Our birth plan

Editor’s Note: I wrote this before our sweet third baby was born. I’ll tell you how this birth plan turned out another day.

I’m not sure how you feel about birth plans, but I’m not a huge fan. If I have learned anything this far in life, it is that things don’t go “as planned” because guess what? We aren’t in control!! But I am sure glad I know the guy who is in control. I really do believe that God holds the ultimate plan, and I am so grateful– they’re always better than my own anyways.

With that in mind, here are my birthing wishes:

At home: 

I have done this with both girls, and plan to labor at home for as long as possible. This allows me the freedom to move my body and keep myself progressing. In the past I’ve used the bathtub, toilet, birthing ball and different positions as ways to cope with the contractions.

The Essential Oil line up: Clary Sage, Sacred Mountain, Cedarwood, Valor, Gentle Baby, and Stress Away.

In the Hospital: 

Once the baby is born, I want the baby brought to my chest. After delivery, the temperature of your chest increases 3 degrees in order to provide optimum warmth for the baby. And I want that warmth for this little one!

I request the umbilical cord will not be clamped (or cut) for 10 minutes+ allowing the blood from the placenta to be pumped back into the baby’s body. 

We opt out of eye drops, the Hep B Vaccine, and the Vitamin K Shot being administered. I have these Vitamin K drops to bring to the hospital with me, and will administer them myself. 

After Birth: My placenta is being taken and encapsulated so I can ingest the tablets for ultimate postpartum healing and milk production. 

Here are some of my favorite postpartum products to care for my body.

How about you– are you a birth plan or a “let’s just see what happens” kind of person?