KC is a good friend and I thought his letter to their doctor on the birth of their fourth child might provide an encouragement to others.
He has a strong desire to help others regain their health through natural means.
Dear Doctors and Staff of Tampa General:
We are so excited about having you aid us in the birth of our fourth child. We have taken Bradley courses (husband coached child birth classes) in preparation for this very special event and have had all three of our children using this method. In an effort to have complete and open communication with you, your staff, and the hospital personnel, the following are some specific points that we would like to occur in order for us to obtain our fourth natural child birth. We would greatly appreciate your time and understanding.
1. We request time to labor with no artificial augmentation. We would like to have a calm, quiet and encouraging atmosphere with as much privacy as possible (minimal people in the birthing room). My husband K.C. will be present at all times to assist me and we appreciate your support of his primary role as labor coach. 2. We do not wish to be offered drugs for the management of pain. If an emergency arises, we would like to be informed of our options prior to the administration of any drug or procedure, and what the possible effects of our decision would be. 3. We desire flexibility in determining the best possible positions for comfort during delivery and would like the freedom to walk and change positions as desired. 4. Heparin lock to be used instead of an IV. 5. Vaginal exams to be conducted sparingly and not during contractions. 6. Bag of waters to rupture naturally without assistance. 7. Intermittent external monitoring of our baby only when necessary. 8. We do not want to have an episiotomy and instead, request that the doctor, nurse, or assistant massage the perineum before and especially during the pushing stage. If an episiotomy becomes necessary upon the crowning of our baby's head, we would like to be given the option of a pressure episiotomy at that time. 9. Please do NOT immediately clamp the umbilical chord. Instead, please hold the baby below the level of the placenta (on the bed, in your arm or lap is fine) until such time as the baby is crying and is pink (with no milking of the cord) and the umbilical cord completely ceases to pulse as we wish to assure that the placental transfusion has been naturally completed prior to clamping and cutting. 10. We wish for our baby to be placed on mother’s abdomen after the placental transfusion is completed -- skin to skin contact with a warming blanket on top (provided there are no complications) to begin bonding and breast feeding as soon as possible, allowing for natural uterine contractions to aid in the expulsion of the placenta. In the event of complications, please have our baby returned for breast-feeding as soon as possible 11. We want for the placenta to be delivered naturally, allowing the full 5 or 10 minutes for expulsion without any medication or physical assistance, specifically no pulling or holding taught on the umbilical chord. 12. We will be rooming-in, as we plan to breast feed, there should be no need for our baby to be sent to the nursery. We request that the pediatric exam and any necessary tests be done in our presence and not the nursery, provided there are no complications. 13. No bottles or pacifies be given to our baby. 14. Absolutely NO immunizations / vaccinations. 15. No antibiotics to mom or baby.
1. We request time to labor with no artificial augmentation. We would like to have a calm, quiet and encouraging atmosphere with as much privacy as possible (minimal people in the birthing room). My husband K.C. will be present at all times to assist me and we appreciate your support of his primary role as labor coach.
2. We do not wish to be offered drugs for the management of pain. If an emergency arises, we would like to be informed of our options prior to the administration of any drug or procedure, and what the possible effects of our decision would be.
3. We desire flexibility in determining the best possible positions for comfort during delivery and would like the freedom to walk and change positions as desired.
4. Heparin lock to be used instead of an IV.
5. Vaginal exams to be conducted sparingly and not during contractions.
6. Bag of waters to rupture naturally without assistance.
7. Intermittent external monitoring of our baby only when necessary.
8. We do not want to have an episiotomy and instead, request that the doctor, nurse, or assistant massage the perineum before and especially during the pushing stage. If an episiotomy becomes necessary upon the crowning of our baby's head, we would like to be given the option of a pressure episiotomy at that time.
9. Please do NOT immediately clamp the umbilical chord. Instead, please hold the baby below the level of the placenta (on the bed, in your arm or lap is fine) until such time as the baby is crying and is pink (with no milking of the cord) and the umbilical cord completely ceases to pulse as we wish to assure that the placental transfusion has been naturally completed prior to clamping and cutting.
10. We wish for our baby to be placed on mother’s abdomen after the placental transfusion is completed -- skin to skin contact with a warming blanket on top (provided there are no complications) to begin bonding and breast feeding as soon as possible, allowing for natural uterine contractions to aid in the expulsion of the placenta. In the event of complications, please have our baby returned for breast-feeding as soon as possible
11. We want for the placenta to be delivered naturally, allowing the full 5 or 10 minutes for expulsion without any medication or physical assistance, specifically no pulling or holding taught on the umbilical chord.
12. We will be rooming-in, as we plan to breast feed, there should be no need for our baby to be sent to the nursery. We request that the pediatric exam and any necessary tests be done in our presence and not the nursery, provided there are no complications.
13. No bottles or pacifies be given to our baby.
14. Absolutely NO immunizations / vaccinations.
15. No antibiotics to mom or baby.
We respect the professional judgment of the doctors and will, of course, be flexible in the event of complications. Although we feel confident that everything will go normally, we trust that you will inform us if any problems arise so that we can discuss the available alternatives and make a responsible decision.
We appreciate your attention to our birth plan and are grateful for all the kind, encouraging care you can provide.
God bless you,
Monica Craichy K.C. Craichy
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