Thinking about birth

So the countdown continues, less than a month to go, at least until the estimated due date. However, Biff discovered it happens to fall on a full moon, so it's not as an unlikely estimate as it could be. I'm getting very unwieldy and noticeably forgetful. But the weather has just turned cool in the last two days, and it is a very welcome change. For me, fall is a time of new beginnings, the real start of the year, coming from 16 plus years of following school calendars. It's crisp and sharp with change, which makes it both exciting and emotional for me, the ultimate sentimentalist, every year. This year will obviously be quite poignant. It just so happens that my due date is a day before the anniversary of my father's death 9 years ago. I'm not religious; I don't believe in a plan, but I believe in patterns, or at least or ability to create them as ways of giving meaning to our worlds. This coincidence seems somehow appropriately cyclical.

Here's a picture of me just born, with the proud parents.

In more practical terms, we have created a birth plan for our ideal birth (uninduced, unmedicated, and mostly laboring at home). Of course you never know what will happen, but you have to at least know what to aim for. Our bullet points:

• We strongly prefer a quiet, serene environment with minimum noise and disruption. We will probably play soothing music and would like to eat light foods and liquids throughout labor.

• We are looking forward to a natural unmedicated birth. Please do not offer or administer any pain medications before, during, or after birth. We will let you know if we want pain medications under any other circumstances.

• We prefer to have a Heparin lock and not to have an IV unless necessary.

• Freedom of movement is very important to us. Kate should be free to try different positions during labor and birth, including use of a shower, tub and/or birthing ball.

• Intermittent external fetal monitoring as long as Kate is not required to lie down.

• We prefer to have a minimal number of vaginal exams, ideally administered by the same person throughout and only when there is a change of labor or we request a check.

• Bag of waters to remain intact until they break naturally

• We intend to try to keep the perineum intact. We will use perineal massage, warm compresses and oils to achieve this goal. No episiotomy unless deemed necessary for the safety of the baby and this decision is discussed with Biff and our doula.

• If labor stalls, we prefer no artificial induction of labor. If augmentation is needed, we would prefer natural methods first.

• If a Cesarean Birth becomes necessary, prefer to have husband, Biff, in the room seated at mother’s head during surgery. We would like the baby to be held by Biff as soon after birth as possible, and Biff will remain with baby. We hope to attempt to breastfeed as soon as possible.

• After the birth, we would prefer the baby to be laid directly on the mother’s chest without washing and allowed to nurse as soon as possible. All testing to be administered while the baby lies on the mother’s chest.

• We request that the baby remain in mother’s room at all times

• We would like the father, Biff, to cut the umbilical cord. However, we would prefer to wait until the umbilical cord stops pulsating before clamping and cutting.

• We prefer eye ointment and vitamin K to be delayed for at least one hour after birth to allow for bonding.

• We prefer to breastfeed only – no bottles, glucose, artificial nipples, formula or water

No, he will not be circumcised. Yes, he will absolutely be vaccinated.