What birth plan?

As I gave my last farewell embrace, I drove away from my job Friday afternoon with a bitter sweet lump in my throat. Yes, I know I’ll be back in a mere few months, but I couldn’t help but feel just a little sad for leaving the people I see and work closely with on a daily basis. Blame it on the incremental hormones…..

But, on the other hand…..waking up today, Monday morning, without the alarm ringing in my ear, was a breath of fresh air. I think I’ll do just fine.

Unfortunately, I’ve come down with a cold. And summer colds are the worst. Don’t even mind being nine month pregnant on top of it. Needless to say, it’s been a pretty lousy start to my so called ‘vacation’.

So, what does a sicky do all day? Watch horrific day time TV, in between taking naps with the cat, of course.

While lounging I subconsciously turned to TLC, which happened to have a few episodes of Baby Story, a show where a couple is video taped before, during and after the birth of their child.

Now, is this really smart for me to be watching right now? Only a mere couple weeks away from my own due date (but crossing fingers for sooner)?

Watching these happy and casual woman nonchalantly nudge their sleeping husbands awake to rush to the hospital, only to transform into a scary, growling in pain creature, with a camera documenting every point of view (literally).

One lady in particular had a rough time, laboring for hours upon hours. She uncomfortably walked up and down the hospital halls and crawled in and out of the birthing bath. After hours, she finally gave birth to a baby girl, right there in the bath. A tummy churning, yet amazing thing to watch on this show. Although, I don’t think Jeremy so much liked bringing his eyes from his laptop just in time to watch that birth.

All the books and all the research online says to create a birthing plan. I know some women are adamant about how they want their labor experience to go: Drugs or no drugs, just their husband or the entire family to watch, candles, music, shadow puppets, contemporary interpretive dance….. the list can be anything.

Now ask me if I’ve made a birth plan.

Nope.

My idea is this: It’s not about this ‘romanticized’ idea of how I want my birthing experience to be. It’s not going to be this glorious time in my life. It’s probalby going to be one of the most difficult times in my life. But, it’s not about me. It’s about whatever is needed to produce a healthy baby in the end. That’s all that matters.

That said, I can hope for an easy labor, but I’m not closing my eyes to the very real idea that it’s going to be insane. I’m keeping an open mind. If I need drugs and the epidural, bring ‘em on! If I end up needing a c-section, that’s ok too. I don’t pass up the novocaine, simply because I want to experience the joy of my wisdom teeth pulled out.

All of these things are not going to rob me the experience of having a baby.

As someone told me once, you don’t get an award for being super labor mom. Because in the end….who cares? If in the end, someone is sad or upset that labor didn’t go the way they planned, then they’re missing the whole point of why that little baby is in their arms in the first place.

Now, all that being said, do you think the hospital would mind if I just took a shot or two of tequila during the labor?