KnitterlyNotions

VBAC Birth Plan  ● Unmedicated as possible, with as few interventions as possible.  I don’t know what I will want for pain relief yet, but I prefer as  many natural options to be made available as possible. ● Use of water/shower for pain management. ● Unrestricted movement. ● Self­guided pushing. I’ve done this before, and pant­pushing  works best for me. I will NOT be doing the “hold my breath and  push as hard as possible” method. ● Upright or however I am comfortable for birth. NOT on my back. ● Minimal cervical checks. ● Minimal monitoring. After Baby is born:  ● Skin to skin right away. If I can’t do it for whatever reason, put  him with his dad, he’s prepared for skin to skin as well. ● NO circumcision. ● Vitamin K is fine, but NO eye ointment. I’m disease­-free. ● If any supplementation is needed, I will express colostrum or  milk instead of using formula. ● Do not bathe, etc, till I can be there. I missed that experience ...

I don't know yet how this baby is going to come into this world. I don't know if I will labor and push him out like I did his big brother, or if I will be spread-eagle on a table while a doctor cuts into my body and removes him like his big sister was born. Either way, I hope I can bring him home, and I also hope the birth is as close to perfect as circumstances allow. Wait, perfect? Yes, perfect. My perfect birth would be a combination of the two births above. I would prefer to push him out, scoop him up and hold him, listen to his first cry. I pushed Freddy out, I scooped him out of the water, but he did not cry. It has been over a year and the sound of a newborn cry is the hardest thing for me to hear, because I'm still waiting for the one that never came, and as much as I want to respond the cries I have heard, they aren't for me to answer. I heard Tiri cry, but I didn't meet her for almost a half a day after she was born. I saw her, but only flashes, glimps...