Many people have asked about our birth plans. We do have a homebirth plan and the very beginning states: We plan for a peaceful and natural childbirth at home. We would like our labor and delivery to unfold naturally and go with the flow as much as possible.
We plan for my Mom to come here and help us with the boys while I labor, and we would like for the boys to not watch the actual birth, but be able to come see baby right away if they want to. We have an idea of where I'd like to labor and know exactly what we wish to do or not do to her after she is born. I would love for my Mom to be able to see the birth if she can, depending on if it flows naturally for her to do so at the time. And hubby is set to catch the baby unless I am in a position to catch the baby myself.
When I imagine it in my head, I am not anxious or concerned at all. I just know it all will go beautifully.
And a big part of that contentment about our plans is that we are still open to allowing whatever happens to happen. Which means that, even though we were told that this baby is a girl, until she is here... there's always room for surprises. And although we are planning a homebirth, if I end up in the hospital for some reason, it must have been a good reason. And I will not let that blemish the birth story of this precious child. I understand that I can not plan absolutely everything.
Ultimately, we put it all in the Lord's hands. Our trust and faith in Him is plenty. And we know that He will continue to give us wisdom, as we seek it, regarding every moment of our new baby's life, inside and out.
I am hoping that I will be surprised at how amazingly wonderful it will have went, how it feels to be a mother to a daughter, and how perfect she is.
But above all, I plan to be surprised.
Everything WILL go exactly as see it.
ReplyDeleteYou are an amazing lady and I can't wait to read all about your fabulous birth and see your precious little girl!
~Z
Being open to surprises makes everything already set to be wonderful-congrats! And, just so you know, be on the look out for another surprise soon! I'm going to venture out and find the post office tomorrow....or get incredibly lost..one or the other. :)
ReplyDelete"But above all, I plan to be surprised."
ReplyDeleteAnd if there are no surprises, that will be surprising in itself...
You have the perfect attitude. Can't wait for Ivy's story to unfold soon.
It sounds like you are going into this birth in the right frame of mind - prepared for everything but still expecting to be surprised. I hope it all goes as you want it to, but as it is in the Lord's hands, it will definitely all go just as it should.
ReplyDeleteStephanie, you write all that with such ease and a sense of comfort. I will be praying that everything will go just as you would like it to.
ReplyDeleteI can't wait to read Ivy's birth story!
ReplyDeleteYou are amazing!
elequently put; it will be amazing!
ReplyDeleteThis Doula can't wait to hear your newest birth story!
We just entered our 3rd trimester and started birthing classes last night. We are going to do a hospital birth, but I was relieved to hear the class instructor (who is also a L&D nurse at the hospital) say that the nurses are there to fill in the gaps [for the coach]. Their basic approach is to let the birth be a family thing as much as possible. I'm excited to meet our little one.
ReplyDeleteI love your attitude! ;o)
ReplyDeleteI can't wait FOR you!! It's a great plan, especially the plan to be surprised!!
ReplyDeleteI can't wait to read Ivy's story. I know it will be beautiful.
ReplyDeleteI'm so excited for little Ivy's birth story...I can't wait to hear how it happened!
ReplyDeleteI am getting so excited. Your Birth Plans sound so relaxed. I am so proud of you. I feel so honored to be present. It won't be long!
ReplyDeleteSounds like it will be wonderful! We had a homebirth with our third baby (and third boy) and it was the most amazing experience of my life; peaceful, empowering and absolutely amazing! We've newly PG with our 4th and will be having another homebirth, I'm looking forward to another magical experience.
ReplyDeleteBest way to approach birth so we aren't disappointed. Although I have an idea how I want it to go I'm not going to be crushed if things don't go as planned.
ReplyDeleteSounds like a perfect plan. After all, none of us know what tomorrow holds. All of our plans are dependent on His plans for us.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful Stephanie. (And I'm so bummed I missed you on the talk show yesterday! I'm going to have to go back and listen to the archives today.)
Sounds wonderful, exciting and perfect for your little baby! Can't wait to read about it!!! Soon!!
ReplyDeleteYou're attitude is wonderful. Can't wait to here how it all goes!
ReplyDeletePrayers that everything will go as smoothly and beautifully as possible.
ReplyDeleteNot too much longer and you will have your 4th story! : )
It is so good to be open to whatever happens in homebirth. I have done visualizations with each of my births, and amazingly, it happened very closely to what I imagined. My ds (4) will be allowed to come and see the baby be born if he wants. Dd though (2) will either be asleep (hopefully!), or at the neighbor's house.
ReplyDeleteIt's good to have a plan, but it's also good to be ready for those surprises...like when this little one will come!! :)
i totally respect that you are doing a home birth. I just don't have the support necessary to make sure i wasn't the one cleaning up after. I do think you are a brave woman- not because you should give birth in a hospital but because you are trusting in yourself and your family to be what you need. Your attitude is amazing and that is why I like reading your blog.
ReplyDeleteI'll be keeping you and Ivy's birth in my prayers. I can't wait to hear all about it.
ReplyDeleteYou're in a perfect place, because you're right, we can't plan.
ReplyDeleteI took Bradley natural childbirth classes, and of the 3 of us in the class, I was the only one who ended up going mostly natural -- no pain drugs, but I did have pitocin after my water broke early.
I had hoped to repeat the scene with my son, but he was born by emergency C-section. That's the way each of them were meant to come into this world.
It's hard to believe that the new little one is almost here. It seems like just yesterday you were making the big announcement!
ReplyDeleteI'm due in february... and frankly, I can't wait to wear a newborn again. I know it sounds silly... but I'm sure you're probably excited about the same thing!
I really, really appreciate what you said about knowing that it is not all in your control and not letting the other possibilities blemish your daughter's birth. When I had Sam it was very hard for me to let go of what I had wanted for his birth versus how it ended up. But it's true, if something changes, it is for good reason, as it was with me. And that's ultimately not the most important thing in the end.
ReplyDeleteGoing with the flow is always the best way. :) Looking forward to hearing Ivy's birth story when it's complete.
ReplyDeleteI feel the same way...
ReplyDeleteI am planning to have a VBAC, but I'm praying that God would have His way and give us wisdom when the time comes about how everything should go. Ultimately we can't control it and the best plan is to have a plan but go with the flow as the flow flows!
That sounds wonderful. And it sounds reasonable!
ReplyDeleteThat is very wise. Births are so unpredictable. But I hope it goes exactly as you've planned. :)
ReplyDeleteI don't think I would believe that I was having a girl until I was actually holding her in my arms. ;)
We're thinking of you!!!
ReplyDeleteIt sounds lovely. And, you are a wise woman to expect to be suprised. Such a great attitude to be prepared for God's best!
ReplyDeleteI'm sure everything will go as planned.
ReplyDeleteI was with my friend when she gave birth and it amazing. I hope your mom can see Ivy's birth.
You are going to have a wonderful experience, *because* you have the perfect attitude.
ReplyDeleteI can't wait to hear about it!
I'm excited for you - knowing that "the time" is getting closer is so suspenseful. All of my births were each a little different - it's good to be open and have your easy spirit:) I think it makes for an easier baby too!
ReplyDeleteIt will go as it is suppose to and best wishes to you and to your family for a beautiful experience.
ReplyDeleteYou are going to have such an amazing birth. I can't wait to read all about little Ivy's entrance into the world. :)
ReplyDeletePraying things go as planned - and the best part of the plan (for me, too) is being flexible!
ReplyDeleteThat sounds so beautiful! I'm looking forward to reading Ivy's birth story. Best of luck!
ReplyDeleteI'm sure it's going to be a truly amazing experience. It sounds so peaceful. These last few days when I check your blog, I sort of expect to see an announcement that labor has started. Any day now!!
ReplyDeleteI can't wait to hear how awesome it all went! And I'm sure Ivy will be so perfect and beautiful anything outside your plans won't matter at all. Blessings, Steph!
ReplyDeleteYou are such a seasoned mom who speaks with such wisdom and beauty. I wish I could have read your words before I gave birth to my son...I don't know if going with the flow would have sunk into me back then, but it makes so much more sense now...and it's the only way to truly be at peace and at rest in God's purpose in revealing such a lovely and hard-earned miracle. I wish you and your family the best in these last weeks (or days) as you anticipate Ivy's arrival!
ReplyDeleteCan't wait to read your next birth story on your blog! Hope you are feeling great these days and getting some rest before the big event.
ReplyDeleteThat sounds like a very open plan. It sounds like you are planning not to plan. The best part is you can sleep in your own bed the night after you have a baby. That would be NICE!
ReplyDeleteI hope you have a beautiful and amazing birth!
ReplyDeleteSurprise, inspiration, awe-inspiring, all of it will be yours. So beyond excited for you to experience this! Can not WAIT to meet her. :)
ReplyDeleteI am so glad to hear that you are open to things not going maybe as planned. All of my homebirths have been completely different and when I look back at them I realize that they all had to be different because of different circumstances. Keep your eyes focused on the Lord and he will take care of the details.
ReplyDeleteA really great article to read is called "God's View of Childbirth." my husband and I read this when I was pregnant with number 6 and it changed our view completely. If you google the title you will find it and I think it is about $2.50.
It sounds like a beautiful birth plan. I look forward to reading all about it.
ReplyDeleteMany prayers for a successful and beautiful delivery. May God grant you the strenth and wisdom to parent this lovely lady you are about to hold in your arms!
ReplyDeleteTo me, how can it not be surprising? And, even though you are a seasoned pro, I LOVE the peaceful, positive and exciting approach that you are taking into this most amazing experience.
ReplyDeleteThank you for taking us all on this journey with you! I like many others, can hardly wait for the BIG day too!!
You have a wonderful mindset... just what I like to see. :) It will be beautiful.
ReplyDelete