Här delar vi med oss av våra "Förlossningsbrev"

Här är mitt brev som jag skrev inför min hemmaförlossning.

Mia and Dave's Birth Plan

We are so happy and excited about the prospect of giving birth to our
first child in the comfort of our home, and are extremely happy that
you will be there with us to help. Below we have listed some of the
wishes we have for the birth of our child. As this is the first time
for us, we understand that things may not go as planned, or that we
might feel differently about some of the things in our plan on the
day, but for now these are the things we feel are important for us
during the birth of our baby.

First stage

Mia has been practicing relaxation techniques using the hypnobirthing
method, and will wish to try to apply this method to manage the
contractions during the first stage of labour. For Mia to relax, it is
important that there is quiet around her, and that any disturbances
are kept to a minimum. During this stage, we would prefer if the
attending midwife would remain in the background, taking observations
to check on the baby's and Mia's safety. Dave will be close to Mia and
help her through her labour.

Mia would like to have a water birth, if possible, and would
appreciate your support in encouraging her to give birth underwater.

Please do not offer to break Mia's waters.

Second stage

In the event Mia feels the need to push, but is uncertain if she is
fully dialated, she would like you to perform an internal examination
to ensure that she is not pushing against a cervical lip. If she is
not yet fully dialated, please do not attempt to speed things up or
move things along using your fingers without clearing this with Mia first.

Mia will not be using traditional pushing techniques, but will instead
attempt to breathe her baby down using the birth breathing techniques
taught in hypnobirthing. If however, she should feel at the time that
this is not working as she should, and requests guidance, please do
provide this for her.

Dave does not want to see the baby crowning. Please do not encourage
him to look.
 
Mia would (of course and if possible) like to avoid perineal damage
and will do her best to give birth gently to accomplish this. In the
event that you notice her involuntarily pushing too hard, or too fast,
she would like your help to coach her to slow down and to remain calm.

Mia would rather tear naturally than have an episiotomy. Please only
administer an episiotomy if there is a true, pressing need for the
baby to be born quickly.

Arrival of the baby

Please do not announce the baby's sex as we would like to find out for
ourselves.

Please do not suction mucus from our baby's nose and mouth unless it
is necessary to do so.

Mia would like to try breastfeed our baby as soon as possible after
the birth, and would like to keep the baby unclothed and close to her
skin immediately after birth, to maximise skin-to-skin contact.

Third stage, placenta delivery

We would like a physiological third stage with the cord clamped and
cut when it stops pulsating. Please offer Dave the opportunity to cut
the cord if possible. We want to allow the placenta to turn up in its
own time. Please do not administer any drugs unless you feel there is
a real need to do so. 

I would appreciate your advice to help me deliver the placenta
naturally. Please do not pull on the cord or use fundal pressure
unless there is a specific indication to do so, as I have read that
this is contra-indicated in drug-free third stages.

We do not wish to keep the placenta.

Aftercare

Please do not administer Vitamin K after the birth. If the birth is
traumatic for the baby or there is some other risk factor for HDN, we
will be happy to discuss this with the midwife and allow vitamin K if
we both decide it is appropriate.

Hospital transfer

In the case that we need to transfer to the hospital, we would like
you to remain with us for the remainder of the birth. We like to avoid
a cesaerean section at all cost, so please help us ensure that this is
only carried out in the event that there are no other options left to
consider.

In the case of a cesaerean, I want Dave to be allowed in the operating
theater with me. He will not want to look as they pull the baby out of
me. As soon as possible after the baby is delivered, I want the baby
to be placed on my chest for skin-to-skin contact and bonding. If the
baby needs to leave the room for any critical check-ups or procedures,
we would like Dave to be able to accompany the baby at all
times. Please do not admit our baby to special care simply for
observation, but only if there is a specific reason for concern.

If I suffer a severe post-partum haemorrhage, please do not perform a
hysterectomy unless it is the only available course of action.

Please do not give our baby supplements of glucose water or formula
milk without our permission. We would expressly like to avoid having
any formula supplements unless it is unavoidable, and certainly not in
the first two days in any event.

Under no circumstances is our baby to be bottle-fed as this could lead
to nipple confusion and hinder breastfeeding. If supplements are
necessary, please give them by spoon or other method, not by bottle.

Thank you.