[EBeditor]

Today Mia Freedman coined the term 'birthzillas' for people 'more interested in the birth experience than the baby'.

In response Tara Moss has written a piece for us on why birth plans can be useful.

http://www.essentialbaby.com.au/birth/birt...0617-20idn.html

Women have the right to control what is done to their bodies, always, including during the intense process of birth when the body is arguably most out of our individual control. Informed consent is important in birth, as it is in our sexual experiences, in breastfeeding, and in the sadder times when illness and death take over. During these times it pays to be particularly clear about our wishes and requests, to ourselves, but most importantly to those who will be in that experience with us – our carers, our partners, our doctors, our families, our friends.

Clearly communicated requests about what we would or would not like to have done to our bodies is important, which is why birth plans are recommended by many obstetricians and midwives.

Did you have a birth plan? Why/why not?

[Jemstar]

Ds1 no, DS2 and 3 yes, pretty much for the reasons stated by Tara. It was really more for me to be clear about what I did and did not want (within reason of course, any complications and all bets were off so to speak, but even with that I had noted how I would prefer things if it were possible, depending on the circumstances). I also discovered when I had DS1 that I was pretty shocking at actually speaking while in labour, so a plan was useful that way too!

It is not at all about being more interested in the birth than the baby, in fact most women I know who used birth plans do so with specific outcomes for their baby in mind, not so much themselves. I know that the birth plan I used for my second and third child had their well-being as the key objective.

I also think it is rather insulting to dismiss all women who might like to be clear and articulate about what they want done with their body and their baby as somehow having a bit of a 'screw loose'. No woman would walk into a hairdresser and say 'go crazy do what you like,' why on earth would they do that when having a baby?

This post has been edited by Jemstar: 17/06/2012, 09:54 PM

[follies]

Nope, just no epidural and try not to poo.

Everything else I wanted was standard practice at my hospitals mid wife center.

I was a little at the whole placenta birth plan. When my placenta came out I was too busy holding a newborn to care. In fact I don't even think I gave it a thought prior.

ETA I think my birth plan was my hospital. Instead of researching what kind of birth I wanted I researched what hospital would give me the best experience in line with what I wanted/expected. I went out of my way to make sure I could use that hospital including making my official address my parents house. My experience at that hospital was amazing.

This post has been edited by follies: 17/06/2012, 10:36 PM

[Anna_in_Canberra]

I think birth plans are useful for getting you to think through your preferences, but since those preferences can't always be accommodated - birth being the unpredictable thing it is - it's best not to be too rigid about them.

I had a written birth plan first time around, but just discussed my preferences with my doctor and husband second time around, and will do the same this time.

[liveworkplay]

I read Mia's article today and, as with most of her stuff, I thought it was glossy tripe. She fails to understand what a birth plan actually is. I think Tara understands a lot better. It is not saying I want x, y and z done to the letter with no variation, it is saying what you would prefer ie I would like to be told why x y z is necessary before it is consented to, or I would prefer x orver y over z if appropriate etc.

I had a birth plan for my second and third births (VBACS) and was glad of them and my care providers respected my requests and, as my birth plans did not set out what I wanted the births to be, my births were very positive experiences even when things went a bit pear shaped.

This post has been edited by liveworkplay: 17/06/2012, 10:12 PM

[Jemstar]

And yes, I agree pp, a birth plan actually needs to cover all contingencies, you can't be absolutely rigid about it, but it makes you think through the possibilities and what your preferences are in a range of situations.

[EBeditor]

I'll answer the question too, as I was just speaking to my husband about it.

He found the process of putting together a birth plan to be really useful for him, as he'd done less research than me and it was a good chance to discuss some of the options we might have.

Also, as my only advocate in the room (like many women, I didn't have a private OB) it was important that my husband and I were on the same page so if I was too zonked on gas he could confidently speak on my behalf.

I don't see why you can't care about the birth AND THE baby, particularly when a mother's wishes are not potentially detrimental to a baby and in many cases (skin to skin, delayed cord clamping etc) may be beneficial.

[HeroOfCanton]

I think that having an idea of what you would like to happen is important.
I wrote out birth preferences, and have discussed them with my care providers - however, I'm going through the birth centre, which promotes & accommodates pretty much everything I was after anyway.

Why shouldn't women & their partners have a list of things that are important to them during the birth of their child?
I imagine they would be immensely helpful to husbands/birth partners as a reminder of what they should be advocating for if the care provider doesn't know/care/remember.

And as for people being 'more interested in the birth experience than the baby' - rubbish.Most of the things in Birth Plans/preferences are things that are known to be beneficial to the baby, like immediate skin-to-skin contact, the preference not to use drugs or to have the clamping of the cord delayed.
Everything in my birth preferences is for the best interests of my baby.

MF really needs to start keeping her mouth shut if she can't get it to link to her brain...

This post has been edited by *Browncoat*: 17/06/2012, 10:01 PM

[EBeditor]

With the placenta birth plan, I imagine that would be whether you want a natural or managed third stage, if you want the cord cut, the placenta put aside etc.

[Pooks*potters]

I wish I'd done one.