Since posting Malachi's birth story, I have had a lot of requests to view my birth plan. So here it is! Here's how I came up with it:

I started by doing a Google search for "natural birth plans". I came across a birth plan from "Earth Mama Angel Baby" that had a lot of the options I was looking for. I filled it out, saved the document, and printed it. I was looking it over, and I felt like it had to much "junk" on it: things that I just really didn't need that made it look longer than it actually was, and less professional. I wanted something nice and simple for my doctor to quickly look over. So I copied and pasted the parts on there that applied to the doctor on to a Word document. I also added a few things.

After my prenatal appointment where I went over everything with him, I decided I really liked the idea of having a plan that just applied to him and I wanted to expand that for the rest of the staff. I figured I'll have a better chance of the busy hospital staff reading my plan if it was simplified and broke down into categories that just applied to them. I also wanted "baby care plans" to hand to every single person that walked into our delivery room to make sure they all knew what not to give our baby that is routinely given. (My third baby was given a vitamin K injection when I didn't want it because the nurses handling her didn't know our plan as everyone was focused on me since I had some problems after delivery.)

After I did all that, I wanted something explaining to the staff that they didn't need to read the whole thing and to share a few kind words. I didn't want to come off as having an attitude. I just figured a nice introduction and a few compliments couldn't hurt! So I made a cover letter to go with my plan.

I haven't seen a birth plan like mine, and I'm pretty proud of it! I hope it'll help you make a layout for yours and you have as much success with it as I did!

Cover Letter for my birth plan:

Birth Plan for Jessica Mehu

Husband’s name:

Address:

Phone:

Doctor:

Due Date:

Thank you for looking over our birth plan! I tried to make it simple and quick to look through by breaking it down into categories, so each staff member can just look at the areas that would apply to them. I am flexible, and understand that lots of things can happen that would change my plans. If everything is going perfect though, I have a few specific wishes and greatly appreciate them being respected! I am a huge advocate of natural birth and hope to have a beautiful, natural birth experience at Allegiance Health! I know from my previous three births that I’m working with a great team!

My birth plan. Each category had a separate page, and I had printed several “baby care plans” out to hand out at delivery. There was a copy in my chart at labor and delivery, and I had a copy with me just in case.

Labor (for L&D nurses):

• I prefer minimal internal vaginal exams or at my request only.
• Please, no residents or students attending my birth.
• I request the following people to be present during my labor and delivery:
  1. Husband (I added names too)
  2. Mother
  3. Friend/doula
• During my labor I would like to use:
  1. A birthing ball
  2. Jacuzzi tub
  3. Squatting bar
• I prefer intermittent monitoring to allow for as much mobility as possible.
• I need to have dimmed lights.
• I need people entering the room to speak softly.
• I would like to wear my own clothes during labor and delivery. (I have a special delivery gown)
• Please do not offer me pain medications. I have been through three induced labors without asking for pain medications.
• I am prepared to handle pain with these natural methods:
  1. Breathing techniques
  2. Deep (or guided) relaxation
  3. Water (soaking in Jacuzzi)
• I need to be able to walk around and move as I wish while in labor.
• Please always keep my door closed while I am in labor.

Delivery (for L&D nurses):

• Please read “Baby Mehu’s care plan” as well.
• I would like to be encouraged to try the following different positions for labor: Whatever feels right at the time
• I would like to have my birth photographed and videotaped.
• My husband and I would like to touch my baby's head as it crowns.
• I prefer to have the lights dimmed for delivery or, if it is daylight, to access only natural light.
• It's important to me to push instinctively. I do not want to be told how or when to push. (I need encouragement, not direction.)
• If there are no problems with baby, DO NOT remove him from me after birth! I wish to bond* with him before his assessments are done (weight, measurements, etc.). Any immediate assessments that are needed can be done while he is on my chest.
• I will be taking home my placenta (Paperwork for this is in my chart). *

*We are delaying the cord clamping and allowing the placenta to be born spontaneously. I would also like to breastfeed him during our first bonding period, so it may be a while until his assessments are done.

Doctor (delivery):

• I would like to be encouraged to try the following different positions for labor: Whatever feels right at the time.
• It's important to me to push instinctively. I do not want to be told how or when to push. (I need encouragement, not direction.)
• I prefer to have the lights dimmed for delivery or, if it is daylight, to access only natural light.
• I prefer to have no episiotomy and risk tearing (unless I'm having a medical emergency)
• To help prevent tearing, please encourage me to breathe properly for slower crowning.
• My husband and I would like to touch my baby's head as it crowns.
• If possible, please allow the shoulders and body of my baby tbe born spontaneously, on their own.
• My husband and me would like to help "catch" our baby.
• Please wait for the umbilical cord to stop pulsating before it is clamped.
• I would prefer for the placenta tbe born spontaneously without the use of Pitocin, and/or controlled traction on the umbilical cord.
• I do not want Pitocin to be given unless there are signs of hemorrhaging.
• I will be taking the placenta home. (Paperwork for this is in my file)
• I would like baby to be held by either me or my husband while doctor is finishing up with my needs, and then for baby’s assessments to be done (any immediate assessments can be done while he’s on my chest).

I understand that if there are any medical issues that arise during the birth that some of these requests would not be safe. This is what we hope for if there are no problems. We want this to be a special, calm experience for all of us. Thank you for respecting our wishes and helping us achieve the birth experience we’re hoping for! It will never be forgotten!

If a C-section is needed (for doctor and staff):

• My husband is to be present at all times during the c-section.
• I would like to remain conscious during the procedure.
• I would like the screen lowered a bit so I can see my baby being delivered.
• I need to have immediate skin to skin time with baby placed on my chest after delivery (even before the surgery is complete).
• I need to have contact with the baby as soon as it is possible in the delivery room.
• I will need my hands free to touch the baby.
• I would like for the cord to be clamped after it is done pulsating
• We would like to photograph or film the operation as the baby comes out.
• I need to hold my baby and nurse it immediately in recovery.
• I will sign any waivers necessary to permit me to be with my baby in recovery.
• As long as my baby is healthy, my husband will be the baby's constant source of attention until I am free to bond with him (i.e., holding, skin-to-skin contact, etc.).

Baby Mehu’s Care Plan (L&D nurses and anyone that will be caring for baby):

• In the past I have had problems because of shift changes and multiple people stepping in and out of my room not knowing our plan for baby. I’m hoping to avoid this with a care plan for our son. We greatly appreciate our wishes being respected and followed. (I am willing to sign a formal waiver for any of this.) Thank you very much!!
• If there are no problems with baby, DO NOT remove him from me after birth! We need to bond with him before his assessments are done (weight, measurements, etc.). Any immediate assessments that are needed can be done while he is on my chest.
• I would prefer for his assessments to wait until the doctor is finished with me, so I can focus on baby during his assessments. (My husband can hold him during this time if I’m in to much pain to hold him.)
• We are DECLINING eye ointment AND Vitamin K injection. (I would like only the orally administered Vitamin K to be given to my baby.)
• Baby will stay in the room with me throughout our stay.
• I’d like all newborn procedures to take place in my presence.
• My husband is to stay with the baby at all times if I can't be there.
• We prefer for his bath to be done in our room. If this isn’t possible we will bathe him.
• He is exclusively breastfed. NO bottles.
• Please discuss with me everything you need to do with my baby before doing it.
• I’d like my other children brought in to see me and meet the new baby as soon as possible after the birth.

Thank you!

Postpartum Care:

Mother:

Father:

Baby:

• Malachi is exclusively breastfed. NO FORMULA or any artificial nipples.
• We will not be receiving any immunizations in the hospital. (No Hep-B).
• We are not circumcising our son.
• Baby will stay in the room with me throughout our stay. I’d like all newborn procedures to take place in my presence.
• My husband is to stay with the baby at all times if I can't be there.
• My husband will be staying with me for the duration of my hospital stay.
• I prefer that my hospital stay be as short as it can be.
• I have three beautiful little girls that will be visiting throughout our stay.

Thank you very much!