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Birth Plan

WakeMed North Labor Room

Your Birth Day Wish List

Printable Birth Plan (.PDF)

When it comes to giving birth your way, putting it in writing can help. A Birth Plan is an optional wish list that allows you to outline your goals, hopes, indicate any concerns and tell us your preferences for when the time comes to labor and give birth. It’s a way to keep all your birth day care providers informed about what is most important to you.

A birth plan, or wish list, is a communication tool summarizing your “birth day” preferences. It is important to understand there is more than one way to do things, and every birth is unique and can be unpredictable. Try to remain flexible, positive, realistic, and limit it to what matters most to you.

WakeMed supports your wishes and desires when it comes to welcoming a new baby, and have created this wish list format to capture this important information. It is our ultimate goal for both mom and baby to emerge happy and healthy after eachand every birth.

We are here to answer any questions you may have about the labor and birth process.

Getting Started

We recommend:

  • Take childbirth preparation classes. Search Birth & Parent Classes
  • Read reputable books and/or websites about labor and birth
  • Spend time reflecting on your own preferences and discuss your thoughts with your support person/team.
  • Share your draft with your health care provider at your next appointment and discuss it with him/her.
  • Revise your “Birth Day Wish List” as needed.
  • Pack several copies in your hospital bag and bring to the hospital when it’s time to deliver. Snap a photo, too, in case you misplace or forget your paper copies.

Wish List for Labor (Check your wishes)

Labor Induction/Augmentation 

If I go past my estimated due date AND there are no health risks for me or my baby, I would prefer:

check box Not to be induced
check box To be induced

 

Pain Management/Anesthesia

Remember you can change your mind at any point throughout labor.

check box I prefer to labor and give birth without pain medication. I am aware of pain medications available. I will ask if I would like something for pain. Please do not ask me.
check box I would like to have pain medications offered to me via IV before trying an epidural.
check box I would like an epidural as soon as possible. (Keep in mind, getting an epidural requires a team effort that takes 60-90 minutes to accomplish. We strongly encourage you to learn, practice and use all available coping and comfort measures while we work to place your epidural.)

 

First Stage Labor (0-10 cm dilated)

I prefer… 
Lighting:     check box Dim   check box Bright     checkbox Open curtains
Television: check box On   check box Off 
Quiet:          checkbox During contractions   checkbox All the time

check box Music (bring your own music & player)
check box Aromatherapy/essential oils (bring your own; No lit candles in the hospital)
check box To wear a hospital provided gown
check box To wear my own clothes/sports bra
check box Encouragement/positive reinforcement
check box Massage/touch
check box Movement/Position changes
check box Shower
check box Tub
check box Heat/Cold therapy
check box Guided imagery/visualization
check box Breathing patterns
check box Relaxation/meditation
check box Birthing ball
check box Other

 

The following are my preferences (I understand these items are subject to approval by my health care provider according to the safety of me and my baby.)

check box I prefer no IV unless absolutely necessary.
check box If I need an IV, I would like to use a saline lock. A saline lock is a port that allows immediate access to the vein for IVIV fluids and/or medications if needed. 
The advantage is that you don’t have to be continuously connected to the tubing and IV bag with the pole.
check box Intermittent (off and on) fetal monitoring if the baby is not in distress.
check box Continuous fetal monitoring. I understand this may limit some mobility.

 

Second Stage Labor (Pushing) ~ I would like…

check box A mirror present (to help with pushing and to view birth)
check box To touch the baby’s head as it crowns
check box My coach or designated person to support my legs when I push
check box To use the squat bar during pushing
check box To try different positions during pushing
check box To delay pushing until I feel the urge even if I am fully dilated (Labor down).
check box Counting to help me push
check box No counting to help me push

 

After Birth

check box To have my baby placed skin-to-skin immediately and to remain there long as baby is not having difficulty adjusting.
check box To have the baby dried and swaddled, by the nurse, before being brought to me.
check box To have _________________________ cut the cord.
check box To allow the cord to stop pulsating before clamping and/or cutting.
check box To bank the baby’s umbilical cord blood (bring your own collection kit from a cord blood banking company)

 

Pain Medication/Anesthesia

Pain is an individual experience. The discomforts of labor and birth vary from woman to woman. We are here to help you effectively cope with these discomforts through the use of coping mechanisms such as movement, massage, position changes, breathing techniques and relaxation. When well-supported and continuously encouraged, many women are able to give birth with few, if any, medications. Should medications be requested, you and your health care provider can discuss available options to reduce your discomfort. Keep in mind, pain medications can ease discomfort, but they are not designed to eliminate all sensations.

Throughout labor, you will be asked about your level of pain. We use a 0-10 scale with “0” being no pain and “10” being the very worst pain you can imagine. We encourage you to think about your pain tolerance level and use all available coping and comfort measures throughout labor and birth to help you to have a more satisfying birthing experience.

“P.A.I.N.” is… 

Purposeful — alerts and causes labor progress

Anticipated — we expect some pain in labor

Intermittent — it comes and goes, giving you a break

Normal — nothing is more normal than labor pain

Newborn Care

WakeMed offers family-centered care that creates an environment to foster a relationship between mom, baby and family. As part of our family-centered approach, we encourage rooming-in, where your baby is kept in the room with you, rather than the nursery. This is special time for you to get to know your newborn and learn how to care for him/her and for yourself, and is especially helpful for those who are breastfeeding. If you should need our newborn nursery, it is available to you at any time during your stay.