What was on my birth plan
✨When I was pregnant, the hospital handed me a 6–8 page birth plan. I skimmed it and thought “absolutely not”.
❓Why?
Because:
a) I was having twins
b) It was already confirmed I’d need a C-section
c) The boys were headed straight for the NICU
📝 Half the “options” on their plan didn’t even apply to me. Instead, I made my own. Short, blunt, notarized, and legally backed with a will & a living will.
⚖️ Hospital’s Birth Plan vs. My Reality
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•Hospital: “Do you want calming essential oils in the room?”
Me: “I want one arm free of IVs so I can actually hold my babies.”
•Hospital: “Would you like to use a birthing ball?”
Me: “I’ll be on an operating table with two preemies—next.”
•Hospital: “Do you want music playing during delivery?”
Me: “Talk, music, I don’t care- just get my babies into this world safely.”
•Hospital: “Do you want delayed cord clamping?”
Me: “Yes — until it stops throbbing.”
•Hospital: “Who should make decisions if you’re unavailable?”
Me: “My husband. It’s in writing. And notarized”.
⸻
🍼 Birth plans aren’t one-size-fits-all — especially for high-risk, C-section, multiples, or NICU moms. Sometimes you have to throw out the template and write your own rules.
👉🏼 Yup, I notarized mine. Did anyone else take it that far? 😂
Pennsylvania #birthplan #motherhoodunfiltered #twinpregnancy #nicumom #csectionmom
When preparing for the birth of twins, especially in high-risk situations requiring a C-section, a standard hospital birth plan often does not address the complex and specific needs of the mother and babies. This was clearly illustrated in a birth plan created by a mother expecting twins delivered by C-section, where many traditional options such as birthing balls or calming essential oils were irrelevant. Instead, her priorities focused on practical and critical preferences such as having one arm free of IVs to hold her babies, delayed cord clamping until the umbilical cords stopped throbbing, and immediate skin-to-skin contact, which are vital for bonding and the babies’ health. Importantly, she legally fortified her plan by having it notarized and included clear directives about decision-making authority, entrusting her husband with medical decisions if she was unavailable. This underlines the significance of not just detailing childbirth preferences but also ensuring legal clarity for medical emergencies or unexpected circumstances. High-risk births, particularly involving multiples and anticipated NICU admissions, often require flexibility rather than a one-size-fits-all template. Individualized birth plans should accommodate potential neonatal intensive care needs, strategies for delayed bathing, vaccination consent, and feeding plans such as breastfeeding supplemented with formula when necessary. Furthermore, this approach highlights how personalized plans can reduce stress and increase empowerment for mothers facing complex deliveries. By crafting a succinct yet comprehensive birth plan, patients communicate effectively with healthcare teams to prioritize safety, comfort, and parental involvement. Ultimately, families expecting high-risk births can benefit from developing customized birth plans in consultation with their healthcare providers, incorporating their values, medical necessities, and legal safeguards. Such clarity supports smoother communication and potentially better outcomes for both mothers and their newborns.