Our talk today will focus on important considerations for your birthing plan. This is a follow up to my recent video explaining critical issues that surround holistic home births. As a bonus, I will quickly cover the most common signs reported to us of a baby suffering a traumatic HIE injury, as that question was also included in with the important considerations for your birthing plan.
A birthing plan can be extremely helpful for families going through this process. They can provide structure and organization to this journey.
Important Considerations For Your Birthing Plan
Before going too far ahead I want to stress that birthing plans should not be viewed as set in stone. In some instances, especially if emergencies happen, changes must be made. I say this because we have talked with some mothers who seemed to be hell bent on not wanting any changes to the plan, even in the face needed changes.
A birthing plan is really a written outline of what you want to happen during labor and delivery. For example, the plan might include where you want to deliver your baby. In addition, it may note the people you want present during labor and delivery. The plan might also explain whether you intend to use medications.
Another major benefit of a birthing plan is to give your medical providers a heads up as to your wishes during the process. It is a good idea to speak with your providers well in advance about your birthing plan. This means that you should start thinking about this early in your pregnancy to get everyone onboard to your wishes. The plan should be as detailed as possible but not more than a few pages in length.
Finally, thought should be given as to where you want to give birth. When thinking about the location, things like whether you are high risk or have had previous complications must be taken into consideration. I say this because if you are planning on, for example, a home water birth and a complication arises because you are high risk, you may be putting yourself and your baby in a more challenging situation.
How Do I know If MY Baby Has A Brain Injury (HIE)?
To follow up from the above paragraph regarding complications, I will quickly touch on the most common signs that are reported to us when parents talk with us about their baby’s HIE brain injury. Please remember that the doctors will be able to confirm through testing whether your child has a brain injury.
The most common sign that parents report to us is their baby suffering seizures. Seizures can happen right after birth or hours /days later. Seizures can be defined as abnormal brain activity.
Another common sign that families report to use is the need for a feeding tube. The tube is needed because the baby will not feed unless the tube is used. I will also add here vision and hearing challenges.
Finally, almost every family note delays in reaching milestones. The length of the delay can vary with the severity of the injury.
If you have more questions about how your baby suffered their HIE brain injury at birth I invite you to contact me at my info below. It does not cost you any money to speak with me initially about your baby’s story.
Marcus B. Boston, Esq.
9701 Apollo Dr. Suite 100
Largo, Maryland 20774
301-850-4832
1-833-4 BABY HELP
