WHAT TO INCLUDE IN YOUR BIRTH PLAN | My Second Unmedicated Labor Plan

[@page5422]

Hi Megan! So I’m not a mom but I find birth plans so interesting! I’m not sure if this sounds weird, but do nurses actually respect birth plans? Like do they think it’s annoying/needy? Or do they prefer them?

[@caracampbell1715]

As an L&D nurse, the short answer is-it depends. Hospitals, like most businesses, run best on routines. That being said, nurses are people, too, and most of them are mothers. So while they may understand why you bring a detailed birth plan to the hospital, they may also be dealing with other issues like being short-staffed, for instance. This is especially a concern since many nurses have quit during Covid. I would say the overwhelming concern of an L&D nurse is to get you delivered safely of a healthy baby. That may or may not include all of the items on your birth plan wishlist. Personally, I think birth plans work best in a birthing center or home birth with a midwife. You are more likely to get more of your wishlist items in that case. I do hope Megan has a wonderful birth experience this time around as well.

[@MeganAcuna]

Our hospital actually asks us to bring this document in and it’s based on a template that they provide so I guess you could say that this IS the routine (at least for our hospital.)

[@page5422]

@@MeganAcuna oh that’s awesome! I can’t wait to be a mom someday 🥰

[@caracampbell1715]

@@MeganAcuna that is great!

[@missyingster]

I'm close to my due date and my hospital also wants me to bring a birth plan as well. I guess it all depends on the place you're giving birth.

[@sydneyfuller8071]

I’m a labour and delivery nurse in Canada and I’m super impressed at how informed you are!! And flexible, you understand the risks and benefits and are willing to go with the flow which is amazing. I hope everything goes well 💓

[@CrispyFriedPickles]

I’m about to copy and paste this exact birth plan 😂😅👌🏾 It’s EXACTLY what I want 💯

[@CarlyMitchell937]

Watching this while holding my six day old and despite the fact that my labor and delivery experience did not go as I planned, I’m so glad I took the time to create a birth plan! Yours is so well thought out, I hope everything goes great with Juniper’s birth!

[@sarahp3144]

Congrats!! I’m so sorry your birth did not go to plan. I know from experience how hard that is. I hope you are able to find peace about it. ♥️

[@KyliejSo]

I can’t believe I’ve been watching since you announced your first pregnancy! It’s so crazy to look back and now here I am with my own baby 🥰

[@cloudy3260]

Is there a way you can put a printable copy on your blog?☺️

[@karen2829]

I love these videos just because it showcases how personal and individual our birth styles are. For example while I was pushing they tried rolling out the mirror and I was like NOPE! 😂 turn that thing back! One thing I did was called my plan “birth preferences” and not a plan. I think that just took the stress when things dont go as planned

[@mollyluttrell]

I just recently found your channel, and it has really inspired me and motivated to work extra hard on my channel! I'm currently pregnant with my first baby (a boy!) and have been binging all your videos, and they have been so helpful!! So glad I found your channel--I feel like we're friends!🤍

[@MsYoungky]

I can’t remember if it was this video or another one but you mentioned linking the Roman shades and I couldn’t find the link! Can you share which ones you have??

[@Matt_Acuna]

I just added it to the description for you! I can’t add it to the Amazon storefront because you have to customize the item.

[@LizzieEstelle]

Yay the juniper countdown has begun!

[@stephanieruddock1386]

Amazing birth plan!!❤️ Juniper is a lucky girl already to have such prepared parents. I agree with other comments to create a separate page or section with preferences just for baby after birth. One area I suggest looking into is suctioning after birth. Especially with breastfeeding, it *can* cause tissue trauma to the mouth and lead to a less effective latch and suck. I’m a postpartum doula so just had to throw that in there 😉 Eek so excited for her arrival!

[@JasmineAvril]

I think a birth plan a a great idea. My first labor and birth happened soooo fast I’m anticipating the same thing. Although I know every birth and baby is different.

[@shaunabrewster2939]

Love the video! I’m curious if you have anything in your birth plan related to like post birth procedures for baby? Things like the vitamin k shot, the eye ointment, and vaginal swab if c-section. These were all decisions we didn’t know we would need to make in the first hours after birth. Thankfully our doula gave us a heads up and we were able to research these procedures and make a decision ahead of time.

[@kaitlinross4348]

This was super cool to see because I didn’t know birth plans existed! I honestly won’t make one just because I wouldn’t have anything to put on there haha but this is a great idea!

[@moriahquintana2584]

I need to share this with my friend!

[@bonnie7577]

Thank you for sharing your birth plan! I have never had one and this is my 8th child!! I came across a beautiful book called MADE FOR THIS and it’s about how God has designed women to carry and birth a baby regardless of if you choose to go natural or get the epidural. I love the idea of being able to let the staff know that I DONT want to be touched unless you ask me and I do not want the babies bag to be broken that it actually helps with the pain of childbirth leaving it intact for as long as possible. My first 6 births I had epidural and my last went so fast I didn’t even have an IV and it was too late for any pain relief. I’m actually really proud that I went through that and I felt better after birth than any of my previous births.

[@wafakhan4062]

Iam definitely looking forward to see your second birth vlog video

[@frapur8409]

Great job! Figuring from your wish that your partner should stay with you, I suppose you'd choose spinal numbing during a c-section. In my country, every hospital handles it differently with urethral catheters. Make sure, they insert it after the spinal is in place. Some shove it in before numbing you and that is just unnecessarily barbaric. They should be able to switch to general anesthesia at a moment's notice during the sectio just in case you get a panic attack on the operation table. All the best from me. Hopefully, you'll get the birth you wished for.

[@jerushadoerksen9727]

Hope you get your unmedicated birth. I'm preparing for my second as well. How long was your first labour?

[@MeganAcuna]

10 1/2 hours!

[@Missmakayla3]

Just curious as to why you won’t be birthing at a birth center is there not one near you? Congratulations I hope you have a happy and safe delivery🤍

[@MeganAcuna]

I absolutely love my OB and wanted to stick with her!

[@madiidrew]

been waiting for this one!🤍

[@shimersun6272]

I wonder what hospital is this, that allows you make your own choices? I couldn't do anything like that during my labor

[@CarolineNotCarolynBoyd]

You ALWAYS have the right to make your own choices about your labor and delivery. I'm so very sorry that your providers made you feel like you didn't. If you ever decide to give birth again, I highly recommend reading Birthing From Within by Pam England! She offers great resources for empowerment during pregnancy, labor, and birth, and questions you can ask to make sure your providers will actually honor your preferences and bodily autonomy during the process 💜

[@shimersun6272]

@@CarolineNotCarolynBoyd Really? OK. I will ask them about it if I decide to have a baby again. Will I have to pay for a separate room?

[@jenc5492]

Having a birth plan to hand over to hospital staff is standard, as I understand it. Some things they can’t accommodate - like I was interested in nitrous oxide but my hospital hasn’t started using it yet, or I wanted to be able to use a tub and they didn’t have them. I had an unmedicated birth ultimately and it and my other preferences as included in my printed plan were all jotted down by the nurses on the white board in the delivery room. At my hospital the birth rooms and recovery rooms were all singles. I didn’t have to request one. I’m sorry to hear you didn’t feel like you had any control! Maybe it would be best to choose a different hospital next time, one who listens to mommas.

[@shimersun6272]

@@jenc5492 Yeah I guess I need to choose a different hospital. I dont need a tab, but at least a single room would be great. And maybe walk around. Cause I was on a monitor the whole time. Just laying down connected to it. They didn't even allow me to turn to the side or anything. Just laying on my back for a few hrs. More "freedom" during this process would be super. Thanks for your suggestions

[@alyssareid7492]

I hope this doesn’t come off sounding rude, but you and your beautiful family really seem like you are very financially secured and I was just wondering if you would be willing to give some insight into what you and your husband do for a living.

[@MeganAcuna]

Not rude at all! It’s been a long journey to get here but we’re really lucky to be in the place we are financially. I do KZbin full time and my husband is a property manager for a commercial business park

[@Matt_Acuna]

KZbin is Megan’s full time job and I work in commercial real estate. :)

[@alyssareid7492]

That is awesome! Good for you guys!! I am definitely following you! Lol currently 15 weeks Prego with baby #2 and my boy will be 2 months shy of 2 years when baby arrives!

[@hopenoland6656]

As a nurse or medical professional, I feel like I would be overwhelmed by a thoroughly written birth plan. Nothing against the mother’s needs and desires, but it would certainly create added pressure for me, if I was a nurse, to make sure I’m adhering to this written list of rules and not accidentally doing something against what the mom wants. I feel like, unless you’re constantly referencing back to the list, it would be super easy to mess up (accidentally) in the moment when things are chaotic. Regardless, I hope it goes smoothly for you!

[@MeganAcuna]

Knowing the mother’s needs and respecting exactly what she wants are the whole point. The hospital asks you to bring this and even provides a template in case you get stuck on what to write. Keep in mind you have the same few nurses the whole time (except if you’re there during a shift change) and they’re trained and really used to this so it’s not nearly as chaotic for them as it would be for someone untrained/unpracticed.

[@hopenoland6656]

@@MeganAcuna perhaps our hospitals in my town are less accommodating than yours. I guess I’m just speaking from a general sense- it would be tricky to make sure every little detail is checked off and/or nothing is forgotten. However, I also see your point about it clarifying things in a more organized way. I suppose it just depends on the individual nurse and how well he/she can accommodate those wishes. I’m sure some nurses love birth plans & others may feel intimidated by them, only because they’re worried they may not do everything correctly etc.

[@MeganAcuna]

@@hopenoland6656 Yes, I think we got really lucky with our hospital being so focused on maternal health! I really wish it was the standard everywhere but I think it’s becoming more common thankfully. I know the L&D nurses I follow on IG are all so positive about it!

[@E.G.90]

Do you think it’s best to tell them as the labor progress. Like when I get check in & everything let them know I don’t want an IV. When I have the baby tell them at that moment I want to delay cord clamping.