Actually, all of our patients (from all the practices) are encouraged to fill out our generic birth plan that we provide (or their own if they prefer). I don't think it is unreasonable for parents to state their preferences. Actually, as an ex childbirth educator, supplying my couples with birth plans is done to get them thinking about the type of birth THEY want. That's the whole point. That's where accountability comes in. When we talk about NORMAL, that is a loaded question. What is normal to one of us may NOT be what someone else considers okay and normal for them.Is it right or ethical for us to impose our views on someone else? Birth plans help me (as the labor nurse) to do all I can to help the laboring couple have the type of birth they want. For instance, if my mother wants an epidural I want to know that so I can help her along, knowing what her goal happens to be. Maybe she wants to completely skip over IV meds in favor of an epidural. Another may say that she does NOT want an epidural but wants IV meds instead. Another may say that she knows all her medication and non-medication options and she will ask if she wants something. That only makes my job easier to know where she is coming from. If she wants to change her plan, so be it. A birth plan can be a very positive thing because it helps all of us labor nurses to help the mom have the best experience possible. Birth plans make people think......that's the point. The tough birth plans are the ones that tell all about what the mother does NOT want. They are often rigid. Those are the ladies (I am sorry to say) who usually end up not progressing and needing every intervention that they had hoped to avoid. It's cases lke this that assure me that the mind is an extremely powerful thing. The mind can completely stop a labor. These same rigid mothers are also ones who often have trouble with breastfeeding. That's just anecdotal. Betsy Riedel RNC, IBCLC *********************************************** To temporarily stop your subscription: set lactnet nomail To start it again: set lactnet mail (or digest) To unsubscribe: unsubscribe lactnet All commands go to [log in to unmask] The LACTNET mailing list is powered by L-Soft's renowned LISTSERV(R) list management software together with L-Soft's LSMTP(R) mailer for lightning fast mail delivery. For more information, go to: http://www.lsoft.com/LISTSERV-powered.html