UNtil now I have brought a lengthy 4 page of options birth plan package to the first prenatal meeting. I have officially decided that sucks. Instead I think I will be sending it ahead of time to my clients with the "homework" to review it together so we can launch into birth plan mode/examining beliefs when I get there.
Do you guys find these lengthy preparations sheets helpful or do you prefer the simplicity of the Birth Preferences/Pain meds preferences sheet for discussion?
Would love some feedback!

I have a handout that lists all common interventions on the left and on the right it has alternatives both medical and natural. It's a couple pages long. I ask them to check their preferences, put a star next to things they don't know or understand and then we review it. Then I do a values clarification exercise that Terri Shilling does where we lay out the client's ideal birth on index cards, on the reverse of each card is the opposite, so vaginal birth/cesarean, no induction/induction, no IV/IV, etc. Then I ask them to give up 3 things until we get it down to 6 cards left. We then use that to formulate a birth plan. I always ask if they can give up 3 more when we have 6 left, some will, some can't.

I don't do a lengthy birth plan. I challenge my clients to take their top priorities and requests and put them on a 4x6 index card, bullet pointed, front side for labor and birth and back side for baby care/procedures. It really cuts out all the fluff and the staff find this new format very interesting and actually READ it.

I would love to see this worksheet you are referencing! What a great tool!

Would you be willing to share your handout??

I'd love to see it, too! Sounds better than mine! :o)

Me too. I like the medical and natural alternatives part.

I've attached the form I use. I have no idea where I got it from, and I've modified it to represent what is available in our area.

I've got an 8 page thing that I send to my clients. They fill it out, or not. I use it to bring up red flags, to find out what they are looking for, and to make sure they have researched their options. Some people feel like filling all of it out, others feel like only doing the easy parts (name, where birthing, etc.). I will say that it ALWAYS is a place to start a conversation, and it's a good way to make sure I don't forget anything. IME, most women want to fill it all out. Pregnany is a powerful time, and this is a way to acutely focus on the mom--which is nice in this busy busy world we live in

I'm actually thinking of making it longer. Someone posted a list of stupid questions that they will ahve to answer at the hospital. I think I might include it so that we can just hand it to the nurse and be less of a bother to the mom while birthing.

Thank you ladies!!! Just what I was looking for!

so, where are these stupid questions listed? might want to include them, too?

Thanks. That's awesome. Just what I was looking for.

Thank you for sharing. I am just compiling info getting ready for my very first meeting with a client.

I prefer my clients don't start on their birth plan until we have gone over the pros and cons of interventions. How will they know if they want something or not, if they don't know anything about it. They also need to know WHY they want something or do not want something. If they tell their doc "I don't want XYZ." and the doc asks why, they need to have a clue about why they don't want it. I've seen moms asked to not have an enema or be shaved which are things that are not done here. Asking not to have them indicates a lack of knowledge on our hospital's normal routine. I prefer they keep their birth plans short and simple. They don't need all the flowery language stating that "these are our wishes...we realize that in the case of an emergency...blah blah blah. Of COURSE in the case of a true emergency, then some things like birth plans may go out the window. But asking for a nurse who is used to helping women achieve unmedicated births and asking for time to discuss any proposed interventions before hand, are normally two common bulleted items.

I agree with so much of above. Short, simple, bulleted. Skip the "we love our baby and are so glad to have the experience of you lovely doctors and nurses" flowery prose.

I like to split up the birth and baby plans, put the baby plan in the warmer as soon as you get in the room. Especially if they are refusing routine things like hep b, eye goop, etc, consider making the baby plan on a super bright piece of paper.

Thanks for the pdf, that is awesome!

Great idea for the baby care plan! I like it!