Did any of you ladies draw up a birth plan and presented it to your caregiver or doctor to indicate your preferences during labor? I just had my weekly check-up with my OBGYN this afternoon, and she already gave me an admittance slip that I'll just present to the hospital staff in case I go into labor (she expects me to go into labor anytime within the month -- if I don't by week 40 I'll have to be induced). She indicated in that slip the necessary procedures they'll have to perform on me before she arrives. We haven't talked about my options yet, she only told me that she'll check my tolerance of pain, and that she'll sedate me when needed. Is sedation different from getting an epidural?

I also know there are options like I can walk around during early labor, or if I can eat and drink to stay hydrated instead of getting an IV. Since this is my first pregnancy, I allowed my doctor to do most of the decisions when it comes to how I will give birth, but I also want to know my options. I'm not sure if I should draw up a birth plan to indicate my preferences or I'll just fully trust my doctor and just show up at the hospital when the time comes. Any suggestions?

I did not have my own personel birth plan, but I can't see where it would hurt.

As for pain....I think that they can give you a mild sedative that won't harm the baby if you need it. I did not have anything with the first 2 but I had the epidural with Julia (because I was going in for surgery directly following) but had I known then what I know now i would have had the epidural!

It is getting very close for you Dawn,you will do fine Don't forget to let us know what is going on

I wanted to have the baby all natural with my first one. Then I saw the look of the attendent nurse when she nodded ok. After a while, I asked for the mild sedative (I don't remember what it was called) but all it did was make me so sleepy I couldn't let anyone know I was in pain. Finally, I did the epidural. WOW! I liked that.

The second one was breech so I had an emergency c-section with an epidural. I liked that experience even better after I found out I didn't have to deliver him butt first.

My mother still laughs I have a tatoo of tigger on my lower back and the anastegiolosist (sp) was laughing because he put the needle right thru tigger's nose

I forgot to mention. They didn't allow me to have any food once I was in labor, but i did get ice chips and an IV.

So the sedative doesn't really help with the pain? It just puts you to sleep so you will calm down? I'm actually not sure if I want to have the epidural because I want to still feel my legs, LOL. But I heard from my friends who got an epidural that they never felt a thing and their labor was only around three hours.

An epidural only blocks pain sensations, you'll still feel your legs there it just won't be like....pain. You'll still feel pressure to push and you'll be awake enough to even see the baby come out (with mirrors if they have that at your hospital)

I had a shot (kind of against my will) with my daughter to ease my stress and pain. It let me rest between pushes as her labor was not pleasant. I won't go into it as scaring you isn't necessary. All labors are different, my sons was a breeze, but my daughter has always had to be the drama queen!

Do some research and yes, draw up a birth plan. That'll help you inventory what music and personal items you want in the room to help you relax. My birth plan with my daughter was in the book they gave me at my hospital during the birthing classes I took. I'm sure you can find a good one online though. If nothing else..doing some research on your options will help ease your mind when everything happens. There is a lot you won't know going into this and the terms about stations and centimeters and such involved really helped when they were blurting them out in the room. It'll also help you learn about episiotomies, forceps and the suction tools if they are necessary. There are some really good books about massage techniques to prevent tearing and kegel exercises to help control muscles down there so when you have to push you have some experience.

When I was pregnant with my first child I had subscribed to some free pregnancy magazines I found online I read every one of them and learned so much. It really helped calm me down along the way.

As for options during labor, that'll change with an induction. If you are induced you must be strapped to a fetal monitor through out the whole labor. It limits you a lot so ask your doctor about what is allowed at your hospital. With my daughter ( I was induced twice!) I was allowed to get up and go to the bathroom and then be put back on the monitor. With my son, to my dismay, I was forced to use a bed pan and stay on the monitor at all times. It's a hospitals preference. I also used a balance ball (since you do yoga I think you may know what I'm talking about) with both of my children to help gravity pull them into the birthing canal. You can also use them pre-labor and they are great for getting the baby into a comfortable position. Again, it's the hospitals choice if you can use it during labor...so talk to your doctor or call the hospital and see if you can have a tour and talk to someone about the room options and all. My daughter was born at a hospital that I stayed in the same room the whole time and they provided the ball during labor and allowed me to take a warm shower to ease the early labor. My sons hospital transferred me to a different room after labor with a double kraftmatic type bed that was wonderful for the baby and lil sis and I to spend Easter holiday in. I really would see if the hospital has any tools for you.

OH..and my son's hospital also had a hotel type floor in it where if I wanted we could stay the night after my release with family and be close to the nurses if needed. They also had massage appts available there...it's was wild to learn about but I didn't take them up on it as I wanted to be home fast. With your first...you want to stay there as long as you can! LOL

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So the sedative doesn't really help with the pain? It just puts you to sleep so you will calm down?

It may not put you to sleep. I learned from my two sons that the same drugs anesthesiologist prescribed worked differently. Maybe that's why your doctor wants to do the pain tolerance. I did remember saying to myself... I'm falling asleep and I feel everything but I'm too tired to speak.

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An epidural only blocks pain sensations, you'll still feel your legs there it just won't be like....pain. You'll still feel pressure to push

That may differ from person to person.. after I had the epidural I fealt NOTHING... I did not get sleepy but I did not feel anything from waist down. In fact when the doc was telling me to push I was having a hard tie trying to because there was no feeling. I went into surgery directly after delivery and about 2 hours after recovery I tried to get up out of bed and go to the bathroom...didn't work and I almost bit it.

Boy Sky, did you ever bring back some memories that I had forgoten about from my deliveries. Macie was enduced, they jelled me the 1st day and I was strapped to the monitor then the second day I was jelled again and they did have me take a warm shower which REALLY did help. With Julia there was a whirlpool bathtub in my room, I never did use it but was urged to.

Thanks a bunch ladies! I'll be talking to my doctor about my options during my next visit next week. From your responses, I already made some notes of my own preferences when it comes to my labor...

... Wow a whirlpool bathtub would be great! Ive been thinking of giving birth in a tub full of water, but Im not sure if the hospital has such facilities.

... I think I'll go with the birthing ball too. I never heard of hospitals here giving a birthing ball, but I have a pilates ball at home which I could look into bringing with me if they dont have that at the hospital where I'm going. Is that the same ball?

...I also think I will be needing some massage while I'm in labor. And I need some relaxing music, and some aromatherapy candles.

LOL, I think I need to give birth in a spa instead of a hospital.

I'm still torn whether I'll just have the mild sedative or an epidural. I've also done some research on the net and there may be some effects on the baby if they drug me. Oh well, maybe when I'm already there I can request for the epidural when the mild sedative wouldnt work.

You never know Tess, it may happen quicker then you think and you won't even have time for any of it

I went into labor with Amber and by the time we got to the hospital (of course the hospital is 96 miles away) she was ready, we were at the hospital for 15 minutes and I had delivered

Pilates ball is the same...sit with your hips even on it and roll your hips around to see if the baby likes it. You can also bounce slightly up on down on it in labor. You will need someone to help you stay on it during labor and it provides an easy way for them to help with back labor if you have it ...Sis gave me a run for my money with back labor!

Gosh Michelle..it sounds like they gave you more of an epidural than they dosed me up. I wasn't having any procedures after though..it was just to let me relax. I was very nervous with Lil B because of my first labor and it wouldn't let me dialate. 15 minutes after I had it he came out~ I dialated 3 centimeters that quickly!

As for effects of the medicine on the baby..yes there are always risks but it has more to do with what med and the timing of them giving it to you. The doctors are very wise about this now, not too early not too late. A mild shot of stadol isn't too bad as I think that's what I had with Sierra. I don't recommend going through as much as I did prior to letting them convince you to have something. Overall it made things..rougher.

I also wish I will have a quick labor! The hospital is an hour away plus the city traffic. Btw, how do you girls know when labor has started? I've been having irregular contractions since this morning, I'm guessing it's just Braxton Hicks since I haven't lost my plug yet and my water didnt break yet. Also I'm experiencing some pain in my lower back. Maybe this has something to do with my UTI.

I think I'll bring the Pilates ball with me if the hospital doesnt have one. I may just look funny at the elevator... a pregnant woman carrying a big ball with her. LOL. Hopefully the hospital has one so I dont have to carry the ball around.

I was sent home 4 times at the hospital because I wasnt dialated enough.

Anyway, my hips started to feel like jelly and wasn't admitted until after my water broke.

The 2nd one, well he came quicker and I thought I was going to deliver in the car. Can you imagine my surprise when they told me he was breech? Yep he mooned all the doctors and nurses.

I think if you bring the big pilates ball, a nice single guy will be glad to hold it for you and then you have a captive audience in the elevator .

The ball was funny to pack and bring, but I did it the 2nd time around because they didn't have one. Then I found out they wouldn't let me out of bed! GRRR

A constant lower back pain is how I knew I was in pre-term labor at 20 weeks. They say if you lay on your side for an hour and drink water...several glasses...and it doesn't stop then it could be real labor. False labor or braxton hicks contractions will stop after laying on your left side and re hydrating with several glasses of water. At least that's how they told me to figure out if my son was trying to come way too early again and get to the hospital. It worked for me.