Our Birth Plan

I thought I would put a copy of our birth plan on here. It still may be a little updated, but this is it as of now!

Tara and George Gatseos Birth Plan
'Baby G'


Dear Health Care Provider,

My husband and I have chosen you, our health care provider, and you, our birthing facility staff, as the people we want to attend us when our baby is born. We have chosen the HypnoBirthing® method of quiet, relaxed birth. From everything we have heard from others, we truly believe that you will do your utmost to help us attain our wish for a joyous, memorable, and most satisfying birth.

The information that follows is a copy of our Birth Preferences. We have given careful consideration to each specific request in our plan, and we feel that it represents our wishes at this time. We realize that as labor ensues, we may choose to change our thinking and wish to feel free to do so.

We're looking forward to a normal pregnancy and birth and understand that these choices presume that this will be the case. Should a special circumstance arise that could cause us to deviate from our planned natural birth, we trust that you will provide us with a clear explanation of the special circumstance, the medical need for any procedure you may anticipate, and what options might be available. In such an event, please know that you will have our complete cooperation after we have had an explanation of the medical need and have had the opportunity to discuss the decision between ourselves. In the absence of any special circumstance, we ask that the following requests be honored.


Please make this information known to any other physicians, nursing staff, or midwives who may be attending the birth.


Thank you!




Tara, George, and 'Baby G' (George Gus Gatseos IV)












We thank you in advance for your support and kind attention to our choices. We know you join
us in looking forward to a beautiful birth!

SUMMARY OF OUR BIRTH PREFERENCES

- Please consider inducement only if onset of labor is unusually delayed and if there is medical urgency (and we would like to try natural means of inducement first – nipple stimulation).
- To have the following persons present during my birthing:
Ruth Ann Price (midwife)
George (husband)
Martha (Tara's mom)
Janae (Tara's sister)
Kim (Doula)
- Videotaping and pictures of labor and birth.
- To have subdued lighting and drawn drapes for birthing, if Tara desires. To have bright lights temporarily removed until baby is moved to Tara's chest.
- To bring an IPOD and have music in background.
- Only necessary hospital staff or cheerful observers, please. We ask that staff honor need for quiet and refrain from references to "pain", "hurt", or any offer of medication until requested.
- To change positions and assume labor positions of choice, as the epidural allows.
- Minimal number of vaginal exams - with permission - to avoid premature release of membranes, as well as discouragement if I’m not progressing as quickly as I would hope.
- To allow labor to take its natural course without references to "moving things along."
- To be fully apprised and consulted before the introduction of any medical procedure.
- To enjoy labor tub for as long as possible.
- To allow natural birthing instincts to facilitate the descent of the baby, as much as possible, with mother-directed breathing down until crowning takes place.
- To assume a birthing position of choice (as epidural allows) that will least likely require an episiotomy (such as use of birthing stool or bed for squatting or leaping frog position).
- Oil and hot compresses to avoid episiotomy.
- Tara or possibly George (husband) help 'receive' the baby, if desired.
- George (husband) to remain with baby in the event of a surgical procedure.
- Allow up to 30 minutes if necessary for natural placenta delivery.
- Immediate breast feeding to assist in natural placenta expulsion.
- To have the baby immediately given to Tara for skin-on-skin contact, before anything else is done (including cutting the umbilical cord, cleaning the baby, other 'administrative tasks').
- Allow vernix to be absorbed into baby's skin, if desired; delay "cleaning or rubbing"; use soft cloth when rubbing is appropriate.
- Delay cord clamping and cutting until after pulsation has ceased. Janae will cut the cord.
- Allow baby to remain with me and/or George for bonding for 1-2 hrs, if possible
- Delay use of Erythromycin or other salve for baby's eyes to allow optimal sight for bonding.
- Delay injection of vitamin K until after baby is acclimated
- To have footprints made in the baby's birth book.
- Breast feeding several times during the first few hours after birth.
- Breast feeding only. No bottles, formula, pacifier, artificial nipples, unless cleared by Tara.
- I would like to learn about or have demonstrated for me the following:
o Proper bathing of the baby
o Umbilical cord care
o Calming the fretful baby




How we envision our labor and birth:
Calm, unless Tara needs some 'cheering on' (not opposed to this); dim lighting during second stage of labor (including no bright lights when baby comes out); music playing (whatever type Tara is in the mood for); freedom to walk, sit in the tub, and assume whatever positions are most comfortable; be informed and explained to ANY medical intervention that is suggested; support and encouragement through words and touch to Tara by all birthing companions; immediate skin-to-skin contact with Tara and Baby G immediately after he comes out; the opportunity to try breastfeeding immediately after he comes out; to have cheerful observers and no references to 'pain' or 'hurt'.

What Fears or concerns do you have about your delivery?:
Baby getting ‘stuck’; tearing; the epidural not ‘taking’ or only partially ‘taking’; baby being anterior; having a hard time with the ‘pressure’ and ‘sensation’; not ‘clicking’ with any personalities present; the baby coming into the world ‘aggressively’; having people present ‘worry’ and unnecessarily express their opinions

How do you see the Midwife's role in your labor and delivery?
Hmmm….as the ‘doctor’ who takes care of all the ‘medical’ doings and who physically delivers the baby; offers perineal massage if desired; informs Tara of everything that is happening physically (and what’s normal, abnormal, risky etc.); offers her advice and recommendations; offers support and words of encouragement; informs Tara of all of her options when performing any procedure

Please have your partner write his/her hopes and expectations of the birth experience:
My hope is to have a healthy wife, and a healthy baby in a comfortable, good place, making the birth a great experience. – George III
Positive Thoughts
(for me to read, or to be read to me by any of my birthing companions)

 Remember the end result – I get to meet him VERY soon! I am sacrificing my comfort for a
living, breathing human that is half me and half George.
 Praise God for this miracle that is about to enter our life!
 God does not give us anything we can't handle.
 This 'discomfort' is the new normal – adjust to it and learn to manage it.
 Imagine I have been through this several times (like insomnia), and I've learned to live with it.
 Relax as MUCH as possible – no, really RELAX.
 Billions of women have experienced what I am experiencing now – I am NOT alone in this.
 Many women are experiencing this RIGHT NOW.
 My body was designed to birth this baby. It knows how to heal itself.
 Work WITH the surges – don't fight them. LET them happen, and go with it.
 Keep my focus on the space BETWEEN the surges – savor that time – MY time.
 Remember how relatively SHORT labor is – I will find relief soon, and be finished and home with Georgie in the next day or so!
 Breathe. Breathe. Breathe!
 Think of it as ‘hard work’, rather than ‘enduring pain’.
 Keep moving, and keep myself occupied
 Nice, calm, and relaxed. LET him come out. This is an awe-inspiring experience that I should savor.
 SMILE
 Be excited about the feeling of pushing a baby out, not fearful
 Shift thoughts of fear into thoughts of anticipation and excitement
 Keep my focus internal, not external
 Roll with the punches – don’t let my environment affect me.
 Be cognizant of what my baby is thinking and feeling.
 Surrender to the sensations – don’t fight them – work with them.


STUFF FOR ME:

Responsibilities:

Videotaping (early stages of labor as well as active labor)
Taking pictures (early stages of labor as well as active labor)
Playing music
Announcing to everyone in waiting room when he's born
Being supportive, encouraging, not worrying, and adhering to our birth plan
Massage
Hold my hand and give me lots of encouragement
Read me my list of positive thoughts, when I'm unable to read it to myself
George, Janae, and mom post on my and their facebook (my sign-in is my email and ‘singer79’):
- When I go into labor
- Updates
- When I have the baby – Name, lbs., inches, pictures
George text/call:
- Nane, Doc, Mom/Dad, Jeanne/Matt, Megan, Uncle Steve/Beth, Suzanne, Ashley, Andrew, Brittney, Greg/Paula, Steve K., Danny, Ross, Brian, Ryan, Landon/Mary, Troy R., Misty Sothers?, Liz
Mom text/call:
- Ted, Tristan, Heather/Randy, Grant/Linda, Jack/Pat, Daleyne, Linda/Brig, Lynches, Cathy/Ashley, Vicki?, others?
Janae text/call:
- Kevin, Rhonda/Rick?, Angela/Bryce, Amy/Rick, Victoria/Josh, Ashley/Josh, Danielle/Troy, Don/Trish, Becci/Steve, Carrie/Seth, Katie/Jared, Rebecca/Wes, Allison, Klover, others?
Tara text/call:
- Beth Stobbe, Val, Tina B., DeAnna, other students?, others?, Carol Niles?, Debbie, Karla Skufca, Misty Sneddon, Paulette

Bring:

Birth Plan
Wear swimming suit (top or black bra that unclips in the front for immediate skin-to-skin contact)
Camera
Video Camera
Phones
Ipod Docking Station and IPOD (with 'Labor' playlist)
Snacks (varying types of food since I don't know what I'll be craving), for George too
Water Bottle
Outfit for Going Home
Brown Danskos (to match outfit)
Nursing Bra
Toiletries (scrunchie, brush, warm socks/slippers, bathrobe?)
Games, Books?
Macbook (to journal/blog) and charger
Breastpump (to have them demonstrate) – yes
List of positive thoughts (maybe two)
Massage Oils?
Our pillows with colorful pillowcases
My baby book
Slippers or flip flops – yes, comfy socks
Going home outfit for baby
Receiving blankets
Diapers
Crock pot
Robe
Massager
Stool softener
Nipple cream
Nursing pads
Tripod?
Eye Coverings
Iphone charger

Pre Going to Hospital/To-do:

Print Birth Preferences on Paper
Print copy of Birth Plan for mom, Janae, George, Kim, Ruth-Ann (the most updated)
Have nursery/bassinet/car seat all ready
Have bags all packed (for me, and for baby?)
Take a shower (wash and curl hair?)
Shave good
Do make up
Do Birth Affirmations and Rainbow Relaxation
Make a list of people to contact and who contacts everyone

To Remember:
Ask hospital what things they offer for me to take home
When in active labor, after each push, ‘hold’ him in place so as to not let him slip back up
Use slow breathing
Tape birth preferences to the door, and if issues with a loud nurse, also hypnobirthing sheet
Hydrate a lot if I’m not on the IV