there are no effect on baby.

Pethidene and Diamorphine – I thought these could be a good alternative before opting for the epi however I have read they are a form of opiate and can potentially effect baby afterwards. Particularly with breastfeeding.

Help!!! Any alternative pain relief that does not affect baby? I really want to try natural but have pain relief as a back up but not if it affects baby to the extent there are problems with latching on etc.

xxx

 

[Tara1985]

Also I understand that if I opt for an epi I will have to leave the MW led unit - luckily it is part of the hospital..

x

 

[kaz1983]

Hi Tara

MW coming to discuss our birth plan when i will be 34 weeks too

Im like you I want to go natural as possible perhaps not the whole water birth but defo gas & air. Our maternity unit doesnt have an epidural service so the pain relief they have is diamorphine injection which if I was to have that they would bring in what they call a resuscitair into the room as it can make you and baby drowsy so they like to have oxygen and suction on standby if need be. If I can get away with gas & air and perhaps a stint (or longer) in the birthing pool I will be immensely proud of myself as Im rubbish with pain I mean honest to god you wouldnt believe how much of a sissy I am

The only other thing we have been told about is the choice of how to deliver the placenta which is either naturally or to have an injection straight after birth into now is it the leg or bum which speeds up the process

Ive heard a few ladies saying their birthplan did not go to plan but at least if you have it in place there is room for negotiation/change etc xx

 

[Tara1985]

Hey Kaz, it's so scary now!! Before it was a distant dream but I understand the plan might not go to plan so I want to be as informed as possible.

I want to deliver the placenta naturally if I can but again baby latching on immediately is suppose to help with this process and if its drowsy or having breathing problems I won't be able to do this.

Don't get me wrong, if I need the drugs to get baby out quick and safe I am not going to be a marty. Just wondered if there were alternatives....thinking it's a no lol I'm so scared!!

xx

 

[kaz1983]

Hey Kaz, it's so scary now!! Before it was a distant dream but I understand the plan might not go to plan so I want to be as informed as possible.

I want to deliver the placenta naturally if I can but again baby latching on immediately is suppose to help with this process and if its drowsy or having breathing problems I won't be able to do this.

Don't get me wrong, if I need the drugs to get baby out quick and safe I am not going to be a marty. Just wondered if there were alternatives....thinking it's a no lol I'm so scared!!

xx

Yes very scary when MW said she was arranging for it to happen I was like crap this makes it even more real putting stuff down in writing. I agree with you if drugs etc are needed to keep minion and me safe then they can crack on with whatever I know i can be stubborn but not when it comes to the safety of minion no way

Ive heard a few of the girls on here saying they are reading hypnobirthing books and CDs etc so I might get into that aswell to see

You will be fine hun says me that is cool as a cucumber the now but once it all kicks off watch me turn into a demented hormonal lunatic (which btw I will freely admit to when i post my birth story lol) xx

 

[Tara1985]

Just re-read what I wrote....stuuuupid auto correct. Meant to say martyr not marty lol

Yeah we'll be fine Kaz...positive thinking although a little panic is setting in. My OH thankfully has a calming influence on me so I hope he will be a great birthing partner and can keep me grounded. I imagine myself at the crowning stage and changing my mind about having a child lol Only joking, can't wait to be a mum just getting nervous.

xx

 

[kaz1983]

lol I never even noticed ur spelling mistake

Yep thats the way to do it positive thinking will get us through and perhaps a whole lot of swearing haha

Hubby is like that too he can calm me down but anytime anyone asks if he is ready to be a dad hes like "im shitting it" but I think the labour part will be easy for him to calm me down there may be a few bantery insults fly between us but thats what I want to keep my mind off what is actually happening

Well this is true once baby starts coming theres no stopping it lol

Think thats what we would describe ourselves as too nervous about being responsible for such a wee bundle I remember the woman I work with telling me when they took their first daughter home they sat her in the middle of the floor in her car seat and said "well what do we do now" thats gonna be me an hubby I just know it lol xx

 

[Mrsstuart01]

Can I advise you don't get your mind set on anything? I loosely knew what I wanted- water birth, no diamorphine, just gas and air. We get to hospital- he has meconium in my waters so water birth is out. Tried gas and air and made me feel sick so diamorphine it is!! Just don't get your heart set on one way because I've seen people devastated when it doesn't go to plan xx

 

[Tara1985]

Can I advise you don't get your mind set on anything? I loosely knew what I wanted- water birth, no diamorphine, just gas and air. We get to hospital- he has meconium in my waters so water birth is out. Tried gas and air and made me feel sick so diamorphine it is!! Just don't get your heart set on one way because I've seen people devastated when it doesn't go to plan xx

Completely get this! Not going to get hung up on the plan but wanted some advice on alternative drugs because I need to discuss the birth plan with my GP tomorrow and don't know what back up drugs to ask for

xx

 

[kaz1983]

Can I advise you don't get your mind set on anything? I loosely knew what I wanted- water birth, no diamorphine, just gas and air. We get to hospital- he has meconium in my waters so water birth is out. Tried gas and air and made me feel sick so diamorphine it is!! Just don't get your heart set on one way because I've seen people devastated when it doesn't go to plan xx

Completely get this! Not going to get hung up on the plan but wanted some advice on alternative drugs because I need to discuss the birth plan with my GP tomorrow and don't know what back up drugs to ask for

xx

Yep I get this too...if we have a rough idea of what we would like to happen if it goes to plan great if not great also as at the end of the day (or however long labour takes me) we are both gonna end up with our babies in our arms xx

 

[Loula]

I didnt do a birth plan as such as everyone told me it never goes to plan... so i thought lets go with the flow

I told my birthing partners i only wanted gas and air and that was it... During labour the midwife told me to have pethadine but i declined so i did do it all on gas and air..

I wanted t cut the cord but this unfortunately didnt go to plan as babys cord was extremely short and i had t have an unexpected episiotomy which i was gutted about xx

 

[Km28]

I didnt do a birth plan with my first, not sure why midwife never brought it up, i planned in my head not to have pain releif other than has and air but it made me sick so i Had diamorphene, i think if u have it early inuf its fine, my lo was and breastfed staright away from coming out x

 

[TaffyRose]

Hey Hun, I can't believe you're nearly 35 weeks! Max decided to make an appearance at 37+1 so might not be long now. All I can tell you is my experience as I know every birth is very different but I found moving around as much as possible and swaying my hips and breathing at the beginning stages really helped. My birth plan like yours stated just birth pool and gas and air. As it was Max was in a hurry and I only had time for 2 paracetomol but my midwives were really supportive and were happy to help me have a natural birth and never pushed any drugs on me. So if you find your midwife is trying to make you have drugs you don't want I would advise you ask for someone different, it is your birth and you need to feel comfortable with the person looking after you.

With regards drugs like pethidine I think it's a fine line as they advise you to try and cope as much as possible before having it but if you have it too close to the pushing stage it can make the baby drowsy. However I vaguely remember hearing if you have pethidine more than 4 hours before the pushing stage it will have less affect on the baby (might want to check with doc on this). Also I believe there are different types of epidural now, so although your movement will still be restricted you can have ones where you can still feel your legs, worth asking about those options.

My main advice is go with what your body wants to happen, I never appreciated how my body would know what to do when the time came. And remember the whole way through when you get to the end of it you have your baby and the whole experience becomes so worth it

Good luck girls xxx

 

[Tara1985]

Hey Hun, I can't believe you're nearly 35 weeks! Max decided to make an appearance at 37+1 so might not be long now. All I can tell you is my experience as I know every birth is very different but I found moving around as much as possible and swaying my hips and breathing at the beginning stages really helped. My birth plan like yours stated just birth pool and gas and air. As it was Max was in a hurry and I only had time for 2 paracetomol but my midwives were really supportive and were happy to help me have a natural birth and never pushed any drugs on me. So if you find your midwife is trying to make you have drugs you don't want I would advise you ask for someone different, it is your birth and you need to feel comfortable with the person looking after you.

With regards drugs like pethidine I think it's a fine line as they advise you to try and cope as much as possible before having it but if you have it too close to the pushing stage it can make the baby drowsy. However I vaguely remember hearing if you have pethidine more than 4 hours before the pushing stage it will have less affect on the baby (might want to check with doc on this). Also I believe there are different types of epidural now, so although your movement will still be restricted you can have ones where you can still feel your legs, worth asking about those options.

My main advice is go with what your body wants to happen, I never appreciated how my body would know what to do when the time came. And remember the whole way through when you get to the end of it you have your baby and the whole experience becomes so worth it

Good luck girls xxx

I know, scary stuff and my bump buddy's waters have broken today!!!! Can't believe how quick the time is going. Did you drink RLT Taffy? Started drinking it this week?

xx

 

[katie_lou]

Hi Hun ,

I never bothered with a birth plan just because so many things can happen when your in labour I just felt it was pointless and I just went with it .

I had diamorphine an it was great , I can honestly say when I had that I felt great abit tired but it took the pain away

Xxxx

 

[babyem]

Hey Hun, I can't believe you're nearly 35 weeks! Max decided to make an appearance at 37+1 so might not be long now. All I can tell you is my experience as I know every birth is very different but I found moving around as much as possible and swaying my hips and breathing at the beginning stages really helped. My birth plan like yours stated just birth pool and gas and air. As it was Max was in a hurry and I only had time for 2 paracetomol but my midwives were really supportive and were happy to help me have a natural birth and never pushed any drugs on me. So if you find your midwife is trying to make you have drugs you don't want I would advise you ask for someone different, it is your birth and you need to feel comfortable with the person looking after you.

With regards drugs like pethidine I think it's a fine line as they advise you to try and cope as much as possible before having it but if you have it too close to the pushing stage it can make the baby drowsy. However I vaguely remember hearing if you have pethidine more than 4 hours before the pushing stage it will have less affect on the baby (might want to check with doc on this). Also I believe there are different types of epidural now, so although your movement will still be restricted you can have ones where you can still feel your legs, worth asking about those options.

My main advice is go with what your body wants to happen, I never appreciated how my body would know what to do when the time came. And remember the whole way through when you get to the end of it you have your baby and the whole experience becomes so worth it

Good luck girls xxx

I know, scary stuff and my bump buddy's waters have broken today!!!! Can't believe how quick the time is going. Did you drink RLT Taffy? Started drinking it this week?

xx

Sprogletts in labour?!??! Get a labour thread up haha! I wondered where she'd been recently!!

In regards to the pethidine and diamorphine, yes they can make baby drowsy and problems feeding but thats only if it is given in the last stage of labour. If you have it in the first couple of stages it doesn't have much of an affect at all x

 

[Tara1985]

Em, her waters broke this afternoon. I think she is at the hospital now and hasn't text me to update. I'm probably he last thing on her mind I'll let everyone know now.

xxx

 

[Mrsstuart01]

Hey Hun, I can't believe you're nearly 35 weeks! Max decided to make an appearance at 37+1 so might not be long now. All I can tell you is my experience as I know every birth is very different but I found moving around as much as possible and swaying my hips and breathing at the beginning stages really helped. My birth plan like yours stated just birth pool and gas and air. As it was Max was in a hurry and I only had time for 2 paracetomol but my midwives were really supportive and were happy to help me have a natural birth and never pushed any drugs on me. So if you find your midwife is trying to make you have drugs you don't want I would advise you ask for someone different, it is your birth and you need to feel comfortable with the person looking after you.

With regards drugs like pethidine I think it's a fine line as they advise you to try and cope as much as possible before having it but if you have it too close to the pushing stage it can make the baby drowsy. However I vaguely remember hearing if you have pethidine more than 4 hours before the pushing stage it will have less affect on the baby (might want to check with doc on this). Also I believe there are different types of epidural now, so although your movement will still be restricted you can have ones where you can still feel your legs, worth asking about those options.

My main advice is go with what your body wants to happen, I never appreciated how my body would know what to do when the time came. And remember the whole way through when you get to the end of it you have your baby and the whole experience becomes so worth it

Good luck girls xxx

I know, scary stuff and my bump buddy's waters have broken today!!!! Can't believe how quick the time is going. Did you drink RLT Taffy? Started drinking it this week?

xx

Sprogletts in labour?!??! Get a labour thread up haha! I wondered where she'd been recently!!

In regards to the pethidine and diamorphine, yes they can make baby drowsy and problems feeding but thats only if it is given in the last stage of labour. If you have it in the first couple of stages it doesn't have much of an affect at all x

I had diamorphine half an hour before lo was born as I had a spinal and forceps delivery and lo fed absolutely fine then slept all night xx

 

[Tara1985]

Good to hear you didn't have problems with feeding....want to keep an open mind to the drugs xx

 

[RainbowKitty]

i really wanted a water birth and the hospital that im having baby at had a midwife led birthing center that used to have birth pools in it and on the NHS website it says they still do but when i went there the other day for ultrasound growth and mentioned it to the midwife she had told me that sadly the birthing unit closed, and so did the one at the only other hospital in the area which is a good half hour away. they werent getting used enough so sadly they decided on shutting it down and expanding the labor ward with the extra space. another midwife came in the room and she mentioned to her if there was any places around that do birthing pools and the other one said there was a birthing centre not too far away but that it recently closed down too...bummer.

i changed my birth plan and ended up deciding on gas and air and epidural. i have had an epidural/spinal before for other reasons and it really wasnt bad at all, you dont really feel the needle going in because they wipe your back with this alcohol sterile wipe and it feels like an ice cube is on the site of injection and then you feel a tiny pinch/sting but it depend on yur pain threshold and fears i spose! for me it was great, i was numb from the waist down and could not move legs and had a catheder but they made sure i was really comfy in the bed and hubby was there with me too, to talk to me and keep me from being bored and it wore off fairly quick, i was walking again within 3 hours. i cant have pethidine/diamorphine cuz an allergy to opiates so those are my only options unfortunetly. i love gas and air tho, had to suck on it for an unrelated procedure and it was great...the nurse/midwife at the time told me it was like marmite you either love it or hate it lol, i hate marmite but love gas and air go figure! it made me numb and giggly and feel just so good and this was during a minor surgery on my lady bits involving cutting and suturing and with the gas and air it went by so fast and i could not feel a thing!