Birth Plan: an oxymoron

All of the pregnancy books encourage you to write a "birth plan." Something that will outline exactly what you want to happen on the day you deliver. For example: Who's in the room, what music is playing, drugs or no drugs, mirror or no mirror, will dad cut the cord, how should they hand the baby to you, etc.

At this point I can't help but laugh at the thought of a birth going according to plan. Have you ever heard of a birth going according to plan? I have not.  It is great in theory and it is wonderful to outline your "do's" and "don'ts," letting the doctors and you family know your wishes, but expect the opposite. It's hard for ME to say that because I am a true optimist but I'm also a realist.

My original birth plan would have looked something like this:

• deliver at the UCSD natural birth center with a midwife
• no drugs, no induction, no episiotomy, absolutely no C-section
• coconut water and other snacks to keep my energy up for labor
• freedom to walk around, use birth ball and the labor tub
• skin to skin contact immediately after he's born

Doesn't that sound lovely :)

I found out the details of the reality of my birthing situation this week.

It's pretty much the exact opposite.