Birth Plan?

Just curious how many of you ladies are taking something written to the hospital with you when you deliver?

I really only have 2 things that I would like to stand by.
1) I want to breastfeed exclusively - no pacifiers or bottles unless there is an emergency (of course baby's healty and safety come first)
2) I do want pain meds during delivery - IV, epidural whatever they've got! lol

Is there anything else that I really need to put on there?
IF the baby is a boy do they automatically cir****ize or should I have that on there (we are OK with it)

Thanks!

I think birth plans are great, but I never had one.  I really did think about it and start one though.  When it came down to it, I don't know how much it would have worked.  Things get so crazy some times that it isn't the most convenient to grab and read.  You know?  I think I got ideas by searching "birth plans" on google and read through some.  There were a ton available online.  We did have a nice long talk with my OB before the big day came.  I didn't want an epidural but gave in after over 17 hours of pain and got one and then had a c-section not long after.  I honestly believe I would have had a better chance at a vaginal delivery had I gotten the epi earlier.  I stresses my body out so bad from the contractions that I bruised my legs, like bruises and knots to the point that they did two ultrasounds to make sure I didn't have blood clots.  I wanted to breastfeed exclusively but was out of it from the meds that they ended up giving Libby some formula in the middle of the night.  She still had no issues with BF'ing at all.  Although I swear that child would have sucked on anything put near her mouth!!  I didn't tell them I was okay with a pacifier but she came in from the nursery and had one.  One suggestion, don't totally dismiss it.  There are studies that show it decreases the risk of SIDs by 90 some percent.  Some babies like them, some don't.  Don't forget stuff like who is to cut the cord, who is allowed in the delivery room, if you want the baby on your chest immediately, if you are banking cord blood have that info, etc.

Thanks Malena! I will google it tonight from home (at work now). We don't have any strong beliefs on most issues. I am sure that the baby will get a pacifier at some time (especially at home) but I want to give BFing the best shot I can and from what I've read it helps to hold off a little while (not 100% ture everytime of course! Just 1 author's opinion).

Thanks so much! I can't believe how big Libby is getting! Too Cute!

I totally understand about wanting to hold off on the pacifier.  Each baby is different.  I was very fortunate that Libby didn't have a preference when it came to a pacifier, bottle nipple, my nipple, etc.  Some people are not so lucky.  Definitely give the BF a try and get the baby used to that before you introduce other nipples.  I let Libby suck on me as long as she wanted at first, I didn't care of she was sucking for 45 minutes.  The more she sucked and played the better and faster my milk came in.  I had one nurse tell me that if she was sucking after about 10 minutes that she was just playing.  Play away then!! :-)  At least I knew she had no issues with my nipple.  You know?

So true! Thanks for the great advice! You guys are so much better then books!

 Liz,

I dont know how well a written birth plan works, as I never had one over the years, and it wasn't really being done when I had my babies.  However, the breastfeeding issue can be a biggy.  My oldest REFUSED to breast feed because they gave her formula in a bottle almost immediately when she came out of the womb.  We struggled with breastfeeding for about 3 weeks, and I finally gave it up.  She would arch her back and scream until I gave into a bottle.  Having formula in a bottle made her lazy...she didn't have to suck really hard for her food.  So, I would just be sure you tell your L&D nurses PLEASE no bottle or paci until I try to feed him/her first :)  Like you said, if blood sugar is low and there is a medical reason, that cannot be helped, but you don't want them doing anything like was done with my daughter because even at 3 days old she wanted HER way...lol

Good Luck, your day is coming so quickly!

Laura

Amazing that they can be so tiny and SO stubborn huh? lol

That is my biggest one - I just want to do what's best for the little one and I am hoping that I can breastfeed exclusively at least until I go back to work after 12 weeks.

i didnt have one with jayson... then again my labor was 45 mins long... ad my poor 18 yoa brother took me to the hosp and then ran out because he was freaking out LOL.. so the nurse ended up delivering jayson... anyway.. this time i do have a plan... i dont want pain meds... i dont want to be strapped down to itchy moniters and i would perfer not to have an iv... i want to be able to walk around... i dont have it written down.. however im very verbal and of course if something bad was to happen do what you have to do to save lives

LOL @ your poor brother! Hopefully he keeps that day in mind!

45 minutes - wow.

I am pretty verbal too but figured it was probably a good idea to write it down incase  things aren't going as smoothly as possible and hubby is trying to explain this to the nurses. LOL that could get messy! They might end up giving me the pacifier :)

Hey Lexa, can you really ask for no IV's and monitors?  I know people do I wish I didn't have to be monitored and have an IV in but every time I mention it people flip out telling me I'm putting myself and the baby at risk and blah blah.  The hospital I am delivering at seems pretty clear about what they need done when you come in, IV monitors and all that.  Have you talked to your OB and hospital about it and does it seem like an option for them?  Just curious because not having all those wires would be ideal for me but doesn't seem feasible in this day and age unfortunately.