Due
Date: March 10, 2013
Patient of Dr. Jane Howell, East Cascade Women’s Group
Scheduled to deliver at The Family Center, St. Charles Hospital, Bend OR
Patient of Dr. Jane Howell, East Cascade Women’s Group
Scheduled to deliver at The Family Center, St. Charles Hospital, Bend OR
Thank you for familiarizing
yourself with our birthing wishes. Our goal is as natural, non-interventive a birthing experience as
possible. We appreciate your help and support!
Sincerely, Gretchen & Matt
IV & Monitoring
Preferences
- Ok to place IV and tape down but no attachments unless needed.
- No continuous fetal monitoring unless required by baby’s condition.
- No internal monitor unless our baby has shown some sign of distress.
Labor
Augmentation/Induction Preferences
- No artificial rupture of the amniotic membrane unless required for baby’s safety.
Anesthesia/Pain
Medication Preferences
- I will ask for them if I want them.
Cesarean
- No Cesarean unless absolutely necessary.
- If a Cesarean delivery is indicated, I would like to be fully informed and to participate in the decision-making process.
Episiotomy
Preferences
- Use perineal massage to help avoid the need for an episiotomy.
- No episiotomy unless required for baby’s safety.
Delivery
Preferences
- Matt, husband, to be able to help “catch” baby and/or place on me.
- Have baby placed on my stomach/chest immediately after delivery.
Immediately After
Delivery Preferences
- Matt, husband, cut the umbilical cord.
- Allowed to hold baby while I deliver the placenta and any tissue repairs are made.
- Allowed to hold baby until after he nurses before he is examined, etc.
- Allowed to hold baby rather than have him placed under heat lamps.
- No injection of Pitocin after the delivery to aid in expelling the placenta.
- The first hour to be as quiet & private as possible for baby, Matt & me.
Postpartum
Preferences
- Not separated from baby unless required for health reasons.
Breastfeeding
Preferences
- Begin nursing very shortly after birth.
- No bottles given to baby (including water) unless medically necessary.
- No pacifier given to baby.
- Meet with a lactation consultant.
** Pediatrician will be COPA
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The nurses on duty seemed receptive to this, except I did end up consenting to an anti-biotic in my IV because my water broke first. Later I did need pitocin so I guess in that sense I'm glad I had an IV. BUT, on that note, the IV was one of the worst parts about my labor because they had to place it in my wrist so I couldn't then put weight on my right hand.
They did not continually monitor but they did monitor A LOT. I didn't want continually monitoring because then I'd be stuck in bed all wired up. As it turns out, sitting in bed was only thing that felt okay.
NO ONE said anything about pain medications to me, except that my main nurse (who was there almost the entire time) encouraged me to do what I wanted but that I was very strong and very far along and she thought I could do it without drugs if I wanted; that was really comforting to hear.
That same nurse did a lot of perineal massage and was so great about helping me figure out how to push. I'm assuming a doula would do the same. BUT I did end up having an episiotomy anyhow.
They don't let anyone but the OB catch the baby due to safety issues, but they did let Matt cut the cord.
They do encourage skin-to-skin and were really good about letting me hold him before doing any measurements or bathing. They don't have nurseries anymore so the baby is always in the room, except once when they wheeled him into the hall in the middle of the night for some kind of monitoring.
They didn't try to give pitocin for the placenta delivery but they did force it immediately by, basically, jumping on my stomach and pulling it out. It was VERY uncomfortable.
One nurse helped me initially with breastfeeding, then the lactation consultant did visit within the first 12hrs and gave more advice. (Be aware that they are very hands-on, ie they unabashedly grab your boobs)
Overall I'd say our "wishes" were well-written and well-received, though after 3hrs of pushing and not much progress, the pitocin and the episiotomy and vacuuming of his head were probably needed. And, in the end, 45 more minutes later, I had a little miracle in my arms. And, in all honesty, after I delivered, I had no pain until the next day when the muscle soreness set it. So...... I guess I'm glad I tried to have a "natural" birth... but... will I do it again? Umm maybe, since I did live, after all. Would I advice anyone else to do it without pain medications? No, just to listen to your body and do what you need to do.
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The nurses on duty seemed receptive to this, except I did end up consenting to an anti-biotic in my IV because my water broke first. Later I did need pitocin so I guess in that sense I'm glad I had an IV. BUT, on that note, the IV was one of the worst parts about my labor because they had to place it in my wrist so I couldn't then put weight on my right hand.
They did not continually monitor but they did monitor A LOT. I didn't want continually monitoring because then I'd be stuck in bed all wired up. As it turns out, sitting in bed was only thing that felt okay.
NO ONE said anything about pain medications to me, except that my main nurse (who was there almost the entire time) encouraged me to do what I wanted but that I was very strong and very far along and she thought I could do it without drugs if I wanted; that was really comforting to hear.
That same nurse did a lot of perineal massage and was so great about helping me figure out how to push. I'm assuming a doula would do the same. BUT I did end up having an episiotomy anyhow.
They don't let anyone but the OB catch the baby due to safety issues, but they did let Matt cut the cord.
They do encourage skin-to-skin and were really good about letting me hold him before doing any measurements or bathing. They don't have nurseries anymore so the baby is always in the room, except once when they wheeled him into the hall in the middle of the night for some kind of monitoring.
They didn't try to give pitocin for the placenta delivery but they did force it immediately by, basically, jumping on my stomach and pulling it out. It was VERY uncomfortable.
One nurse helped me initially with breastfeeding, then the lactation consultant did visit within the first 12hrs and gave more advice. (Be aware that they are very hands-on, ie they unabashedly grab your boobs)
Overall I'd say our "wishes" were well-written and well-received, though after 3hrs of pushing and not much progress, the pitocin and the episiotomy and vacuuming of his head were probably needed. And, in the end, 45 more minutes later, I had a little miracle in my arms. And, in all honesty, after I delivered, I had no pain until the next day when the muscle soreness set it. So...... I guess I'm glad I tried to have a "natural" birth... but... will I do it again? Umm maybe, since I did live, after all. Would I advice anyone else to do it without pain medications? No, just to listen to your body and do what you need to do.
