Erin Piorier--Holistic Pregnancy and Birth Services







Real Birth in the Twin Cities

Birth Plans and Birth Stories:  Sarah and Joe

Sarah and Joe were expecting their first baby.  They prepared for birth by reading and taking Bradley Childbirth Classes.  They hired me as their doula. Sarah and Joe were planning for a natural waterbirth at St. Joe's hospital in St. Paul.

Their birth plan is an excellent example of a concise birth plan that covers labor, delivery and the immediate postpartum.  They used primarily positive language but were more emphatic about a couple of points.

Birthplan for Sarah

Dear Birth Team,

We are excited to have our baby at St. Joseph's.  We are looking forward to a natural childbirth and have heard from many sources that St. Joseph's is very supportive of that goal.  We would like to thank you for your care and encouragement. --Sarah and Joe

People Attending the Birth: Husand Joe ___, Doula, Erin Piorier

Midwife: M_____

Childbirth Classes: Bradley Method of Natural Childbirth

During Labor I would like to:
  •   Eat and drink lightly throughout labor
  •  Create a calm and quiet environment in the labor room
  • Try positions such as walking, sitting on birth ball, swaying, waterbirth tub, all fours
  • Use relaxation techniques such as massage, shower or bath, heat or cold, breathing
  • Use natural alternatives instead of pain medications. Please do not offer any pain medications; I will ask for them if I feel I want them.
  • Have fetal monitoring limited to 20 minute, initial strip and thereafter use intermittent monitoring with the dopton (if continuous monitoring is needs, I would like to use telemetry)
  • Use natural alternatives to augment labor, such as nipple stimulation, walking or simply allowing time to rest instead of I.V. pitocin.

During the birth I would prefer to:
  • Have a waterbirth if possible

After the birth I would appreciate: 

  • Waiting to clamp and cut the cord until after it stops pulsing.
  • Josef would like to cut the cord.
  • Breastfeeding the baby immediately after birth to encourage spontaneous delivery of the placenta to help avoid the need for pitocin.
  • Having immediate care done while I hold the baby rather than assessing the baby in the warmer.
  • Postponing routine baby procedures for 2-3 hours to give us time to bond.
  • Postponing baby's first bath until after I feel rested and ready to give it myself.

For baby care I plan to:
  • Please do not apply eye ointment to baby. We would like the Vitamin K given orally rather than as an injection if possible.
  • Have a pediatrician from Healtheast Maplewood
  • Breastfeed on demand.
  • Use 24 hour rooming- in.  We have chosen not to circumcise.