Birth plans for HB/in case of transfer??

[Kota]

Did you do up a HB birth plan? Did you have an 'in case of transfer' plan? Both?

What sort of thing did you have on them?

Anyone happy to share??

 

[Bun87]

I've included a small in case of transfer at the end of my HB plan. It includes the following:

If transfer by ambulance is necessary, please do not strap me down on my back but instead allow me to lie on my left side.

If a caesarean section becomes necessary, please allow my husband to be at my side and with me in theatre.

Do not perform a hysterectomy unless it is the absolute last resort available as I plan on having more children in the future.

Have a look at the home birth website, there are some great tips on there - that's where I got the above. I thought they were a bit morbid at first but then you have to cover all scenarios I guess! X

 

[Kess]

I didn't have a plan as such but had an independent MW (who would've transferred with us though not been allowed to continue in the MW role at the hospital due to their insurance) with whom I had discussed my overall goals for the birth so she would have been able to make a good guess at my wishes in any given circumstance, as would my husband. I also didn't want to pack a hospital bag, as a psychological thing, so I made a list of what we would need in case of an emergency transfer and where it all was so anyone (DH, my parents or sister) could've gathered it all together very quickly.

 

[BunnyN]

I haven't done a plan for HB because I feel comfortable enough with my partner and MW (independent) to feel like I don't need one. They know the basics of what I want and we are all on the same page so I'd rather just go with the flow. I have been planing on an in case of transfer plan but haven't done it yet, so better get a move on . In that case the plan would be more so that my husband knows what I want if I'm not up to explaining at the time and can argue with the doctors for me .

 

[MindUtopia]

Yes, I did a transfer section to my home birth plan (plus a separate plan for hospital birth and c-section, if it were to happen). This is what I wrote for the transfer part and then also attached the hospital birth plan, which talked about my wishes in more detail. I thought it was really important to have because I felt like I would be in control of what happened in my own home if everything was proceeding as normal, but was more concerned about how things would be handled in an emergency and on someone else's 'turf'. Thankfully, I didn't need to use it, but glad I did it.

"If for any reason a hospital transfer is required, please refer to the following: Please keep the atmosphere in my home and in the ambulance as calm, quiet and un-panicked as is possible. Please assist me in this by asking the paramedics to keep their voices low and keep the atmosphere calm during the transfer. This will help me to stay relaxed and breathing calmly, which will be beneficial to my baby.

I would ask that my wishes for birth are respected in hospital just as at home, even in an emergency. I would like the lighting to be kept dim and I would ask that the number of persons in the birth room is limited, so that I can be allowed to birth in peace and quiet. I would prefer as much as possible to avoid an instrumental delivery or c-section, even if a transfer is necessary. Please see the attached hospital birth plan for specific details."

 

[Guppy051708]

I did not have a birth plan in case of transfer, simply bc both of my MWs will be by my side the entire time in the hospital. They know my desires well. So essentially they are my birth plan...now if i were having a hospital birth (which i did with my first) oh yes, i would have an extensive plan but my MWs and I are n'sync with what i want, and they will be there to advocate with me 100%. If they wern't going to transfer with me, then I would def write a birth plan similar to what my hospital birth plan was with DS1.

 

[Rebaby]

I didn't do a separate plan. I suppose I figured if we transferred in it would either be due to lack of progression, in which case there'd be time for people to read the original plan and translate it to the hospital environment, or else emergency, in which case my only wish, aside from us both to be ok, would be not to have pethidine, so I wrote that in the biggest boldest font I could find!

Here's my plan from Rudy's birth:

R’S BIRTH PREFERENCES

We are planning a home water birth. Our due-date is x. My birth partner will be my partner x (can be reached on xxxx) Our 2 year old son x is likely to be home during the birth but being cared for by our close friend x (can be reached on xxxx). We have a (friendly) dog who will be kept in another room during the birth & a house cat who will likely stay well out of the way!

1ST Stage
• For pain relief I plan to use a tens machine in early labour, then the birth pool and ENTONOX in established labour

• I have been practicing Natal Hypnotherapy in my pregnancy so would appreciate MINIMAL QUESTIONS/INTERRUPTIONS during labour

• I am happy to have VE’s if necessary but would prefer to keep these to an absolute MINIMUM

2ND Stage
• I PLAN TO GIVE BIRTH IN THE POOL but may change my mind on the day

• I would prefer to find my own rhythm with pushing rather than being coached, unless I am struggling and need guidance

• I wish to have immediate skin-to-skin with baby after the birth

3rd Stage
• MY PARTNER x WANTS TO CUT THE CORD
• I would prefer to have a PHYSIOLOGICAL THIRD STAGE but am happy to take a “wait and see” approach and have a managed third stage if necessary

After the Birth
• We want baby to have IM Vitamin K
• My partner x wants to dress baby for the first time

In Case of Transfer
• I DO NOT WANT PETHIDINE

HTH!

 

[aliss]

I did not make a birth plan. My wishes were already expressed to the midwives and doula (here, doulas are very natural birth oriented, as most women use OBGYNs, so it's not like they would push anything on me).

I was transferred after an hour of pushing for precaution of shoulder dystocia, so there wasn't really much changing it. The baby was born shortly after arrival.

 

[sue_88]

These are my birth preferences:

My preference for the location of the birth of my baby is at home, in the presence of the community midwives who have been managing my care since the start of my pregnancy.

I will have available to me a birthing ball and a birthing pool of which I will have prepared beforehand ready for filling throughout labour. I have also invested in a TENS machine and will be using hypnobirthing techniques and calm music throughout.

I will expect to have the full run of my house to labour in and choose which positions suit best. I would like to keep mobile and active throughout to ensure a smooth labour process. Please encourage me and advise me throughout my labour of which positions will work best to encourage a smooth progressing labour.

I will have available certain snacks and drinks of which I would like to have access to throughout my labour. Please encourage me throughout to keep hydrated and to take frequent bathroom trips.

In my ideal birth, I would like to labour and deliver my baby into the birthing pool. I appreciate that during the time of which I am in labour I may change my mind depending on how I am feeling but I will have the pool prepared to use for pain relief. I would like to be advised when it is most suitable to enter the pool as I wouldn’t like it to interfere with labour (approx. after 5cm dilated).

As mentioned above, my other pain relief techniques will be using a TENS machine and hypnobirthing techniques which I have been practising leading up to the birth of my baby. I will also be open to using Gas & Air but would like to ask for this if and when I feel I need it, as opposed to it being offered to me.

I do not wish for any pain relief to be offered to me, I have educated myself on what is available and I will ask for further pain management when I feel I need it.

I would like my baby to be monitored by hand held Doppler only, at any frequency the midwives deem suitable. I would also like to have as few VE as possible. I will be happy to be examined when the midwives arrive at my house, and periodically before I wish to enter the pool. At the point where I enter the pool I would like to be left to labour without any additional VE unless I request one. Should the midwives deem necessary to perform additional VE those I have detailed, I would like details as to why and the benefits they foresee from performing it. I will not reasonably refuse any VE deemed necessary.

Delivery Position
In my ideal birth, I would like to deliver my baby into the birthing pool situated on all fours with my arms leaning over the birthing pool. I appreciated that during my labour I may change my mind and I am open to delivering where I feel most comfortable. Please encourage me to use gravity-favourable positions for delivery as opposed to being on my back. Please encourage me to use gentle pushing techniques to deliver my baby, I would prefer use the power of my body to move the baby down as opposed to long strong pushes holding my breath. I trust my body to tell me what is most comfortable during the time I need to push.

Episiotomy
I see episiotomy as a medical procedure and do not wish to have one for the birth of my baby. I would prefer to tear naturally if this is going to happen and have this stitched afterwards than be cut. I would not reasonably refuse an episiotomy in a serious medical emergency, but my consent must be obtained beforehand.

Contact with my baby after Birth
As soon as my baby is born I would like to have immediate skin to skin contact, and I expect that I would like at least one hour of skin to skin, and possibly more. I would also like to breastfeed my baby and would like her first feed to be during skin to skin so I will be holding my baby until she feels ready for her feed.

I would not like the cord to be cut until the placenta has been delivered at which point the cord will have stopped pulsing. I would like to have a physiological 3rd stage and deliver the placenta naturally without the injection. If a period of time has passed and the midwives deem it necessary for me to receive the injection, I will not reasonably refuse this.

Only after the placenta has been delivered, cord has been clamped and cut, skin to skin contact and my baby’s first feed would I then be happy for her to be taken to be weighed, cleaned and dressed. My mother, who will be at the birth, is to be the only person to first dress her in a babygrow that will be prepared ready. At this point I would like to be checked over by the midwives, have stitches if necessary and then be encouraged to have a shower whilst my baby is in the care of my immediate family.

I would like my baby to recieve Vitamin K by mouth.


Upon Transfer to Hospital in an Emergency

Should the midwives deem that during my planned homebirth I need to transfer into hospital, I would like to have a full explanation of the reasons why going into hospital would be deemed as the safest option at that time.

I would like to adhere to as much of my preferences detailed above as possible if I must be transferred into hospital however I will accept the advice of the midwives and medical professionals at this point and accept any explained necessary procedure to safely deliver my baby.

I would not reasonably refuse to go into hospital upon the advice of the midwives in attendance at my home during labour.

Should I not be in a physical state to conduct skin to skin contact immediately after my baby is born (i.e from general anaesthesia / post-birth complications), I would like her to be passed to my mother who has agreed to conduct skin to skin until I am in a reasonable position to do so.


Should my baby at any point after birth (whether this being at home as planned, or after a transfer into hospital) require medical intervention, I will not refuse her being taken from me and the midwives or medical professionals carrying out any necessary procedure to ensure her safety.

 

[Blah11]

Never had a birth plan just a go with the flow but I know my mind and I'm not one to change my mind or make bad decisions due to pain etc.