We're 38 weeks and 4 days into this pregnancy based on my new due date of the 17th. About time for a
Birth Plan
planned Home Birth of second child
Birth Team
Pain Relief
General Guidance
Early Labour
Active First Stage Labour
Second Stage Labour
After the Birth
In Case of Hospital Transfer
Note to Hospital
We are well-educated regarding childbirth issues. We place a high value on taking responsibility for decisions affecting care of mum and baby. We appreciate your expertise and wish to discuss and decide the elements of care at each step.
Questions for Each Proposed Intervention
planned Home Birth of second child
Birth Team
- Ben - birth partner
- Nicky - doula - call in early labour
- Tanisha - midwife - call in active labour
- Emma - midwife - call in active labour
- Ramona - Nikki's carer if Nikki is awake
Pain Relief
- TENS - early labour
- water/Birth Pool in a Box - when midwife advises I can enter the pool, all the way through birth if I feel like staying in the pool
- change positions - doula and midwives to advise if I need ideas, especially if I ask
General Guidance
- Ben, Nicky and I to be in master bedroom, midwives to come and go as needed for checks or quiet observation, Nikki to be brought in by Ramona if I request
- minimise intrusions: no unnecessary internal exams (especially if water breaks early), minimise fetal heart rate checks as possible
- unplug home phone
- dim lights and candles in bedroom, use torch for checks
- appreciate sincere encouragement (regular but not constant)
- need reminders to drink and wee
Early Labour
- call Nicky - day or night
- fill birth pool at least to minimum
- put shower curtain and extra sheets on bed
- TENS machine applied
- snacks/drinks
- Ramona to take charge of Nikki - if at night, baby monitor; if during the day, out to Kew Gardens
Active First Stage Labour
- call midwives
- get in birth pool as soon as it won't slow labour
- use different positions
Second Stage Labour
- wait until strong pushing urge before pushing
- push in different positions, whatever feels best
- coaching at the end to help avoid tearing
- if land birth (not in water), support of perineum with warm wet cloth and maybe olive oil would be nice to try
- possibly water birth if I feel like being in the water at that point
- Ramona to bring Nikki in close to time of birth if all is well
- would like either me or Ben to 'catch' the baby, with coaching as needed
- physiological third stage
- cord not cut until after it stops pulsating
- midwife to cut cord
- probably leave the water before birthing the placenta
After the Birth
- breastfeeding and immediate skin-to-skin contact
- want suturing of all but the tiniest of tears
- take a bath with the baby, then lay down on the bed
- delay weighing and exam of baby until at least one hour after birth, to facilitate bonding
- oral vitamin K drops for baby
- no eye treatments for baby
- no circumcision
- placenta to Ramona for her art work
- Ben and E to have "babymoon" at home with our two children after the birth (privacy except for very limited visits)
In Case of Hospital Transfer
- no IV unless absolutely necessary
- no episiotomy
- no nursery for the baby
- no supplements for the baby
- encourage breastfeeding
- if C/S, want to be awake, immediate skin-to-skin contact (or if not awake, immediate skin-to-skin contact with Ben)
- no procedure, intervention, or medication without full explanation and our consent, except in case of true emergency
- midwife to be our advocate to make clear our wishes for the most natural way and fully informed choice
- as short of a stay in the hospital as possible
Note to Hospital
We are well-educated regarding childbirth issues. We place a high value on taking responsibility for decisions affecting care of mum and baby. We appreciate your expertise and wish to discuss and decide the elements of care at each step.
Questions for Each Proposed Intervention
- What is involved in this particular course of action?
- Are there any special considerations for my specific situation?
- What benefits do you believe the recommended care offers?
- What potential problems or disadvantages could there be?
- What are the pros and cons of the alternative route?
