Birth Plans

Our Birth plan is to:

1. have my labor start and stop without drugs, unless medically required.
2. have my chosen support people stay with me
3. drink clear liquids and eat light foods during early labor
4. move, change positions, take a shower, have a massage and walk, as much as possible during labor.
5. have a Heparin Lock versus a continuous drip IV for quick access in case of an emergency
6. hold my baby immediately after birth skin to skin once baby is dried,
7. have my baby's tests performed while in contact with me so my baby is not taken from me until after he/she has breastfed.
8. have 24 hour rooming in.
9. receive help and education to breastfeed successfully.
10. have my baby brought to me if for some reason he/she is not in my room and is giving hunger cues, such as sucking hands or making sucking sounds, moving the head towards a person or, in very sleepy babies, eye movements under the eyelids - before he/she is crying.
11. get an appointment for a health checkup for my baby upon discharge and be given the names of helpers, in case I need help with breastfeeding.
12. be given instruction on the use of an electric breast pump if my baby is unable to breastfeed or is separated from me due to a medical condition within 6 hours after delivery.
I specifically do not want:
1. my bag of waters broken, or to have an episiotomy or other surgery done unless medically necessary.
2. my baby given a pacifier, bottles, water or formula without my consent and the medical order of his/her doctor.

Mi plan es:

1. permitir que el parto comience y se demore sin el uso de drogas, a menos que sean requeridas a causa de un problema médico
2. que las personas que yo elija como equipo de apoyo me acompañen durante el parto
3. ingerir líquidos y comidas livianas durante el parto
4. moverme, cambiar de posición, tomarme una ducha, tener un masaje o caminar lo más posible durante el parto
5. tener un acceso a mi vena que permita que pueda moverme y que tengan acceso rápido en caso de emergencia (Heprain Lock)
6. poner mi bebé sobre mi pecho, piel a piel en cuanto se seque
7. hacer los exámenes a mi bebé mientras esté en contacto conmigo para que no se separe de mí hasta que haya tomado el pecho
8. tener mi bebé en mi habitación las 24 horas del día
9. recibir ayuda y educación para lograr dar el pecho efectivamente
10. si por alguna razón mi bebé no está conmigo, que me lo traigan en cuanto de señales de tener hambre como ser: chuparse las manos, hacer ruidos de chupo, mover su cabecita hacia una persona, o, si es muy dormilón, mover sus ojos debajo de los párpados - antes que comience a llorar.
11. tener una cita para un estudio físico para mi bebé al darme de alta y los nombres de los que me puedan ayudar si necesito ayuda con la lactancia
12. si mi bebé no puede tomar pecho o está separado de mí por una condición médica, me ofrecerán un sacaleches e instrucciones para su uso dentro de 6 horas después del parto.
No deseo que:
1. me rompan las Fuentes o me hagan una episiotomía u otra cirugía a menos que tenga necesidad médica
2. le den un chupón, mamilas, agua o fórmula a mi bebé sin mi permiso y las órdenes del médico

Birth Plan That Supports Breastfeeding Mothers

Following are some additional comments that may be helpful in discussing the need for the requests:

1 - 2 and a: Let labor start on its own. This is much healthier for babies. Mothers should not try to encourage MDs to "push" the labor along or to deliver on a certain date. Uterine cells respond best when their "receptors" are mature and ready to deliver. Each woman and baby is different and not necessarily ready at the exact due date. Rushing labor will not allow her body to stretch and may cause her more discomfort that allowing labor to progress naturally.

3 - 5: Labor progresses much more quickly and requires less medication when mother has one or two support people with her and when she is allowed to move around. Clear liquids and light foods help her to maintain her strength during early labor.

6 - 7: The importance of skin-to-skin has recently been re-discovered. Studies have found that women have higher body temperatures on their chest and the baby's temperature, pressure and respirations are more stable than when he or she is wrapped and placed in a warmer. Most of the care an infant requires can be provided while on mom's chest - and weighing, eye ointments and bathing can wait without compromising the baby's health.

8 - 10: Babies, whether breast or bottle fed, do better if they are allowed to feed small (1/2 oz) frequent feeds following the baby's cues rather than the clock. Infants' stomach volume starts out about the size of a chick-pea or almond and grows to the size of a walnut by day 3. It is better for the baby to get small amounts every hour than large amounts, which artificially stretch the baby's stomach too early. Having the baby in their room will allow mother to:
• Learn her baby's hunger and satiation cues
• Practice caring for her baby
• Learn THIS baby's patterns (even if she has had 5, this baby is DIFFERENT)
• Allow additional skin-to-skin time so that baby and mother have time to look, smell, feel and know each other.

11: All babies should be seen within 4 days after birth - and mothers' appointments should also be made, as often they get so distracted with their baby's care they forget to care for themselves. A WIC referral should also be made, and mother should be reminded that if she needs help with breastfeeding, WIC is available even before her regular appointment.

12: Even while preparing a mother for a normal birth, the HW should also prepare mothers to advocate for themselves and their babies in case of complications. Mothers need to be aware of the importance of early and frequent milk removal if they plan to breastfeed their baby but cannot be with him/her.

Mothers specifically request that the following interventions NOT occur:

a. Unnecessary surgical interventions such as rupture of bag of waters or episiotomies expose mother and baby to risks of infection.
b. Use of pacifiers, bottles, water or formula can reduce the frequency of breastfeeding and delay mother's milk production.