What's your dream birth?

Now, I understand that birth plans can be totally flipped upside down in the matter of minutes, but I think having a certain vision for your birth can be really empowering. Especially in a world where we don't advocate for our health anymore and blindly follow suggestions. I think being a part of the process can take a lot of fear and anxiety away from the entire process. For me, envisioning my dream birth ( while accepting flexibility) has helped me feel more at ease. The birth plan is not about being inflexible, it's a tool for you to own your experience and the choices you have along the way. You actually have a lot of choices in the process, but most people don't know they do, so they get standard care. Standard practice may be a good fit for you, but it's a cookie cutter plan, and I am not a cookie cutter person.

If you go into something thinking its going to be hard, painful, unbearable, and fearful, guess how that experience is likely to show up for you? It doesn't mean it won't be hard and painful, but pain is a part of life. And the only way out of pain, is through the pain... do you want it to be in a panicked/fearful manner, or a calm, intentional and peaceful manner?

I mean, the media doesn't do us any favors, the depiction of labor and birth are extremely inaccurate, glamorized or show a panicked, fearful, teeth-gritting woman giving birth in the most standard way, on her back, with her feet in stirrups. Did you know that pushing on your back is almost one of the worst positions to be in? That position, with the pressure on your sacrum does you zero favors in opening up your pelvic outlet. Your birth canal also curves upward when you are laying flat. Talk about pushing against gravity. Media almost always shows the worst case scenarios.

We took our birthing class at Blooma in MPLS, and I highly recommend it for you momma's out there. I wasn't sure what to expect, but it was extremely helpful. We learned a lot about the stages of labor, how your partner can assist you, interventions, pain management, birthing preferences, post-partum, pushing positions and really just what to expect from start to end.

After we got done with the class, Tim and I sat down and did a birth plan. It's important for your partner, or whoever will be in the room with you, to know what you prefer so they can be your voice and advocate. I imagine I won't be in the position to be answering questions or making decisions so this plan takes some of the guess work out of it. Our doctor, Tim and the hospital staff will have a copy. We went over it with our doctor at the last appointment and she was 100% on board with our choices and preferences.

Ok, I'll stop blabbing and share with your our Birth Preferences. Word of the wise, don't have it any longer than 1 page. Nobody wants to sit and read a book. Make it clear, short and concise.

Our Birth Preferences

*In the event of a true medical emergency I understand that these preferences may be compromised*

• Allow labor to begin naturally unless induction or other intervention by medical means is needed for safety of baby or me.

• No Pitocin to encourage faster labor unless medically needed

• To remain at home until labor is well established

• Only intermittent fetal monitoring through duration of labor unless medical indication requires otherwise

• Dim, quiet room, soft music playing- no excessive people in and out of room, privacy

• To walk, move about and find comfortable positions for myself. To assume and change positions if needed through labor and delivery.

• Few to no vaginal exams unless medically necessary

• To labor in the tub or shower

• To snack and drink as desired

• To forego medical interventions without a clear medical need. Labor as long as possible without an epidural. Use of laughing gas is open.

After Birth:

• Any newborn treatment/intervention is approved by parents prior to giving ( Vit K shot is fine, no Hep B Vaccine until first pediatric appt, no eye antibiotic for chlamydia and gonorrhea.)

• Delayed Cord Clamp

• Baby go directly to mother for alone time/skin to skin time- after birth assessments such as height/weight be done in the room

• No bath- we will bath baby at home

• No Pitocin post birth unless excessive bleeding/hemorrhoid is happening

If you want more information about birth preferences or the labor process, I made most my decisions by reading the books about labor from my previous blog, including Ina May's Guide to Childbirth, Expecting Better by Emily Oster, Nourishing Traditions Book of Childcare and Birthing From

PS. Don't forget to catch up on all my pregnancy and health/diet blogs on the main page. Happy Reading!

Disclaimer. I am not here to tell you what to do. I am just sharing my knowledge of what I've learned and what I anticipate my experience to look like, even if it goes sideways. I am not a doctor, and none of this is medical advice. Do your own research, talk to your doctor and make your down decisions that work best for you and your baby.