What Info do You Take to Births?

naturalbirther · 04-25-2007, 11:44 AM

Morning, Ladies!
i have a client due any second and I was thinking about how bad my back will hurt if I lug all my stuff (paperwork and binders, etc) to the birth. I was curious to see what all of you bring with you to a birth as far as paperwork/info goes.

I'm working on my DONA cert, so of course I need my evals, but what else would you suggest, other than their birthplan? Should I just take my whole client binder with EVERYTHING in it for time's sake (and for fear that I'll misplace somethng if I take it out ;waiting), or grab the paperwork pertaining to her birth only? Anything else?
Thanks!

tlcdoula · 04-25-2007, 12:00 PM

I don't take any binders other than a small file that I have on the client and my birth bag. I do not take "info" for the clients that they might be interested in as they are too busy to look at stuff. I share all that with them prenatally and nothing goes with me other than a small file with their info. Even that sometimes I don't even take as I know them

loveslabor · 04-25-2007, 12:02 PM

I take a file folders with all her paperwork hole punched and clipped inside.

AmandaB · 04-25-2007, 12:12 PM

I have plastic page protectors and all of my client info goes in one(intake forms, hippa, labour progress, dona's client/history sheet) I still keep all these records even though I was long done. I have a black leather zipped-up binder, so everything stays secure. I also have a black book, that is my client record book ... it has a record of every birth for the last 2 yrs.

Acacia · 04-25-2007, 12:13 PM

I take a clipboard, which included:

1.the mother's birth plan
2. my evaluations, birth record stuff for certification (bring extra evaluatons...I have had midwives mess up on them and give me really bad scores because they didn't read it right!
3. I also bring a list of things we practiced at prenatals...comfort measures that worked and lotion scents that she liked at the time etc just as a refresher for me.

Jilian · 04-25-2007, 01:02 PM

I have a Doula binder with evaluation forms, my signed HIPPA consent form (with 2 extra copies), a few copies of the birth plan, my client info sheets with info about the mom, and then some lined paper for note-taking (I use this to draw up the birth story). I usually bring a book too, the birth partner is a good labor read.

mammamayI · 04-25-2007, 08:41 PM

I have a binder which I keep in the car, but I bring the FOLDER that's in the binder in with me. In it is the directions to home/hospital which I mapquest for the first prenatal, and then as a reminder when I get wakened at 2 in the morning...also a copy of their birth plan, and whatever notes on their prenatals I may have, such as what they liked for scents, where she thinks she holds her tension, favorite foods...whatever. DOesn't often get used, but it's nice to have there, nonetheless.

naturalbirther · 04-25-2007, 08:56 PM

Thanks, ladies, this has been helpful! I knew I wouldn't need info for them, such as handouts or anything like that, but I meant info for me, like reminders on certain massage, etc. I did make a comfort measures flip book that I printed out with my logo ont he front and laminated each square, then punched holes in each and put rings in them. I really love it. Anywho...I think my biggest worry is losing their consent form or evals from dr's/nurses. I use the plastic page protectors for EVERYTHING, so I think I will us one of the small 1/4in binders to just snap their personal info (birth plan, consent, evals, notes, etc) into and bring a clip board. Thanks for that reminder, Acacia! I have a small notebook that I will use to make notes in to write birth stories.
Thanks again! I needed some support!

Pixie T · 04-25-2007, 10:15 PM

The only other thing I take, rather than having extra paper for notes (for birth story or cert. requirements) kicking around the birthing area, is a wide roll of masking tape. I stick a length to my thigh, and every time there's something that needs charting (v.e. time and results for ex.) I just write it on the tape. At the end of the birth I peel it off, stick it on a piece of paper and name/date it. I've never lost one 'cause it's always stuck to my leg (usually when I crawl home to sleep it's still there) - and if mama has med. allergies or the like, I make a note at the top at the beginning of the birth, and then put the paperwork (if I've even brought it along) away for the birth. Mess free record keeping, and the docs never fail to comment on how clever the doula is !

Stacie · 04-25-2007, 10:27 PM

I don't take anything with me paperwise -- not even blank paper to write on. Hmm, maybe I should. When I was certifying, I had a folder where I kept the evals, labor progress sheet, birth plan, etc.

I am always very familiar with their birth plan. If I do get the birth plan and maybe their intake info sheet in my bag, I have never needed to pull it out.

shelldar · 04-25-2007, 11:26 PM

Brilliant idea Trish

I love it

For my first (and only so far) birth, I took her birth plan and personal info, and notes I had taken, in a plastic pocket. Didn't make it out of my bag though!

laboroflovedoula · 04-26-2007, 12:01 AM

i carry my pda- an IPAQ with my notes on the client along with her birth ideals... that is also what i take my notes of the birth into so that i can come home and sync it into a word document for her to have a birth story later... so no paperwork at all for me.

i am also curious why some of you have a HIPPA intake form- you are not a health care provider and therefore not regulated by the laws that HIPPA governs... just curious as to what the thinking is on that.

Annie · 04-26-2007, 04:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by laboroflovedoula

i am also curious why some of you have a HIPPA intake form- you are not a health care provider and therefore not regulated by the laws that HIPPA governs... just curious as to what the thinking is on that.

The HIPPA form in many cases for us on here is also known as the Client Confidentiality Release Form. (http://www.dona.org/pdfs/confidentiality.pdf) It is a requirement for those doing certifying births through DONA.

-Annie

naturalbirther · 04-27-2007, 12:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Annie

The HIPPA form in many cases for us on here is also known as the Client Confidentiality Release Form. (http://www.dona.org/pdfs/confidentiality.pdf) It is a requirement for those doing certifying births through DONA.

-Annie

Bex · 04-27-2007, 12:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Annie

The HIPPA form in many cases for us on here is also known as the Client Confidentiality Release Form. (http://www.dona.org/pdfs/confidentiality.pdf) It is a requirement for those doing certifying births through DONA.

-Annie

Thanks, I was wondering about that too!

Reading all of this just makes me more and more nervous. I don't have handouts yet, don't have binders full of info...i feel more and more like I need a mentor, but just don't know how to find one. I need a "feeling lost" smilie