I get these email updates weekly from www.babycenter.com and it made me aware this week that I should be creating a "birthing plan", so I started to think about what this could mean, and what I might possibly need to "plan" for. Maybe I'm naive, but I just figured when the "big day" comes I would show up at the hospital, get my epidural, and push when it was time to push...it's not rocket science, folks! But as I looked over the suggested "birthing plan" that the website provides, I very quickly realized that my simple plan, isn't a plan at all!! I haven't given a SINGLE thought to the things that were suggested I should "plan" for, and don't even know what some of this stuff means!!! Do I want the light's dimmed? Soft music playing? if so, what songs and track numbers? Do I want to go home if I'm not in active labor? Once admitted, do I want to wear my contacts (this, apparently, is a serious question)? do I want to wear my own clothes? do I want to eat? drink? If available, would I like to try a birthing stool? ball? squatting bar? When it's time to push, do I want to push instinctively, or be coached? Do I want a mirror to watch? Do I want to feel the head? Do I want to hold the baby immediately or not?
I'm extremely confused as to why these things need to be written down beforehand for 2 reasons. 1) because I don't know why I can't just use my vocal cords when asked certain questions like: "who do you want to be in the room?" or "do you want to see your baby coming out?" and 2) Even if I was to write all of this stuff down, I don't know how I'm going to be feeling at that time!!! Yes, I may want to listen to Mozart NOW, but when I'm in so much pain THEN, the last thing I may want to hear is his no. 41 symphony, and want him to take a hike! and I may want my husband to coach me through my pushing NOW, but I may not be too keen on him telling me what to do THEN.
So, while I admire all of those "planners" out there(who I'm sure will be more equipped than I), I think I will stick to my simple, little, "no-plan" plan for now, which kind of fits my carefree attitude anyway!
Sounds logical to me!!! Anyway, you can always adjust with Baby #2...that is, if you want to!!!!
ReplyDeleteHa! I agree!! The "no plan" worked for me!
ReplyDeleteI Love it Ashely, my no plan ended in a c-section (5 to be exact). Would it have ended in one anyway? We can plan, but the Lord is in control! When they are graduating from high school, will you remember what music you were listening to when they were born? Thank you for your thoughts! Love you! Sheri
ReplyDeleteI have had 3 births without a "plan" and 2 with a "plan." With the "plan," I knew I wanted a natural birth, I used a doula, I didn't want the baby to be taken away from us, no formula or pacifiers, etc I wanted to have things written down and in plain site of everyone who came in the room. It worked really well for me to have things written down. Of course everything was not as I had written. I changed my mind about things and things happened that were out of my control. It's funny that you posted this because I had been thinking about you and wondering if you were going to have a natural birth because you are so fit and seem to be on the natural side to me. If you're interested, I could talk all day about the benefits. :)
ReplyDeleteHey Ashley,
ReplyDeleteI didn't really have a plan for either, but with Lexie I will NEVER forget that she was born to Jock Jams. Seriously. It was awesome. We were in Boston and our OB said she felt like she was at a Celtics game :)
The way I see it, they come out one way or another.
Love ya!
The hospital (Northside) gave me a birthing plan form to fill out and bring with me. I finally got around to it about 4 hours into my having contractions at home. When I showed up, it turned out that Xander was breech anyway, so it was c-sections from then on (which, by the way, I LOVE). Don't worry about the little details; a healthy baby and mother is the goal. The best birth plan is God's.
ReplyDeleteToo funny! I had no idea you had to have a plan either. I watch the Bravo show Bethany Getting Married and she talked about a birthing plan and that was the first I had heard of it. I suppose I am newly married and kids are still a ways on the horizon, but I think I am with you my plan is no plan at all.
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