You don’t need a birth plan. If you and your partner fill one out, it may give you information on things to expect and ask for. -If you don’t have one, we will ask what you want when the time comes and give you the same options as a birth plan. In my experience, we do almost all the normal things requested in a birth plan.
Please know that my job as a physician is to make sure you and your baby are healthy. That is my primary goal. My secondary goal is to make you and your partner have the best experiences possible.
If you have a birth plan you are welcome to give it to the nurses and I and we will do our best to follow it. If we feel your or your baby is in harms way we will let you know, a birth plan is just a plan. You get to decide when and where we deviate from that initial plan. We are long past the time when the doctors and nurses make all the decisions.
If you want pain medications we have IV medications and epidurals.
For natural labor, we have Jacuzzi tubs, TV, Music, essential oils, and birthing balls. Plus a variety of other equipment we use for helping you to get the baby in the right position. If a natural, no medication delivery is what you want make sure to take a natural birthing class online beforehand so you have as many options as possible.
If you want to walk around, eat, drink, you should.
If you want to avoid a C-section, that’s our goal too. Our C-section rate is way below the national average.
If you want a less painful delivery we will help you with that goal too. No matter please feel free to bring music, games, or movies to help pass the time. Labor can be stressful and boring at the same time.
We have a large variety of essential oils for calming and energy. The nurses will give you a menu when you arrive. Feel free to brink any other aromatherapy you find helpful.
In natural labor you can get into any position you want. If you want suggestions on how to push effectively we will give them to you, but for the most part- do what feels most comfortable.
If your baby is crying/pink when it arrives, we will pass them directly to you so you can warm your baby with skin-to-skin contact.
We don’t cut the cord until the placentas jobs is done and your labor partner will be offered the opportunity to do this.
The nurses will always ask before giving vaccinations or antibiotics to your baby. This choice is yours. The normal things we want you to consider giving your baby is.
1. Vitamin K 2. Hepatis B vaccine 3. Antibiotics We can give you specific information on all of these, I gave my kids all three and you are welcome to pick and choose. There are good reasons for all of them.
Want more birthing plans. You can check the links below. Feel free to print out and bring in whatever plan you want.
https://www.whattoexpect.com/pregnancy/labor-and-delivery/birth-plan/