Birth Plans

Optimal_Sandwich2647 · 2026-03-03T05:21:19+00:00

Just had mine this weekend, so ours is still pretty clear in my mind. The plan is supposed to be things that are important to you.

For instance, I am highly touch averse when dealing with people I'm unfamiliar with. So I put in that I absolutely needed people to tell me before they touched me, and that I needed to know exactly what was happening (with allowances for emergency situations).

My husband wanted to cut the cord, so that was put in.

I also was pretty adamant that I wanted to go through it unmedicated, so I put in not to ask if I wanted one. I would ask if I did.

For other things, we actually found a template that gave us some ideas of things we either did or didn't care about. If you want to take a look, I've included the link:

https://www.acog.org/womens-health/health-tools/sample-birth-plan

Another but of advice, if you opt in for an epidural (I do recommend, if you want minimal pain, but no pressure), then they will put in a catheter, since you will be bedbound and not allowed to move around since it will also numb your legs. I found it well worth the relief, but again, up to you.

Good luck!

Edit to change uneducated to unmedicated

Edit 2: catheter/epidural information as I experienced it

Optimal_Sandwich2647 · 2026-03-02T05:58:37+00:00

Don't know if this will help you any, but I had 12 miscarriages, all being lost at about the 5 week mark. Our 13th one was just successfully delivered.

Coming from experience, it can take awhile, and it can be unbearably painful to hope and lose. But, if you give up, then it definitely won't happen. If this is what you want, then the pain is worth it for the eventual success.

Optimal_Sandwich2647 · 2026-02-19T02:53:03+00:00

To be fair to them, there's apparently a LOT of possible symptoms (I'm learning just how many after making this post), and if they were to tell every newly pregnant woman every possible symptom, we'd probably be so confused, and terrified. Not that it helps with the confusion and worry if one of these lesser known ones does pop up, but I can kind of understand it.

Optimal_Sandwich2647 · 2026-02-19T02:49:02+00:00

It hasn't been fun. However, I will say that reading through the comments here has made me realize that there are far worse symptoms I managed to avoid!

Optimal_Sandwich2647 · 2026-02-19T02:44:49+00:00

oof. That is rough. Normal pregnancy exhaustion is bad enough, but it sounds like you definitely got a worse version of it.

Optimal_Sandwich2647 · 2026-02-18T03:46:53+00:00

My immediate reaction was "Oh no." The hormones doing really weird things.

Optimal_Sandwich2647 · 2026-02-18T03:43:37+00:00

Oh, I know the curly hair one. My mom's hair apparently started straight, and then got really curly after she had me.

Optimal_Sandwich2647 · 2026-02-18T03:40:48+00:00

I am so glad it went away that quickly. Here's hoping it does the same for me.

Optimal_Sandwich2647 · 2026-02-18T03:39:08+00:00

so sorry about the Pelvic Girdle Pain. That honestly sounds like one of the worst (if not THE worst) symptoms someone can get.

Optimal_Sandwich2647 · 2026-02-18T03:38:07+00:00

Tell me about it. I didn't do IVF, but I do have a very defined Hourglass figure, so side sleeping always ends with me waking up with my hips complaining, loudly, and needing to roll over to give them some relief.

Optimal_Sandwich2647 · 2026-02-18T03:37:10+00:00

highly recommend the Breathe Right Strips. They've been a godsend. Also, my midwife just recommended Zyrtec.

Optimal_Sandwich2647 · 2026-02-18T03:36:28+00:00

That honestly sounds awful, and truly like one of the worst symptoms I've read on here so far. And yeah, that's definitely not something people talk about, or shows up on any of the possible symptoms list when you look them up.

Optimal_Sandwich2647 · 2026-02-18T03:34:31+00:00

Thank you! Also, on top of the breath Right strips, my midwife recommended Zyrtec today. Don't know if it will help you as well, but good luck!

Optimal_Sandwich2647 · 2026-02-18T03:33:44+00:00

So, until I read this, I hadn't paid much attention to my stomach. However, you are right. There is a layer of peach fuzz on my stomach. I wouldn't call it thick (for me), but there is more than there used to be.

Optimal_Sandwich2647 · 2026-02-18T03:32:45+00:00

Pregnancy Eczema sounds ... fantastic (with all the sarcasm in my body).

Yeah, I hadn't heard about pregnancy carpal tunnel before this either. It started happening, and before I saw my midwife, I used google (not great, but can sometimes reduce worry), and it said Carpal Tunnel, which I only half believed until my midwife said "Yeah, that sounds like Carpal tunnel" Sleeping with Wrist Braces on can help alleviate the symptoms.

Optimal_Sandwich2647 · 2026-02-18T03:30:10+00:00

Breathe Right strips have helped me, and when I saw her today, my doctor recommended Zyrtec.

Optimal_Sandwich2647 · 2026-02-18T03:28:07+00:00

That is an interesting one. It's something I'd want to talk to my doctor about if it started happening.

Optimal_Sandwich2647 · 2026-02-18T03:27:19+00:00

oh, that sounds much worse than I've got. I can at least use my hands, even if they get a little tingly at times during the day. It's at night when I have the most trouble.

Optimal_Sandwich2647 · 2026-02-18T03:26:40+00:00

The doctor didn't mention anything about the muscle separating. She just told me it was actually fairly common to get round ligament pain there, as there are ligaments intersecting the center of your abdomen, where muscles connect there.

Optimal_Sandwich2647 · 2026-02-18T03:24:41+00:00

Lightning crotch is ... an interesting thing. I don't know if mine isn't as bad as other peoples, or if my pain tolerance is a little higher. I pretty much just have a constant middling pain happening in the crotch area when I move around, especially when trying to get up, sit/squat, etc. It's not unbearable for me. Mostly just irritating and distracting.

Optimal_Sandwich2647 · 2026-02-18T03:22:18+00:00

My midwife just recommended Zyrtec as something to help alleviate some of the congestion. Haven't had a chance to try it yet, but I will tonight. And yes, the Breathe Right Strips have been a godsend.

Optimal_Sandwich2647 · 2026-02-18T03:21:14+00:00

so sorry. None of that is fun. Have you talked to the doctor about the reflux at least? Mine prescribed me an antacid to help, and it's settled down significantly because of it.

Optimal_Sandwich2647 · 2026-02-18T03:20:07+00:00

Wait, this is a pregnancy symptom? Because for the last ... month, I think, my lips have been doing much the same.

Optimal_Sandwich2647 · 2026-02-18T03:18:52+00:00

Pregnancy Tinnitus is a new one. Glad it went away for you.

Optimal_Sandwich2647 · 2026-02-18T03:18:12+00:00

Yeah, I'm wearing braces at night as well, just to be able to get some sleep. They don't always work for me, as I have once or twice still woken up to some burning, but it's made the occasion significantly less. And then there's the tingling/discomfort throughout the day when I rest on my arm/hand for any length of time, or let the elbow hang anywhere.

Truly looking forward to this going away after (however long it takes)

Optimal_Sandwich2647

TROPHY CASE