Birthing Options--Your Hospital Decisions
Planning Your Hospital Experience
Like every other step in the adoption process, you have options about how your birth should go.
Getting the experience you want requires communication. Talk with your case manager about what should happen during your hospital stay.
At Heart to Heart Adoptions, we want your hospital experience to reflect your preferences and comfort. This is your plan, your journey, and we are here to support you every step of the way.
Choosing Your Medical Team
We will help connect you with compassionate and skilled medical professionals for your prenatal and postnatal care. If you have preferences for a specific hospital or birthing center, let us know, and we will do our best to accommodate.
Deciding on Your Birth Plan
Your birth plan can be as detailed or flexible as you want. Here are some options you might consider:
- Pain Management: Would you like an epidural? Or do you prefer other pain relief methods, such as nitrous oxide, IV medications, or natural techniques like breathing exercises or massage?
- A birth mother with a low pain tolerance requested an epidural as soon as she arrived at the hospital. She also worked with her doctor to create a birth plan that avoided unnecessary medical interventions.
- After competing in sports all her life, one birth mother felt she would be fine without pain medication. She wanted a natural childbirth without medication.
- Support in the Delivery Room: Do you want a family member, friend, or one of our case managers with you during labor and delivery? Would you prefer a quiet, private atmosphere
- A mother wanted the adoptive parents to be present at the hospital. She asked for the adoptive mother to be there with the baby immediately after. She wanted both parents to wait in a nearby room during labor and to meet the baby immediately after birth. This allowed her to have her own space but also share this meaningful moment.
- C-Section Preparation: If a cesarean section becomes necessary, how involved would you like to be in decisions about the procedure?
- Cord Clamping: Would you prefer delayed cord clamping for the baby?
- Skin-to-Skin Contact: Do you want immediate skin-to-skin contact with the baby after delivery, or would you prefer this moment to be shared with the adoptive parents?
- Having the adoptive family bond with the baby skin-to-skin was important for one birth mother.
- Holding her baby for skin-to-skin contact was important for another birth mother. She took dozens of photos to remember the love she had for the infant.
- Visitation Preferences: Who do you want to visit you at the hospital? Would you like time alone with the baby, or would you prefer the adoptive family to be involved?
- Rooming Options: Would you like the baby to stay in the room with you, or would you prefer the baby to stay in the nursery?
- Photographs: Do you want photos taken of you and the baby, or perhaps with the adoptive parents?
- Keepsakes: Would you like to keep a copy of the baby’s footprints or a hospital bracelet?
Being Flexible in the Moment
We know childbirth doesn’t always go as planned. If things change, you will still have options. Whether you decide on a new course of action during labor or after delivery, we are here to adjust and support you. For example, one birth mother initially planned not to see the baby or meet the adoptive parents. After delivery, she decided to meet the adoptive mother briefly. That short meeting turned into hours of bonding, and they’ve stayed close ever since.
Contacting Us When Labor Begins
As soon as you think you’re in labor, call us. A Heart to Heart case manager will be there to support you and ensure your wishes are respected throughout the process.
We're Here for You
Your hospital experience is a significant moment in your adoption journey. At Heart to Heart Adoptions, we are committed to making it as smooth and comfortable as possible. Whatever choices you make, we will stand by your side and adapt to your needs.
Real-Life Examples of Hospital Plans
Every woman’s journey is unique, and the hospital plan you create is all about what makes you feel most comfortable. Here are a few stories about women and the choices they made:
- Maria’s Calm and Private Birth
Maria wanted her delivery to be as peaceful as possible. She asked that only the medical staff and her case manager from Heart to Heart be present during labor. Maria decided to hold her baby briefly after birth and then let the adoptive parents spend time with the baby while she rested.
- Tina’s Family-Centered Approach
Tina felt most comfortable with her mom and best friend by her side. They held her hand and helped her stay calm during labor. Tina decided to meet the adoptive parents after delivery once she had some quiet moments with her baby. She also opted for the baby to stay in the nursery while she recovered.
- Where’s the Adoptive Family
Jessica wanted the adoptive parents to be involved from the start. She included them in her prenatal appointments and invited them to be in the hospital waiting room during labor. After giving birth, Jessica spent time with her baby before introducing the adoptive parents. She wanted to make a meaningful connection with her baby before transitioning care.
- Danielle’s All-in-One Experience
Danielle wanted to create a special memory for herself and the adoptive parents. She asked for a shared hospital room where she could rest but still have time with the baby and the adoptive family together. She requested professional photos to capture the moment and later expressed how meaningful it was to have everyone in the same space.
- Amber’s Flexible Plan
Amber wasn’t sure what she would want during labor, so she kept her options open. She asked for an epidural but also planned for the possibility of needing a C-section if complications arose. She decided to meet her baby briefly after birth and let the adoptive parents take over from there.
