Birth Plan
(Comfort Care Plan)
for: Samuel David Lucido
September 2, 2010
As Sammy’s parents, it is our greatest wish to be able to cherish every moment we have with our baby, in a loving and caring environment. We have compiled this list of requests and wishes regarding his care in order to make this experience as easy as possible for all involved. Please do not hesitate to ask us for clarification if it is needed. Please don’t mind if we change our wishes at any time. Our wishes all revolve around our need to spend as much precious time with Sammy as possible and to prevent him from suffering during that time. Our wishes are as follows:
Labor:
1. We would like Dave Lucido (husband), Michelle Coyle (Melissa’s mom), or Wendy Gerhardt (doula) in the room with me at all times in labor AND delivery. Melissa would like to invite any one else to come into the room as well.
2. We do wish to have a sign placed on our door that designates the unique and sensitive nature of Sammy’s birth situation. We DO NOT wish to have extraneous staff entering our room without speaking to our nurse first (i.e. housekeeping, dietary).
3. Melissa would prefer to be able to eat/drink clear liquids in labor.
4. We do wish to have the option to dim the lights and have music playing.
5. Melissa would like to be able to walk during labor if she chooses to (even if my bag of waters is broken, if it is safe for Sammy).
6. Melissa wants the IV medications for Beta Strep.
7. We do not want to have her water broken at anytime. Keeping the membranes intact will protect Sammy's head and might make a live birth more likely.
8. Melissa would like the option of using the shower when in labor.
9. Melissa would prefer a saline loc instead of IV fluids unless absolutely needed.
10. We would prefer to have a room away from other laboring mom’s if possible and keep the door closed as much as possible.
11. We do not wish to have fetal monitoring during labor and delivery. If, however, we decide at any point, to hear fetal heart tones, please allow us to do so. We do not wish to have an emergency cesarean section in the event that Sammy’s heart tones are undetectable or decreased. However, we do realize that if one is necessary to protect Melissa, we will take the advisement of our doctor.
12. At this time Melissa would prefer no medications for labor but please be accommodating in honoring her wishes if she decides at any point throughout labor that she would prefer medication.
At delivery:
13. Please keep unrelated or unnecessary conversations to a minimum with all staff in the room.
14. We do not wish to have any life-saving intervention on Sammy’s behalf. The focus should be on care and comfort.
15. We do want Dave to have the opportunity to cut the cord.
16. We do wish to have routine care for any newborn such as having his mouth and nose suctioned with a bulb at the perineum and drying him quickly. We do not wish for extensive deep suctioning in order to stimulate spontaneous breaths.
17. In the event that Sammy is born apneic, with or without a heartbeat, we do not want any efforts to revive him, including, but not limited to, positive pressure ventilation, oxygen delivery, intubation, medications, or chest compressions.
18. When Sammy is born, we would like him wrapped in a blanket and cap placed on his head.
19. As long as it is safe for Melissa we want her to be able to hold Sammy immediately following delivery. If Melissa is unable to hold Sammy, we would like Sammy to be handed to Dave. We wish to cherish all the time we have with him. Every second counts.
20. We anticipate Sammy will be born with a large opening to his occipital area and neural tissue will be exposed. If he is holding his own, we would like a dressing placed on any open area. We would prefer it to be dressed with saline or Vaseline gauze, and then an outer layer of gauze, whatever works best.
21. We do ask that you give us privacy, without abandoning us. Encourage us to do whatever feels right.
After delivery
22. We do not want Sammy to be taken from the delivery room at any time, by any person, for any reason.
23. We do not wish to have any routine admission medications given, such as erythromycin ointment, or Vitamin K, nor do we want his blood sugar monitored.
24. We do not wish to have a nasogastric tube inserted in order to feed Sammy. We do not wish to prolong Sammy’s life with nutritional supplementation. Melissa will decide if she wants to nurse Sammy after he is born, and if he is able.
25. In the event that Sammy does not die immediately, or soon after birth, we MAY wish to consider having the administration of pain medication. We wish to make Sammy’s time on earth as pain-free and comfortable as possible.
26. In the event that Sammy is experiencing severe seizures and seems uncomfortable or in pain, we MAY wish to consider the administration of anti-seizure medication.
27. We do wish to keep Sammy warm with the use of kangaroo skin-to-skin care, warm blankets, or hats.
28. We do want the nursing staff to weigh and measure Sammy in our room when we request it. Should we forget to request it, please do it prior to him leaving the hospital.
29. We do request that we be allowed to give Sammy his first bath.
30. We do request that we be allowed to dress Sammy in his own clothes. We do not want these clothes to be removed at any point or by any other person than his parents. Sammy is to be wearing these clothes when he goes to the funeral home.
31. We realize that Sammy may look different physically and may have facial anomalies. We hope that everyone can see him for what he is, our beautiful little boy, Sammy. He will be greatly missed and never forgotten.
32. Any keepsakes that mom or dad leave with Sammy, such as blankets and hats, are to remain with him at all times, even when he is taken by hospital personnel.
33. We do not want Sammy to go to the morgue/mortuary at any time. We do request that the hospital contact Lake Lawn Metairie Funeral Home directly to arrange for pick up when we are ready to say goodbye to Sammy. We wish for him to be picked up directly from us, or the nursing staff, and be taken by a staff person from Lake Lawn. We will have made prior arrangements for this.
34. We have contacted Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep, a bereavement organization, and arranged for a photographer, Sara Pendleton, to come to the hospital and take professional pictures of us and our baby. We ask that you accommodate her in anyway that is helpful.
35. We do wish to allow our family members to visit, as we deem appropriate. Please do not allow anyone in our room without talking to us first. We ask your assistance in keeping them updated as we request it.
36. We do wish to be with Sammy and holding him at the time of his death.
37. If any caregiver has a suggestion or an idea that you think may be helpful, please share it with us, as there are many things we haven’t thought of.
38. If any nurse, doctor, or other caregiver on our team is uncomfortable with any of this, please excuse yourself from our care if possible.
39. We DO wish to have as many keepsakes and memento’s as possible. Please save the following items for us to take home:
a. the bassinet card
b. hats
c. baby blanket
d. any photographs taken by the hospital
e. hospital ID bracelet
f. hand and footprints (we also wish to have footprints put in books we have brought with us)
g. mold of hands and feet (we have kits with us)
h. lock of hair if possible
i. clothing Sammy may have worn
j. and any other things you think we may wish to have
Thank you for being a partner in our baby’s birth. We know you are a competent, compassionate group of people. Please be patient with us and don't mind if we change our minds at any time. We don't know how to do this sad thing and are learning as we go. Thank you in advance for sharing in this experience with us and helping us to make as many memories as possible with our son while in your care.
