One thing I’ve learned about being a mom is that things don’t always go according to plan. Leading a sane life means learning to go with the flow. Driving to the grocery store and the little one falls asleep in the car? Take-out for dinner it is! Excited about a playdate with friends then your child wakes up with a fever? Never a better time to watch Disney movies on repeat. You get the idea.
Which is why it never occurred to me to put together any kind of official birth plan. Things most definitely didn’t go according to “plan” with the birth of my first child, despite the fact that I had no plan in place. Things went very, very un-according to anything I expected childbirth to be. I just assumed that I would go with the flow and make decisions as the process evolved and everything would be OK. But then it occurred to me, is it because I had no plan that things didn’t go well? If I had planned out my music and lighting preferences, my drug choices, and my birthing style, would things have been different?
So I’m asking you – Did you have a formal birth plan? If so, did your doctor and nurses review and acknowledge your wishes or simply lay them aside and go ahead with their own standard procedures? Do you think having a birth plan (or not) affected your delivery in any way?
I’d love to hear from you! Please share your experience with your birth plan or lack thereof! Comment freely on the blog’s website, but remember that dudes and ex-boyfriends read what we post on Facebook!
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I didn’t have a “formal” birth plan with either of my kiddos, but I had a general idea of how I hoped for things to go. And as it turned out, both of my birthing experience were better than I could have hoped for. Quite frankly, I don’t know whether to attribute that to a go-with-the-flow personality, a high pain tolerance, or a number of other factors. However, I think a “formal” birth plan could be a great idea to help a person feel more in control during an experience that can be downright scary! (And probably a MUST for someone who is trying to go through the whole process without any drugs!)
Yes, we had a birthing plan and when we arrived at the hospital with several copies for everyone. And I must say, since we reviewed the plan over several times with the mid-wife before ever going to the hospital almost everything (I can’t think of one thing that wasn’t) was followed to a “T”! I would highly recommend outlining your birth choices…it does make a difference 🙂
Best of Luck!
Doctors are famous for setting these plans aside. Because of this, I have always used a midwife- either through the hospital or at home.
They seem to respect the mom’s wishes a whole lot more, and I appreciate the holistic care they offer.
Either way, I think a birth plan is a great idea. If nothing else, it helps you stay on track when the pain starts and your options become available.
I had a birth plan for both boys. They read Carter’s, but the induction and birth was a little crazy (epi didn’t work, fetal HR dipped, I went on oxygen) and I left the entire process feeling out of control. With Gavin, I went with a midwife, reiterated what I want and didn’t want and made sure my husband knew as well. I followed my birth plan just as I wanted, but the nurses/midwives never saw it, I just told them. I think having one is important, but being educated about the process and your choices is even more so. Good luck Katie!