Chapter 11

As I entered the month of April and my 8th month of pregnancy, we still had no direct answers. One evening I got a call from a lady named Ann who introduced herself as the hospice nurse at Pineville CMC where I was to deliver. I dreaded hearing the term “hospice”, as it seemed to seal the deal that we had to prepare to lose our baby. She had looked over our birthing plan and, if we agreed, she wanted to meet with us and the neonatologist to discuss it. Here is a copy of our birthing plan, which we had compiled from examples that we had been given from the geneticist from the specialist office.

MAST FAMILY BIRTHING PLAN

To the Staff of the Hospital,
Our beloved baby, sadly, has been diagnosed with no kidney function and resulting low amniotic fluid. However imperfect the baby appears, this is our child, whom we love deeply. This love compels us to revere and treasure every moment of our baby’s life to its fullest natural extent. Your compassion and understanding during this bittersweet and difficult time are appreciated deeply. We believe that the memories of our actions during this sacred time with Baby Mast will later console us.
We understand that after the birth, situations may arise that were not anticipated and decisions will need to be made. We simply ask you to keep us informed so we can participate in the decisions as to what is best for the baby. We ask that no intervention be taken without our approval, other than what is outlined below. We trust you will respect our wishes.

• Please call the child Baby Mast. Ask us how we feel, if the baby has been active, and what special stories we have from this pregnancy. This validates and honors our baby’s life.We would like to remain in the same room for labor, delivery, and recovery.
• Regarding fetal monitoring, we would like external and internal.
• We might like to hear our baby’s heartbeat early, before labor progresses. If our baby’s heart stops prior to delivery we want to be informed.
• Only the baby’s father Joey Mast is to be in attendance. No visitors will be allowed before, during, or after delivery without permission from Joey.
• Any drugs given during labor to Lisa should be given in doses to provide maximum comfort while allowing her to remain alert. Our other preferences regarding management of pain include an epidural.
• Please allow Joey to cut the umbilical cord.
• We would like oral/nasal suctioning for the baby’s comfort only and NO intubation without our permission.
• After our baby is born, we ask that the baby be wiped, suctioned, wrapped in a blanket and handed to Joey and Lisa whether alive or stillborn.
• We wish to cuddle our baby immediately and ask that vital signs, weight, medications and labs be postponed, if possible.
• If our baby has fewer or more problems than expected, please discuss all options with us.
• Other than routine post-delivery care, we wish for private time with our baby.
• If our baby is placed in the NICU, we request as much privacy as possible as we care for the baby.
• Please discuss any medications and/or procedures with us before giving or performing.
• We wish to hold our baby as they are dying or has died and want to keep their precious body with us as long as possible.
• We would like to bathe and dress our baby and will need a burial garment.
• We would like to keep the following items as keepsakes: cord clamp, lock of hair, ID bracelet, tape measure, crib card, hand and foot prints (molds if possible), weight card, bulb syringe, hat/blanket/clothes, etc.
• Please give instructions to Lisa on comfort measures/ milk suppression.
• Please allow Joey to spend the night in my room.
• We will make memorial/funeral plans for our baby along with the help of our Pastor Jim Parrish.

Parents: Mother – Lisa Mast Father – Joey Mast
Our Doctors are with Piedmont OB/GYN

We wanted the staff to know that we wanted every second with our baby while alive, no matter if it was a few seconds, minutes, or hours. We did not want the baby to have to suffer by being hooked up to machines, which would only prolong the inevitable.