Med-Free Birth Plan

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Our Wishes for Childbirth

Matt and Stephanie Hales

Due Date: 3/19/2011
Patient of DeEtte Reel

We are very pleased with our choice of Carolina Women's Physicians and Pitt Memorial Hospital for our upcoming birth. We are looking forward to a beautiful, natural birth that we have prepared for using both Bradley Method and Hypnobirthing elements and would appreciate all of the kind, encouraging care that you can provide. Although we feel confident that everything will go normally, we trust that you will inform us if any problems arise so that we can discuss the choices to be made and come up with a new plan of action.

Sincerely,

Matt and Stephanie Hales

First Stage

We hope to avoid needing:

• Frequent vaginal exams (every 2-3 hours preferred)
• An IV unless I become dehydrated
• Continuous fetal monitoring unless it is required by our baby’s condition
• Artificial rupture of the amniotic membrane
• Administration of Pitocin  

 Please help in supporting the following preferences:

• Freedom to walk around and change positions
• Eating and drinking as approved by my midwife
• Music played (we will bring)
• Quiet environment with low lights
• Wearing my own clothes
• Option of returning home if I’m not in active labor
• Progressing free of stringent time limits
• Use of any natural pain management & relaxation techniques, such as a birthing ball, the shower/tub, etc.  

Second Stage 

Please understand we feel very strongly about the following preferences:

• Choosing the position in which I give birth, whether it is squatting, side-lying, etc.
• Utilizing Birth Breathing techniques for a relaxed, gradual descent rather than forced pushing
• Progressing free of stringent time limits
• Touching our baby’s head when it crowns
• Use of perineal massage, if possible
• Our baby placed on my chest immediately after delivery
• Local anesthetic for any tissue repairs  

We would like to avoid:

• An episiotomy, even if it means risking a tear
• Use of forceps or vacuum extraction unless they become necessary for our baby’s safety 

Third Stage
We are looking forward to:

• My husband cutting the umbilical cord
• Holding our baby rather than having him/her placed under heat lamps
• Breastfeeding as soon as possible

It is very important to us that:

• The umbilical cord stops pulsating before it is cut
• Evaluations of our baby be done with him/her on my chest, if possible
• Non-urgent procedures be delayed
• My husband accompanies our baby at all times if medical treatment is necessary

Postpartum
We would like to avoid:

• Any administration of bottles or sugar water to our baby

We feel very strongly about:

• Our baby rooming in with us
• Exclusively breastfeeding
• Feeding our baby on demand

Our chosen pediatrician is Dr. Stephen Phillips of Eastern Pediatrics. If we have a boy, Dr. Phillips will perform a circumcision in his office at a later date.