Birth Plan

A couple of weeks ago I wrote about our plan for using hypnosis and relaxation techniques through out the day of labor. At my last midwife visit, we reviewed our official birth plan, which usually is a written plan of the procedures you do and do not want at the hospital or birthing center. The standard birth plan for our midwives and the Alternative Birthing Center align with what we want, so we just reviewed verbally the procedures for the day. I am so glad I don't have to be prepared to possibly "fight" for the experience I want, which is often the case at a traditional hospital. Here is our "plan":

• We will call the midwife when the contractions are regular and 3 to 4 minutes a part with a duration of 60 seconds each for an hour. The midwife will help us determine when to go to the hospital. Then we will drive to West Suburban Hospital in Oak Park. It is recommended that I eat on the way to the hospital. (The hospital wants us to go to the emergency room first but we plan to walk directly to the Alternative Birthing Center (ABC)).
• At ABC, I will be directed to a triage room (I completed pre-registration paperwork, so I do not have to fill out any forms upon arrival). In triage, I will receive a non-stress test that monitors the baby for about 15 to 20 minutes and a vaginal exam. If there is no signs of stress and I am dilated at least 4 cm, I move to a birthing room.
  
  

• In the ABC birthing rooms, the midwife will do intermittent fetal monitoring every 30 minutes (no continuous monitoring or machines hooked up to me). I am encouraged to move around and eat and drink. I will probably go into the water birth tub when 7 to 9 cm dilated. The fetal monitoring will be increased to every 15 minutes during the pushing phase.
• Andy plans to catch the baby and the baby will be placed immediately on my chest. We plan to not clamp or cut the umbilical cord until it stops pulsing to allow the baby to have all of the blood and nutrition enter his body. We also plan to not have any suction done on the baby unless the midwife thinks its medically necessary.
• We are going to defer the Vitamin K injection that is often given shortly after birth to about 45 minutes to an hour after birth. (We are also considering getting an oral version of the Vitamin K, so he doesn't have to have an injection). As of now, we plan to decline the eye treatment traditionally given to babies, but we can decide on that day.
• The Apgar test (a screening for the health of the newborn) will be completed in the room most likely with me still holding the baby. And a weight scale can also be brought into the room, so that the baby may never need to go to the nursery.
• The midwife will help me with starting breastfeeding almost immediately after the birth.
• Without any complications I should be stable to leave the hospital within 6 to 8 hours. However, we will stay at least 24 hours to have the first pediatrician visit in the hospital. The baby will also need the state mandated hearing test and heel prick test for rare disorders. If we are really comfortable at the ABC, we may stay for more than a day.