Tiana
Burger Birth Plan
Name: Tiana
Burger
Midwife or
Pediatrician: Dr Karin Simmank
Professional Labor Assistant: Landza (If possible?)
Approximate Due Date: 09/23/2009
Personal Statement:
We understand that birthing can be unpredictable. We are presenting this birth
plan to encourage dialogue and to help us achieve a safe and satisfying birth.
Our baby's health and well-being is of utmost importance to us. We look forward
to working with you and appreciate your cooperation in helping our family to
achieve our personal birthing goals.
BEFORE LABOR BEGINS:
- I expect, and trust, that my practitioner will seek my opinion, and
that of my partner, on all issues that may affect my birth experience or
that deviate from this plan.
FIRST STAGE OF CHILDBIRTH:
LABOR
First Stage, Phase I - Latent Labor:
- Upon entering my hospital or birth center, it is crucial for me
that I will not be separated from my partner(s) at any point during labor
or birth.
- While I understand and can appreciate the need for training and
teaching, I may prefer not to have residents or students walking in and
out during my labor and delivery. Please respect my wishes as I state them
while laboring and delivering.
- I would like the opportunity to wear my own clothing.
- I would like my partner to have the opportunity to film and/or
photograph labor and delivery.
First Stage, Phase II - Active Labor - Getting to 10 cm:
- I would like to keep internal vaginal exams to a minimum.
- If an IV prep becomes necessary I would like a heparin/saline lock
to be considered. A heparin/saline lock is ....
- I feel comfortable with continuous fetal monitoring, using:
- My birth partner and I would like to take a few moments to privately
discuss my pain-relief options before a decision is made.
- Ideally, I'd like a drug-free birth. Only offer
medications if I ask.
- Please suggest medications if you see I am
uncomfortable.
- Please discuss my options for medication as
soon as possible.
- I would like the opportunity to try non-medical, non-invasive
pain-relief methods. Some therapies I feel would be useful for me include:
- Massage
- Guided relaxation
- If bath or shower, I would like my partner to
join me.
- Change in position
- Hot/cold therapy
- Ideally, I would like to be allowed freedom of movement -- to walk,
rock, use the bathroom and move as my body dictates.
First Stage, Phase III - Transition:
- At this point, my body may be most sensitive. If I am feeling that
my support person's or staff member's voice and/or touch feels too much, I
will indicate so.
SECOND STAGE OF CHILDBIRTH:
PUSHING AND DELIVERY
If Complications Lead to a Cesarean Delivery:
- Please keep communication open. If, at all possible, please wait
for my express consent, or that of my partner, before initiating any
procedure.
- It is important to me that my partner(s) be present with me at all
times during the birth.
- Ideally, I would like to remain awake and aware, avoiding general
anesthesia if possible.
- Please discuss anesthesia options with me.
- Please use a low-transverse incision on my uterus and abdomen.
- I would like the screen to be lowered, or be able to use a mirror,
so I can witness my baby's entrance into the world.
- Please leave at least one of my hands free so I may touch my baby
when he or she is born.
- Ideally, I would like the opportunity to videotape and/or
photograph my baby's birth.
- Assuming the baby is well, I would like to hold my baby on my chest
and/or nurse my baby as soon as possible.
- I would like the opportunity to see and/or photograph my placenta.
- Please remove my IV and catheter as soon as possible following my
baby's birth.
- Please discuss options for postpartum medication, if needed, with
me.
- Please provide me with nutritious food and drink as soon as possible.
THIRD STAGE OF CHILDBIRTH:
DELIVERY OF PLACENTA OR AFTERBIRTH
- I would like my partner to have an opportunity to take a picture of
the placenta.
IMMEDIATE NEWBORN CARE:
Suction and Cord Care:
- In my ideal world, my healthy baby will be immediately placed on my
chest. If this is the case, he or she will be above the placenta and I
would therefore like to wait until the cord stops pulsating before it is
clamped and cut.
- would like the opportunity to cut, or have my partner cut, the
baby's umbilical cord.
Eyedrops, Vitamin K and other Procedures:
- I understand that it is routine to administer antibiotic drops or
ointment, such as erythromycin, to newborn baby's eyes to protect against
gonorrhea and chlamydia, as well as other more common bacterial infections.
- I understand that in the
- Ideally, with either a vaginal or cesarean birth, I would like to
postpone routine newborn procedures until I have had a chance to bond
with my baby.
- I would like to have any additional newborn procedures thoroughly
explained to us.
- I would like for my birth partner(s) or me to be present during all
newborn procedures.
- I would like to postpone any immunizations until a later time.
Bathing and Circumcision:
- I prefer that the baby be gently wiped down to remove fluids, and
wrapped in a receiving blanket. Please do not bathe, to allow my baby's
natural vernix to continue to soften and protect skin.
- If the baby is a boy,
Rooming-In and Feeding:
- My preference for in-hospital infant care is:
- Please do not offer my baby the following:
- Formula
- Sugar water
- Artificial nipples
- My feeding preference is:
- I would like the assistance of a lactation consultant to help me
with nursing.
Sick Baby and Postpartum Care:
- If my baby is not well, I would like to:
- accompany my baby, or have my partner accompany
the baby if transported to another facility.
- breastfeed, or provide my expressed milk for my
baby.
- have unlimited visitation for my partner and
myself.
- hold, rock and care for my baby, if possible.
- I would like my hospital/birth center stay to be as short as
possible.
