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More Information:
Please, visit our birth planning page as well
which has additional birth education.
The Birth Plan:
This plan is specific to early pregnancy (under 20 weeks) medicalized, operative birth.
Note that different aspects of the delivery will be different for the different gestational ages.
Birth in hospital: you may be placed under general anesthesia, or sedation, and after the birth, you will stay in recovery for a few hours, when you will be discharged.
Birth at office : the doctor may administer local anesthesia, and your discharge will be in less than an hour (like a pelvic exam).
During Birth
What to Bring
__camera
__someone to support you (to wait in waiting room, and to drive you home)
__additional support people can include a friend or chaplain
__photo of you and your husband to keep with baby
__Clinging Cross or something special to hold
__scented eye mask to wear during the birth
__*additional special items: two teddy bears or blankets (one to leave with your baby, and one to take home)
__Music and player (headphones) or battery operated personal fan, if permitted (to muffle the sounds of the surgical delivery)
__Wear your favorite scented lotion or perfume
__If you husband is your support person, have him wear his cologne, aftershave, deodorant, or other smell you prefer
__any ultrasound pictures you may have, favorite scriptures, inspirational quotes or affirmations, that you can read in the waiting room
__letters or cards written from other family and friends that you may have, to be read in waiting room
__pictures drawn by older siblings posted in room (and left with baby)
__incorporation of spiritual beliefs
The Welcoming
During this stage of pregnancy, you may likely be discouraged from seeing your baby. Your baby may not be delivered completely intact physically. If you ask your doctor during the time of the birth, you may be allowed to have your baby’s physical form returned to you after their analysis/autopsy of the baby is complete. If you are permitted to have your baby returned to you, a representative of the hospital will likely call you within two weeks of the birth for you to come and receive your baby. He or she will likely be placed in a small container. Please know that your baby’s physical form is not going to be intact, and this may be extremely upsetting for you to see. Please consider not opening the container.
Your doctor may also offer suggestions for physical pain relief, including medicinal options. You might also inquire of prescription of estrogen and progesterone treatments, as this has been theorized to reduce the incidence of intrauterine adhesions, therefore possibly preventing future additional fertility challenges as a result of the birth method needed for this pregnancy.
After the Birth
- Have the photo you brought placed with your baby.
- Have the blanket you brought placed with the baby (just leave these items in the room if you like).
- Name your baby
- *See the “Professionals/Volunteers” link at stillbirthday.com for additional services to consider.
- Perhaps consider having a friend spend the night with you.
- You will still have lochia (the remaining blood from inside the uterus, for about a week or less).
- Watch for signs of postpartum depression (PPD) or secondary vaginitus.
- Watch for warning signs including fever, pain, filling a maxi pad sooner than an hour (bleeding after a medically assisted birth should be minimal), clotting, or a foul odor. Please contact your provider immediately if you experience any of these signs.Consult with your OB about TTC. Most will recommend waiting at least 6 weeks, just as in a full term delivery. We have information here regarding TTC (trying to conceive) and getting pregnant again.
- Be easy on yourself, your body, and on your recovery.
- Talk to your trusted spiritual advisor, your husband, and trusted mentors and friends about all of your feelings.
- *Visit stillbirthday.com for “Farewell Celebrations” and for “Long Term Support” resources.
Have at Home After Birth
__people ready to help!
__maxi pads (for lochia, you may have postpartum bleeding for about a week)
Please click the links for more support
