My birth plan

December 2, 2010

I say "my" birth plan because Jonathan really doesn't have an opinion in the matter.  I am not saying I don't allow or want him to have an opinion but he has just told me several times that whatever I want is what he wants...he's a smart man :)

Also, I'm not politically correct in saying, "we're pregnant".  I'll say, "we're having a baby" but last time I checked Jonathan didn't have a uterus, he wasn't the one puking every night, and he isn't the one pushing a baby out of his body...so, I'll just stick with, "I'm pregnant"  (Just saying...)

Moving on...here is what I've decided on for little Georgia's birthday!

(I got this survey on BabyCenter)

ATTENDANTS
I'd like the following people to be present during labor and/or birth:
- Just the hubs...thanks!

AMENITIES
I'd like to:
- Bring music for while I labor (just head phones) but no music for when I push.  I can't concentrate with music playing
- NO pictures during labor and delivery

HOSPITAL ADMISSION and PROCEDURES
Once I'm admitted, I'd like:
-  Jonathan with me all the time
-  to wear my contact lenses, as long as I don't need a c-section
to walk and move around as I choose

OTHER INTERVENTIONS -  I fully trust the medical community and anything they say is necessary I will do.  I've never had a baby before and the dr. does this everyday so I'll listen to her.

LABOR PROPS -  no "props" or tubs...thanks

PAIN RELIEF -  offer me all the pain meds I can take.  I'm not afraid to say I want pain medicine.  I WANT an epidural.  I'm not doing this thing "all natural" by any means!  Some say an epidural makes your baby less alert...bull!  My mom had them with both of her pregnancies and she said my brother and I were very alert and looking around.  She said we even lifted our heads to look around...sounds alert to me.

PUSHING

When it's time to push, I'd like to:
-  Tell me when to push and I'll push.  Like I said, I've never done this before (and I can't see and don't want to see what's going on down there) so the dr. knows best.

I'd like to try the following positions for pushing (and birth):
-  um, as long as I stay in the bed I don't care.

VAGINAL BIRTH

During delivery, I'd like:
to view the birth using a mirror (heck NO!)
to touch my baby's head as it crowns  (I'll pass on that...)
the room to be as quiet as possible (whatev...I doubt I'll notice)
to give birth without an episiotomy (whatever needs to be done)
my partner to help "catch" our baby (he needs to stay above the knees at all times!)

After birth, I'd like:
to hold my baby right away...after she has been cleaned off.
to breastfeed as soon as possible (whenever they tell me to I'll try)
my partner to cut the umbilical cord (he can if he wants...I really don't care)

C-SECTION

If I have a c-section, I'd like:  (although I DO NOT want one...)
my partner present at all times during the operation
the screen lowered a bit so I can see my baby being delivered (no way!)
the baby to be given to my partner as soon as she's dried
to breastfeed my baby in the recovery room

POSTPARTUM

After delivery, I'd like:
all newborn procedures to take place in my presence (whatev...they can take her to the nursery.  The hubs can go watch)
my partner to stay with the baby at all times if I can't be there
to stay in a private room
to have a cot (or couch) provided for my partner

I'd like:
24-hour rooming-in with my baby (I know I sound like a terrible mom to be but I have the rest of my life to spend with this child.  While I have the 24 hour care I am going to use it!  So no, Georgia will stay in the nursery.)
my baby to room-in with me only when I'm awake.  (yes, if I'm awake I want her with me but at night she can sleep in the nursery)
my baby brought to me for feedings (since I'm going to try nursing yes, bring her to me when she needs to eat even at night)

FEEDING ISSUES

I plan to:
-  Yes, I plan on breastfeeding but if for some reason it doesn't work out I will not be heart broken.  I know some women don't produce milk or enough milk so I'm pretty laid back about the whole thing.
-  Please do not offer my baby a pacifier.  My husband had one until he was 4 and had a speech problem because of it...I don't even want to go there.  My mom said non of her 3 kids used one.

Ok, I think that's about it.  Overall I want to be very laid back about the whole thing and kind of just go with the flow.  I don't want some "dream" birth plan in my head and then have my body do something totally different and to be really disappointed.  The end result is all the same.  I get Georgia.  Whatever is the safest way for her to come into the world...I'm all for that.

13 comments:

Kit said...

This sounds just like what I would have said for each of these questions :)

Jamie said...

Sounds like a great plan to me! I definitely want only my hubby in the room with me too!

Cassandra said...

omg..you crack me up! HA! your birth plan! It is soo true!! And I think all my answers would have been very similar to yours!

Lindsey said...

Sounds like a great plan!!:) Love your blog!

Amanda said...

you are so funny! sounds like a great plan! :)

cait said...

Love your honesty! Seriously, thanks for not posting some "make believe" birth plan but an honest opinion on your thoughts. I plan to be pretty laid back too...as you said...I'm not the expert...I just want whatever it takes to deliver a healthy baby. And yes...pain meds...PLEASE! Whew. I didn't know it was even an option to touch your baby while it was crowning...I'm sorry but to me that would gross me out! ha! Praying that your birth plans goes as God's planned...and gives you a healthy, sweet Georgia!

Natalie said...

i don't know why but this cracked me up : ) I love how real you are about all of it!
and i have never understood when people say 'we are pregnant' even my husband says he can't wait until WE get pregnant. We??? I think it's just ME!: )

Crystal said...

epidurals are great!!!!!!!! We got to the hospital kind of late and I was already 6cm, The contractions were really bad, I don't know how people do it! When I got the epidural everything was a breeze! The labor was nothing, but the afterwords.....well that is another story, painful!!!!!

Lyndsey said...

Oooh I'm loving the outline you found. My birth plan is nonexistent at the moment and I wouldn't even know where to begin so I may have to use something like that to help me out. I'm like you though - I really don't care how it goes down as long as I get a healthy baby at the end!

Rachel said...

I love this post! I know when I am pregnant one day, my birth plan will look similar to yours...I want LOTS of meds. I don't want to feel anything!!

Melanie said...

I totally agree with you Emily! The drs have done this stuff every day..they know what they are doing so let them do what they are paid to do!! I wouldn't want to see my baby 'coming out' or feel his/her head when its crowning..no thanks!!! And yeah..the 24 hour care...use it while you can cause once baby is home..we don't have that luxury!!

Lyndsey said...

Good luck! I hope it turns out the way you plan. Just one comment on the bfing/rooming in thing. If you have the baby stay in the nursery, you may have some issues breastfeeding. Often times, by the time the nurses bring the baby to you to eat, the baby's already upset/crying and has a harder time settling down, and latching on. It's hard enough trying to learn to nurse (for both of you) without having a hysterical baby. Just saying. Not to mention that it's not unusual for nurses to screw up and give babies bottles who are supposed to nurse.

Michele said...

I am a little behind in catching up on your blog, but after having one baby you are right on track w/ your birth plan. :)

I WISH someone would have encouraged me to send my daughter to the nursery at night, but I didn't want to be a "bad" mom, so I kept...so good for you!

But I will say I had this "naive" notion that if my hubs stayed above the knees he would be clear from the full glory view, you know like on the TV shows...so not the case...there is no "safe" spot in L&D everyone sees everything, but at that point you just don't care! ;) Congrats on a baby girl!!! They are so fun.

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