One Stop Shop For Kids - Birth Plans and Labor Pain

Things to include in your birth plan:

• Your name, spouses name, phone numbers and home address
• Your due date or delivery date if being induced
• The hospital where you are planning to deliver and have registered to deliver
• The doctor you want to deliver your baby
• Who you want present during the actual delivery. Some people only want the spouse, nurses and doctors whereas other may want inlaws or friends to help video tape.
• Include your decision as to whether or not you want pain medications and if so what do you want to receive.
• Specify whether or not you want to have your kids birth videotaped or photographed.
• What do you want the rook to be like when you deliver- lights dimmed, music on, tv on, silent, etc
• What clothing do you want to wear after birth so the nurses and your spouse know what to help you get dressed into.
• The position you want to deliver your baby in...on your side, squatting, sitting, on your back or in a birthing pool.
• Whether or not your spouse wants to cut the umbilical cord.
• Do you want you and/or your spouse want to be present when your baby undergoes their newborn screening.
• Whether or not you want to breastfeed your baby after delivery and if you baby is a boy do you want him to be circumsised

Understand that these are your wishes in a regular birth scenario but if there is an emergency or complication, your birth plan will be overriden to save the life of you and your baby.

You have heard someone say to you, " No pain, no gain" right? Well, when it comes to labor  that statement is very true. Labor will be long and painful but the gain of your new baby will be worth every second and believe it or not your new mommy brain will purge itself of the painful part.

Doctor and your new baby

Your friends can tell you everything they know about giving birth, what they went through etc but EVERY pregnancy and delivery is different.

One thing you need to decide is whether or not you want to receive pain medication such as an epidural. In this day and age over 50% of women choose to have an epidural. You have to make the decision on your own as to whether or not you are comfortable with the decision.

Advantages of an epidural

• You never know how long your labor will be. Some may last 6 hours while others can last 24-48 hours. The epidural can help you rest if your labor is particularly long
• You will feel comfortable and relaxed which can give you a more positive experience overall.

Disadvantages of an epidural

• Side effects that include backaches or soreness where the needle was administered, shivering and nausea.
• Your body will be numb and it may last a few hours after giving birth
• Your blood pressure can drop quickly

Normally you can receive an epidural if you are dilated to 4 or 5 centimeters and are truly in active labor. If your labor starts to move quickly, then you will be unable to have the epidural. Talk to your doctor and ask him/her what they think the best route for your pregnancy and delivery should be.