Home Birth Plan
The caracola Family Homebirth Birth Plan

The following is a list of preferences that may completely change on the day of the birth! mythalethe and caracola are very flexible on most points, and appreciate the wisdom and experience of Dr. [Midwife] in providing her guidance, support, and expertise during this wonderful event.

Vision. Our vision of birth is very spiritually focused. We would like to be able to find the tranquility necessary to access our inner resources during this process. In that light, we would prefer to spend much of our time laboring in quiet, with minimal interruptions from “the outside”. Please limit any discussions unrelated to the birth to the other room.

Pain Management. mythalethe and caracola have been practicing various relaxation techniques, including visualization, progressive relaxation, deepening, and sensory-focused mindfulness. We would like to rely on these techniques during labor. Other techniques we would like to use include time in the bath tub, hair brushing, massage and light touch, warm and cold compresses, aromatherapy…

The Birth Attendants. The following people are welcome without restriction at the labor: mythalethe, [sister], [midwife asst #1], [midwife asst #2], and Dr. [Midwife]. All family will be welcome at certain times, but in order to keep our labor as serene as possible, we would like the visits to be invitation only. Please help yourselves to any food or drink. We will have things prepared for you. Make yourself at home! If there are moments when we prefer to be alone in our apartment, please feel free to go across the hall to [Brother in Law]’s apartment. If you would like to leave the building, don’t be shy about requesting a key. (Our buzzer is very obnoxious, and we would much rather you have the freedom to let yourselves in and out!)

Special Consideration. Please remember to look at caracola’s face and not stare at her body. Please remember to focus on caracola as well as the baby. caracola may need time alone with mythalethe, and may request that some or all of the birth attendants leave at certain times.

Progress. Please avoid talk of “progress” or failure to progress. If there is no evidence of fetal distress, caracola and mythalethe would like to be allowed to stay in the laboring zone for as long as necessary and tolerable to caracola. We will appreciate any positive suggestions such as repositioning, etc. if it is apparent that the process has “stalled”. caracola will appreciate all positive encouragement. We would like to limit cervical checks to minimum. We request that no one talk of hospital transfer unless we are at a time when it is apparent that it is absolutely necessary.

Pushing. During second stage labor, caracola would prefer to try spontaneous, non-directed pushing. She would like to attempt “breathing down” and “laboring down” without valsalva pushing. She recognizes that other approaches may be necessary if these don’t work. Miriam would like to wait for the “uncontrollable urge to push”. Please don’t cheer caracola to “push”.

Birth. If possible, mythalethe would love to receive Xavi as he is born! He would also like to cut the cord (after it stops pulsating). Miriam would like lots of perineal support with warm compresses, and would like to try to provide perineal support to herself (if she can reach!). caracola would like to see Xavi’s head as it crowns, and will have a mirror available for this purpose. Please use suction bulb on Xavi only if necessary. Please save the placenta in the provided red plastic bowl after inspection.

Transfer. In case of transfer, we would appreciate the original birth attendants remaining with us if possible. We have prepared a separate birth plan (attached) in the event of a hospital labor and delivery.

-Signed and Dated by caracola and mythalethe