Tomorrow, I’ll be 35 weeks pregnant. I remember that day from my first pregnancy vividly – 35 weeks down and 35 days to go. It’s also about the time that in my first pregnancy, I started really wondering how labor and delivery would go. I started really thinking about what I wanted and who I wanted there, and what needed to go in my hospital bag. Then there was the big plan other moms were talking about – the “birth plan.”
Those other moms I talked to were meticulously planning, stressed over their birth plans, making them just right. They planned everything from the music they wanted to how long they would go without pain medicine (if they had any). They planned positions they would labor in and prayers they wanted to say while in labor. Honestly, I never did any of that. I trusted that when the time came, my doctors and nurses would guide me through it. I trusted that with the support of Chris and my mom, I would be okay. By all accounts, I was pretty laid back about it last time – Chris and I didn’t even do the labor class at the hospital (mostly because at our hospital it was close to $200 and seemed like a waste of money to me). And honestly? For me, it was the right decision – because I was okay.
While I did have a few complications with Abbie’s birth, it was nothing too serious and I pretty much got what I wanted. So this time? I’m aiming for almost the same. I don’t want to put too much stress on the labor and delivery process since it’s stressful enough as it is!
So this time, my birth plan consists of the following, with only one thing added from last time:
- Healthy baby
- Healthy mommy
- Avoid a C-section unless medically necessary
- Have only Chris and my mom in the room
- Get the epidural
- Avoid the magnesium drip that made me so sick afterward last time
So those detailed, printed out birth plans? Not for me. I totally get why they make other moms more comfortable, but aroundhere we’re keeping things simple. Simple and whatever keeps everyone healthy is what I want.
That and an epidural.
8 Responses
I love your attitude toward child birth. That’s exactly how I was. A friend of mine who is a nurse told me before Cam that they hate when women come in with rigid birth plans because it makes it harder on the nurses and doctors when they know what is right. I think your goals are right on. 🙂
Yeah, the only thing on my list is get the epidural pretty much lol.
I love your attitude! Joey came before I really had a formal birth plan in place but mine went pretty much along the same lines as what you have!
“That and the epidural” YES, YES, YES. The epidural is magic.
This is the most perfect birthday plan. A lot like mine. The focus is on you and the baby. That’s all. I can’t wait to see you as a Mom of 2 and meet your littlest love.
I work with a lot of former L&D nurses and they all joke that the patients who come in with the long, detailed birth plans generally end up needing a c-section. I took that to heart and my plan was this: get her out, epidural: yes please.
Your birth plan was the same as mine 🙂
I plan on doing the same the next go-around, except I would get the epidural much earlier in the process.
I was the exact same way both times! My list was minimal and that’s how I wanted it. And everything worked out pretty much to that plan both times, so I call it a win! And yes to those drugs!! 🙂
Yep, yep, yep! I am the most laid-back patient when it comes to birth plans. All I require in an epidural! Beyond that, I go with the flow (and with whatever the doctors and nurses recommend…they are the experts after all!).