Birth Plan: Part 2

I received a lot  of feedback - some publicly but most privately (and some passively) - from my post "Birth Plan: Part 1" and I appreciate all of the comments, suggestions, questions and compliments! That post was designed to give an idea of why my birth plan (below) looks the way it does.

But before I go on, quite a few people have expressed problems I want to address.

Problem 1: The word "PLAN".  A few dear women have expressed that they have an issue with this word. And for good reason! A few comments I've heard are a little something like...

• If you have a plan and don't stick to it, you may feel failure
• If you have a plan and don't stick to it, you may feel regret
• If you have a plan and don't stick to it, you may feel like you've lost something

These are really good points - points I hadn't considered, and have made me revise the way I'm thinking of my birth plan. I'll now call it a Birth Wishlist, because that's the way I need to train my mind to think. I've said multiple, multiple times in Birth Plan: Part 1 that I know things won't all go as smoothly as I might like, and I may end up with an entirely different birth experience than I hoped for (baby glides out as I sing from a rainbow), but if I consider myself making a Birth Wishlist, I can help myself avoid the failure / regret / loss feeling that an empty, inexperienced plan may hold.

Problem 2: Episiotomies. They aren't as common as they used to be, and they are certainly less common in Canada than the US. My midwife has only ever cut 1 / 300.  Just wanted to clear that up.

Problem 3: Although many women (and I'm so grateful to this) have had wonderful hospital experiences, my beliefs don't reflect a problem in any hospital in particular, just an overall reflection of statistics / readings / research.

That said:
Here is my 2012 Birth Wishlist:

1. Not to go into pre-term labour, or have gestational diabetes, or any other major complications. Every woman wishes for these things, but if they come, then I wish to deal with them entirely in a state of prayer and peace and hope. And in a hospital, because then we do have ourselves a medical emergency.
2. However if all goes well, I wish to plan and prepare for a home birth...
3. Featuring a water labour...
4. And somehow get through to delivering our baby girl naturally, with no interventions except those medically necessary
5. In a home that is prepared to host 2 midwives, 1 doula, and my husband 
6. And decked out to be as "zen" as possible. (Doula and I have discussed Christmas twinkle lights in lieu of full lighting, my trusty Himilayan Salt Rock, relaxing music, and of course, massage... and a Screens Off policy. No iPads, iPhones, televisions, computers, nothing. You're bored? Read a book.)
7. Using all of the skills that I learn at my Lamaze Class (which hopefully ends before this baby is born!)
8. If for some reason there is as much as 1 serious "red flag", I wish to be taken to the local hospital (a 2 minute drive away) at the appropriate time
9. If for some reason there is appropriate need for C-Section, then I want one
10. If I whisper to my husband our secret code word, then I wish to have an epidural FOR REAL NOW, THIS IS NOT A DRILL
11. When baby's born, however she's born, I wish to hold her for 2 hours post-birth and as much medical testing be completed as possible with her either within arms reach or on my chest
12. I wish not to have the cord cut until 2 minutes post-birth, if possible
13. Breastfeeding, if possible (it's not for everyone, so if you thought it was, re-think)
14. And then going to sleep.

Let's see how it goes! Officially I have 73 days to D-Day. Let's see how God times this, though.

PS: If you're thinking of whether or not to create your own birth plan, here is a great guide from an Ontario Hospital on why a birth plan can be a fantastic idea for mothers and hopes of all types.