Birth plan

July 28, 2010

Birth plan

i had a long chat with my hospital consultant after my ultrasound scan on Monday, and we have agreed my birth plan. Sir was there as well and He asked lots of good questions, which i was glad about because it's hard for my preggie brain to remember anything i want to ask at this stage! The consultant was really good and explained all our options, including the reasons for having them and any possible complications or drawbacks, and he was really honest when we asked about his opinion on whether each would be a good option in my particular case. i am giving birth at the same hospital where i had Poppy and am feeling fairly relaxed about it as last time i found all the staff really reassuring and very good at their jobs and the emphasis was firmly on helping me to have the birth experience i wanted whilst at the same time keeping my baby safe and well cared for. This hospital do have quite a lot of experience of multiple births, though they are not a specialist centre for them or anything like that, and the consultant assured me that all the staff are fairly laid back about them and won't insist on anything unless absolutely necessary for the babies' medical needs.

Whilst we were talking the consultant was filling in our birth plan on his computer and he got us to read through it and check it afterwards, then he printed out a copy for my file and a copy for us to keep. Basically we have decided to try for a vaginal birth, so long as both boys remain in a good position for it, and to allow me to go into labour naturally unless i go beyond 40 weeks or there becomes a need to induce me. i will have Sir with me the whole time, but they will keep the number of medical staff in the room to a  minimum, depending on what is needed and what stage i am at. The consultant wants me to phone him as soon as i have been having contractions for over 30mins which aren't helped by rest and food, then he will decide how soon i need to go into the hospital. i will have some monitoring of both twins, but they will try to give me breaks in between monitoring so i can move around, change positions, go for a walk, use my birthing ball, even get into the pool for a while if i want to. So long as both twins are doing well we have agreed that i will not be put on a drip or given any hormones to speed up labour, and i will not have an epidural or even have one put in place just incase (not unless it really looks like i will be needing a caesarean). i have agreed for the doctor to give me an injection either after William is born or after Finn is born to help the placentas be delivered quickly and minimise the amount of blood i lose, and the doctor will decide when is best to give it at the time.

i have asked for Sir to cut the cords, and for me to be able to hold my babies as soon as they are born and to have help breastfeeding them as soon as they are ready. They will do the necessary checks on them when they are born, but will leave off other things such as eyedrops for a few hours, to give me and Sir a chance to spend some time with them as soon as they arrive. Sir is going to stay overnight in the room with me for the first night, and we have asked to have both twins in with us, so long as there are no complications with either of them. Poppy will be looked after by her grandparents for 1 or 2 nights when the twins are born, then me and the twins will go home as soon as the doctors think we are all ready to.

The consultant said that he is really pleased with my pregnancy so far, and that despite William's condition he does not see any problems with the birth, but like he said you never know. So we are hopeful and optimistic but ready to trust the doctors to do their best for us should any complications arise. Now all i have to do is wait!