Max Elmo's Birth Plan

 We are very excited to have chosen Dr. Ryan and the experienced birth team at St. Anthony's hospital. Because this is our first child, we have some preferences on how we would like our labor, birth, and post-partum period to go. We greatly desire a natural birth - we know the professionals at St. Anthony's can help us achieve our goals. 
  • We respectfully request that you do not offer medication to us unless an emergency arises. 
  • We desire that the coach (Anthony) and the mother (Lacy) not be separated during this process. 
  • We're very anxious to meet our new son Max - so we request that he be handed to his mother immediately after his birth for bonding and breastfeeding. 

During a normal labor, we have a few other specific requests: 
  • We hope you'll be patient with us as we allow labor to proceed naturally. Therefore, we want minimal vaginal exams and do not want to be told the status of dilation. 
  • We greatly desire freedom of movement for Lacy, as we believe it's the best way to stimulate labor. 
  • We ask that Lacy be allowed to eat and drink during the early stages of labor in lieu of IV hydration. We'd much prefer only the hep-lock be present if necessary. 
  • We want our birthing environment to be as serene as possible, so don't mind us if we adjust the lights and play a little music.
  • We would appreciate privacy during this process, so we'd like as few people in the birthing room as possible at any one time.
  • When it's time to push, Mom and Coach would prefer to labor as they've practiced. We'd like to decline ongoing instruction from staff about how and when to push. 
  • We're hoping to protect the perineum. Should an episiotomy prove necessary, we ask that a pressure episiotomy be used.
After a normal delivery: 
  • We would like to forgo any bathing or immunization of the baby during this time. 
  • Don't forget to hand Max to his Mom immediately - we want to get breastfeeding off to a good start. 
  • Anthony would like to be allowed cut the umbilical cord once it has stopped pulsing and the safety of the baby has been established.
In the event a Cesarean surgery becomes absolutely necessary: 
  • We'd like a moment to discuss the situation and get used to this new reality. 
  • We insist that Mom's hands and arms be free.
  • We want our baby to have the best possible chance at successful breastfeeding, so we ask that the baby not be given any formula or water. 
  • While Lacy's surgery is completed,  we'd like the baby to be returned to Anthony as soon as possible for bonding.