This is my first baby and I was wondering is it really a good idea to present your doctor with a birth plan? Do they find it offensive that you put your input into the birthing process.

I really trust my doctor and I don't want to offend her.

I made a birth plan. It IS nice to have, but don't be upset if it doesn't go accordingly.

I have one, and have made it clear to my doctor(s) that I want it to be as natural as possible, no meds, no heart monitor on my stomach, etc.

It's not offensive. I wish I had one my first time around.

It's nice to have one to tell the drs. But to make one and give is almost a waste of time. The doctors and midwives have told me no one looks at them ad to just tell them your plans.

Quoting JiLLiAN.:" I have one, and have made it clear to my doctor(s) that I want it to be as natural as possible, no meds, ... [snip!] ... natural as possible, no meds, no heart monitor on my stomach, etc. It's not offensive. I wish I had one my first time around."

why no heart monitor?

I never wrote one out. Luckily I have a good team of doctors and my main one asked me what I wanted for pain control and all that good stuff so I was able to talk to my Dr about it.

Quoting Maria + Cory = Alexis:" This is my first baby and I was wondering is it really a good idea to present your doctor with a birth ... [snip!] ... find it offensive that you put your input into the birthing process. I really trust my doctor and I don't want to offend her."

They absolutely could be offended... which is further proof that obstetrics is an insane field of medicine. You have a right to birth the way you want but unfortunately this right is very often withheld from women.

I never had one. L&d nurses have told me it is bad luck to have one written. They never go as planned. I'm going in this time knowing what I want but I won't have a written birth plan

I don't think you should go all out and print it out, be set on something specific, or even think it'll go that way. At my hospital, they ask when you're admitted what you want for pain, who will be in the room, and if you plan on breastfeeding or formula feeding. They also ask if you want to be cut or tear yourself if you need an episiotomy (sp?).

Things can change and stuff happens, so I voted no.

I loved my birth plan.. My first one it went how I wanted, my second was NOTHING that I wanted at all.. But its nice to have one, Just dont set it in stone and be open to things needing to happen for safety reasons or it just not going the way you hoped  

Good luck and congrats on your 1st

I think it is a good idea to decide what you want to happen and go over it with your doctor. If you dont tell them, they wont know and if youre in active labor youre probably gonna get pissed off pretty easily when they try to talk you into something you dont want. Or maybe thats just me  

I didn't write a birth plan... But I knew how I wanted some simple things to go that I had control over. Such as I wanted an epidural, I knew who I wanted in the room, I knew that I wanted time alone with my baby before any visitors. As far as how the BIRTH itself was going to go... I knew it probably wouldn't go according to planned anyways so I didn't make a "birth plan"... It would have all gone to smurf anyways because I was at the hospital being induced and didn't have her until 2 days later! But everything that I was sure of I made sure to make it clear to my nurses.

Most OBs will expect you to have a birthing plan especially for your first kid. Just remember even thought you have the plan for your OB and nurses doesn't mean it will be followed 100% depending on how your L&D go. My OB suggested we just let her know what our preferences (or religious beliefs) are but not count on an actual plan being followed.

The one I wrote up mostly gives my doctor the go ahead. I really trust her judgement. I mostly wanted to focus on after the baby is born. I want to be the first to hold her and bond with her. Research says it is really important to bond with your baby ASAP after birth.

It states that I want to aim for a natural birth but if I asked for medication it states my preference. It also states that my baby is more important than anything else. Focus on her before worrying about me. Stuff like that.

I knew what I wanted and that was natural. I didn't get forced a epidural cause I wanted a natural birth. I wanted to go in on my own but ended up getting induced and they broke my water. Threw my birth plan out the door at that point. But I still didnt get a epi.

Its good to know what you do and don't want but don't get upset if it doesn't go according to plan.