The "Birth Plan"

My birth plan, that is. For Baby three. Just to clarify (in case you were confused, which you probably weren't...)

You know, the plan that every baby birthing book, class, web site, etc. recommends that you at least think about (and preferably get into writing) before the "big day" is upon you. We've never actually written ours down or given a copy to our OB/hospital staff, but we have talked one out each time I've been pregnant.

And now, you lucky readers you, have the errr...privilege and joy of being privy to our** third birth plan. Well, if you want to be. No TMI, just me blabbering on about my hopes for this labor and delivery.

**Funny thing about our plans. Many times, it turns out we don't really want what we think we want. I believe in a God who does know what is best for me, regardless of whether or not I know (or recognize) it at the time. I am so thankful for these promises:

Many are the plans in a man's heart, but it is the LORD's purpose that prevails.
Proverbs 19:21

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."
Jeremiah 29:11

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So, maybe I should just call these my desires or hopes for this labor and delivery, with a full acknowledgment and belief that my God knows what is best for me, and that very well may not be what I desire (or have planned) for myself. And...that may translate into a very different birth story for Baby #3 than I am envisioning currently. And I'm okay with that, knowing that I have committed my plans and desires to Him, and now just have to trust Him with the rest.

May he give you the desire of your heart
and make all your plans succeed.
Psalm 20:4

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So, that said, here we go:

No Induction
Unless absolutely medically necessary (as in, emergency for me or Baby) I really don't want to go down this road again. So far, so good. Not even a murmur of the word from my doctors. I am having little swelling episodes and experiencing a little high blood pressure, but no other yucky symptoms of toxemia/preeclampsia like I did with Kayden. Just very-end-of-pregnancy stuff. We'll see what my doctors say as I continue to inch closer to my due date with another (seemingly) very large baby.

No Epidural
I know, some of you think I'm nuts, (my husband included). I don't think I can really articulate the emotional reasons behind this desire, but if you've read Kayden's birth story (or Cam's birth story, for that matter) you already know some of my medical/logical arguments against an epidural. With both boys, the epidural never really took correctly, and in order to achieve adequate amounts of pain management in both legs, I ended up so ridiculously numb I couldn't feel to push well enough. And in Kayden's birth, I feel this is one of the main reasons I suffered so much nerve damage. Had the epidural taken correctly and not been so strong, I believe we'd have known right away that something was wrong and perhaps could have avoided it entirely. Maybe not, but it's a good enough reason for me to want to try and do things differently.

No Episiotomy/Forceps/Vacuum Extraction
I made it through my first and second deliveries without any of these interventions, even with very large babies, so I'm pretty confident and hopeful they won't be necessary, but nevertheless, no thank you.

Walking Telemetry & Heplock
Telemetry is just a fancy word for all of the devices they strap to you so they can monitor baby's heartrate and your contractions during labor. My hospital has two systems available for moms who want more freedom while laboring, particularly those who are trying to go all-natural, as I am. I'll also ask for just a heplock (as opposed to a full-blown IV) to "keep a vein open" in case my doctor feels he needs it for IV meds, pain meds, or I suddenly need an emergency procedure. Hopefully, these two things will allow me the freedom to walk around the room and labor in basically any position I want (as opposed to being "confined" to a hospital bed or restricted by an IV pole).

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I've prepared and comitted to memory a pretty lengthy series of Bible verses and "mantras", if you will, to keep me focused as I labor. I've altered the tense of some of them so they apply to me and my situation specifically. It's really important to me that I try and relax, give my anxiety to God, and focus on His promises to meet my goal of having a natural delivery. Again, just why is hard for me to articulate, but it's something I feel pretty strongly about.

If you feel led, would you please pray for me as I prepare for this labor? You can pray over these specific verses for me, or just keep me lifted up in prayer as my due date gets closer. If you like, I'll send you a text when I go into labor, just shoot me an e-mail or comment on this post (I won't publish numbers). I'd love to have your prayer support. I know many of you have already been praying, and I can't tell you how encouraging it is to me!

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1 Answer me when I call to you,
O my righteous God.
Give me relief from my distress;
be merciful to me and hear my prayer.
Psalm 4:1

7 [I will] cast all [my] anxiety on [You]
because [You] care for me.
1Peter 5:7

3 You will keep in perfect peace
all who trust in You,
all whose thoughts are fixed on You!
Isaiah 26:3

31 [And] those who trust in the Lord
will find new strength.
They will soar high on wings like eagles.
They will run and not grow weary.
They will walk and not faint.
Isaiah 40:31

13 For [You] are the LORD, [my] God,
who takes hold of [my] right hand and says
to [me], “Do not fear; I will help you.”
Isaiah 41:13

13 I can do all things through Christ who
strengthens me.
Philippians 4:13

Thank you Father, for being
the Lord of my baby,
the Lord of my labor, and
the Lord of this birth.