Birthing in a hospital? What to ask your OB practice....
Thanks to Judith Halek for these Questions for Doctors. They have inspired hours of research on the perfect articles to compliment them.
(If
you are going to a teaching hospital) Can I request not to have interns
or residents perform procedures (cervical exams on me, if I am not comfortable with
them?
Do you prefer the use of a hand held doppler stethoscope, intermittent, or continuous monitoring? Do you use wireless monitoring? Are you open to intermittent monitoring or wireless monitoring so I am able to move around more? Are you familiar with the external versus the internal fetal monitor?
Can I labor without an IV? (discuss a heplock)
Read about benefits of hep locks here.
Is there a shower/tub available for me?
Read about hydrotherapy here.
If I do not go into labor on my "due date", how long will you wait before scheduling an induction of labor? (40-42 weeks) What are your reasons for this? What percentage of your inductions turn into cesarean births? (If your doctor uses CYTOTEC, please discuss the serious dangers of this drug)
Read about induction of labor here and here.
Are you supportive of acupuncture, homeopathy, acupressure, etc when I am 41 weeks past my EDD, to try until I reach 42 weeks?
How do you feel about rupturing membranes during labor? Why do you feel it's necessary? Would you rupture mine without telling me first?
Read about rupturing vs. keeping all in tact here.
Do I have the option to labor and birth in any position I feel is most comfortable? Has your team EVER assisted a birth in a position besides C-position?
Read about the evidence for pushing positions here.
Do you avoid an episiotomy? Would you use warm compresses and perineum massage as to minimize the potential risk of tearing? What is your percentage rate of episiotomy?
Read about natural tearing/prevention of tearing versus episiotomy here.
Is it a normal procedure for your practice to insert any solution into the perineum upon crowning? (lidocaine or novocaine)
Do you suction the baby “gently” after the birth and sometimes not at all? Is it normal procedure or do you only do it if there is reason for it?
Can I wait 3 minutes before cutting the baby's cord? Please read about delayed cord clamping here.
Can the father catch the baby?
When my cervix is dilated to 10cm, will you immediately ask me to begin pushing, or will my own urge to push and the station of the baby be kept in mind as well? Do you agree this prevents tearing and unnecessary unproductive hours of pushing?
Please read about Pushing for first-time moms here.
Can my baby be handed directly to me after the birth? May I hold him/her for a while before you partake in the normal hospital procedures?
Please read about immediate skin-to-skin here.
How do you feel about giving pitocin after the birth of the placenta? (You have an option to receive it or not, providing you are not hemorrhaging).
Read about alternatives to Pitocin post-birth here.
(Erythromycin eye drops are required by national law. You can request this be done at least an hour after the baby's birth, thus giving you both time to bond and stare into each other's eyes) Can we wait an hour or two to administer eye ointment and the vitamin K shot?
Read about why these are administered here.
While the baby is getting foot-printed, given eye drops, getting vitamin k shot, having a newborn exam, may I hold him?
I plan to breastfeed, can I have a statement posted in the nursery that I do not want any formula/sugar-water given to my baby while he/she is in there?
In the event of a true emergency c-section, do you practice single or double layer suturing? (Double is best)
Do you prefer the use of a hand held doppler stethoscope, intermittent, or continuous monitoring? Do you use wireless monitoring? Are you open to intermittent monitoring or wireless monitoring so I am able to move around more? Are you familiar with the external versus the internal fetal monitor?
Can I labor without an IV? (discuss a heplock)
Read about benefits of hep locks here.
Is there a shower/tub available for me?
Read about hydrotherapy here.
If I do not go into labor on my "due date", how long will you wait before scheduling an induction of labor? (40-42 weeks) What are your reasons for this? What percentage of your inductions turn into cesarean births? (If your doctor uses CYTOTEC, please discuss the serious dangers of this drug)
Read about induction of labor here and here.
Are you supportive of acupuncture, homeopathy, acupressure, etc when I am 41 weeks past my EDD, to try until I reach 42 weeks?
How do you feel about rupturing membranes during labor? Why do you feel it's necessary? Would you rupture mine without telling me first?
Read about rupturing vs. keeping all in tact here.
Do I have the option to labor and birth in any position I feel is most comfortable? Has your team EVER assisted a birth in a position besides C-position?
Read about the evidence for pushing positions here.
Do you avoid an episiotomy? Would you use warm compresses and perineum massage as to minimize the potential risk of tearing? What is your percentage rate of episiotomy?
Read about natural tearing/prevention of tearing versus episiotomy here.
Is it a normal procedure for your practice to insert any solution into the perineum upon crowning? (lidocaine or novocaine)
Do you suction the baby “gently” after the birth and sometimes not at all? Is it normal procedure or do you only do it if there is reason for it?
Can I wait 3 minutes before cutting the baby's cord? Please read about delayed cord clamping here.
Can the father catch the baby?
When my cervix is dilated to 10cm, will you immediately ask me to begin pushing, or will my own urge to push and the station of the baby be kept in mind as well? Do you agree this prevents tearing and unnecessary unproductive hours of pushing?
Please read about Pushing for first-time moms here.
Can my baby be handed directly to me after the birth? May I hold him/her for a while before you partake in the normal hospital procedures?
Please read about immediate skin-to-skin here.
How do you feel about giving pitocin after the birth of the placenta? (You have an option to receive it or not, providing you are not hemorrhaging).
Read about alternatives to Pitocin post-birth here.
(Erythromycin eye drops are required by national law. You can request this be done at least an hour after the baby's birth, thus giving you both time to bond and stare into each other's eyes) Can we wait an hour or two to administer eye ointment and the vitamin K shot?
Read about why these are administered here.
While the baby is getting foot-printed, given eye drops, getting vitamin k shot, having a newborn exam, may I hold him?
I plan to breastfeed, can I have a statement posted in the nursery that I do not want any formula/sugar-water given to my baby while he/she is in there?
In the event of a true emergency c-section, do you practice single or double layer suturing? (Double is best)
Getting started on writing your Birth Plan
Clients' Name
Doctor:
EDD:
This is our first baby and we have had a wonderful pregnancy thus far and are anticipating an uncomplicated birth.
We have hired a doula to assist us during L&D
(primary)
(back up)
During our labor/birth we request the following:
- To be as mobile as possible, using many techniques to cope with the discomfort of contractions to avoid an Epidural
-That Electronic Fetal Monitoring be periodic, to increase our mobility and comfort
-That a Heplock be given to increase our mobility as well
-That vaginal exams be kept to a necessary minimum
-That an episiotomy be avoided if at all possible. Instead, please use warm compresses and vitamin E oil if comfortable.
-That we are informed of all procedures and asked about medications BEFORE they happen/are administered. Instead please discuss our options and make sure we are in accord.
-That I begin to push AFTER my natural urges begin, not when my cervix dilates to 10cm only, in order to avoid unnecessary tearing and to save my energy when the baby descends on his own.
-That the eye ointment and vitamin K shot are administered an hour after the birth of our child so that we may bond more completely during this period.
We anticipate having a natural birthing experience with little or no intervention but we do of course understand that there are cases when intervention is necessary, ie. a true emergency. We thank you for your expertise. We believe that the above will help us in achieving a more comfortable experience and will allow for a healthy progression of labor, given that our choices are honored and we are given the time and space desired to labor on our own, as my body knows how. We request that all options be discussed with us BEFORE anything is decided by the nurse/doctor, and that we are given the opportunity to labor as we know how, as long as mom and baby are looking good!
Doctor:
EDD:
This is our first baby and we have had a wonderful pregnancy thus far and are anticipating an uncomplicated birth.
We have hired a doula to assist us during L&D
(primary)
(back up)
During our labor/birth we request the following:
- To be as mobile as possible, using many techniques to cope with the discomfort of contractions to avoid an Epidural
-That Electronic Fetal Monitoring be periodic, to increase our mobility and comfort
-That a Heplock be given to increase our mobility as well
-That vaginal exams be kept to a necessary minimum
-That an episiotomy be avoided if at all possible. Instead, please use warm compresses and vitamin E oil if comfortable.
-That we are informed of all procedures and asked about medications BEFORE they happen/are administered. Instead please discuss our options and make sure we are in accord.
-That I begin to push AFTER my natural urges begin, not when my cervix dilates to 10cm only, in order to avoid unnecessary tearing and to save my energy when the baby descends on his own.
-That the eye ointment and vitamin K shot are administered an hour after the birth of our child so that we may bond more completely during this period.
We anticipate having a natural birthing experience with little or no intervention but we do of course understand that there are cases when intervention is necessary, ie. a true emergency. We thank you for your expertise. We believe that the above will help us in achieving a more comfortable experience and will allow for a healthy progression of labor, given that our choices are honored and we are given the time and space desired to labor on our own, as my body knows how. We request that all options be discussed with us BEFORE anything is decided by the nurse/doctor, and that we are given the opportunity to labor as we know how, as long as mom and baby are looking good!