Birth Plans and Birth Essays

"...inquire with your provider about the rates of various procedures the use, including rates of natural birth, epidurals, VBACs, and cesareans..." (p. 200)

Interview providers to find one whose approach matches your own. (p. 200)

"To search for information about your provider or hospital, or to share your experince, visit" here. (p. 201)

"Have your doula make sure that each doctor, midwife, and nurse who is caring for you takes a look at your plan." (p. 202)

"...fetal scalp blood sampling to determine fetal distress before doing a cesarean." (p. 207)

ACOG, "3 percent of all births consist of multiple babies." (p. 211)

"ACOG has stated: 'there are retrospective case series that validate vaginal delivery as a potential mode of delivery, especially for triplet gestation.'" (p. 212)

"ACOG and the Society of Obstetrics and Gynecologists of Canada, most of these protocols are not suppored by scientific research, but have nonetheless come to be accepted as the standard of care... Routinely inducing labor before thirty-seen weeks... Routinely inducing labor at thirty-seven weeks... Requiring and epidural... Requiring the mother to be constantly attached to a monitor for the babies' heartbeats, rather than listening at regular intervals... Routinely scheduling a cesarean even when the first baby is head down... For a vaginal delivery, having the mother push in the operating room rather than a normal labor room, because of a slightly increased need for cesearean sectins. Routinely using interventions to speed up pushing of the second twin... You have the right to decline their routine use after discussing the benefits, risks, and alternatives with your provider." (p. 212-213)

"Parents of twins may want to consider having two doulas (for) additional emotional support may help diffuse some of the extra tension that can be present." (p. 214)

For support with a multiple pregnancy, especially twins, visit here.

THE BIRTH ESSAY

A birth essay allows/encourages a mom-to-be to write all of her feelings about her pregnancy and upcoming labor down and then share them with those who are/will be caring for her throughout this time. Questions to get you writing... "What do you imagine it will be like going into labor, giving birth, and being with your new baby right after birth? What will giving birth mean to you, your baby, and your family? What are your dreams for your birth? What are your fears giving birth?" Moms should be encouraged to fill more than a "page or two." "Many providers are not familiar with the idea of a birth essay. However, it is fine to let your caregiver know that you have emotional concerns you would like to discuss, which may arise from writing your essay. You might want to read the essay aloud, or tell your provider what you wrote about, without presenting the actual pages to her." (p. 215-216)