Tuesday on Today 8/14

I wasn't going to post today but I happened to catch the first few minutes of the top story of the last hour of The Today Show and I had to laugh--even though I was on my way to a funeral. It was about expectant moms having birth plans. I remember when I had my first baby five years ago, I also had a birth plan. It's funny when you're pregnant for the first time and you read so much information and receive so much advice. You just want to make sure everything is perfect. In a perfect world, it would be. Also in a perfect world, your doctor just might care about your birth plan. Whoever came up with this concept, I'm not sure. But I'm sure it wasn't a doctor. Because they don't care about your plans. They have their own plans.



I filled out my birth plan from an online site, printed it out and brought it to my doctor who gave it a quick look and proceeded to tell me why she was unable to comply with it. I wanted my husband to videotape the birth, but the hospital had a strict "no video camera" policy that we had to adhere to. And I wanted to be able to eat and drink during labor--no go, according to my doctor. Another wonderful hospital policy. I wanted to have my family in the room, but they were quickly given the boot because I was having some problems and eventually had to have a c-section--another thing I was adamant about in my birth plan. I wanted a natural childbirth without having to be induced. My doctor gave me one week after my due date before inducing my labor, therefore I needed a c-section. Because like most people I know who've had their labor induced, labor didn't progress and I was forced under the knife.



My point is that you can make a birth plan, but don't expect your doctor to take it seriously. That's basically what the doctor on the show said as well. They're not too hip on birth plans. My advice would be to avoid getting induced if at all possible and get the epidural. Everyone, including myself, always says they want no medication, but you tend to change your mind when it feels like your guts are being twisted in knots before being getting ripped from your body. I went with a midwife for my second one, and the difference was like between Hitler and Gandhi. My second birth was all natural--except for the epidural--in a much more relaxed atmosphere. Relaxing makes all the difference. And be prepared for the worst, but expect the best.



Till tomorrow.