Our Birthing Plans

I have been seeing a midwife since about 12 weeks.  We started out with an OB but I have always wanted to use a midwife.  With the IVF and twins at the beginning we thought we had to see an OB. I want to be able to be comfortable with my provider and know that I am getting individual, 1 on 1 care.  I don't want to be just another patient.  I am using a midwife that 2 of my past doula clients have used.  Everything I have heard about her has been great so I knew when the time came that I wanted to use Melissa.

We are planning a med-free birth at a freestanding birth center.  I hope it is a short (hehe!!), intervention free birth.  I am not planning too much because I know that labors go however they do.  I want to try things and if they work great, if not then we will try something else.  Some things I plan to try are heat, cold, water, massage, different positions, breathing and relaxation.  We will have a doula, as I feel they are valuable to both myself and Ryan.

I read Ina May's Guide to Childbirth and feel very empowered by it.  I'm excited for labor and delivery and to hold my sweet baby.  I will probably re-read the book once July gets a little closer.  I'm not 100% sure who will be with us for labor and delivery.  I want to be able to relax and focus on myself birthing without having to think about all the people in the room.  The birthing center is different then the hospital because the only medical staff in there is the Midwife and her assistant.  In addition to them, Ryan will be present and our doula.  Everyone else is still up in the air.  At this point I'm leaning toward my mother in law and mom if she is able to be there only for the pushing stage.  We have time to decide and will do whats best for Ryan and I.

After the birth we will stay at the birth center until we feel comfortable going home.  I'm excited that we don't have to spend a day or 2 in the hospital afterwards.  It will be nice to go home to the comfort of our house.  I look forward to breastfeeding and Ryan and I bonding with our baby together.

I will post our birth wish once we have one.  I like to call it a birth wish because that's what it is.  Our wishes for our birth.  We understand that we don't have control over a lot during the labor and delivery so we will state our wishes and hope that things go as we wish.  We do understand that things come up and are prepared for our plans to change if needed.  We want everyone involved to be healthy and safe in the end.  That's all that matters!