birth plans

For those of you who don't know, Andrei and I have hired a midwife for our pregnacy care and birth. We'll actually have the birth at the Mountain Midwifery birth center where there will be a midwife, nurse and my doula-sister. No, there will be no doctor in the building. Working in a hospital, I get a lot of comments..."Ooh, you should be careful; she would've died if she weren't in a hospital" or "So and so lost their baby at a 'birth center' b/c a doctor wasn't called soon enough" or "Our baby wasn't responding well to the pitocin so they almost had to do a c-section". I have even gotten looks that say "you're being irresponsible and could affect another life b/c of it."

I very much appreciate why these people are concerned, and I am not that offended when they take it upon themselves to tell me why my choice is maybe not such a good one. However, I also appreciate the fact that most people are misinformed and highly uninformed about the birth process, the use of and consequences (positive and negative) of medical interventions, and the use of and consequences of a more natural approach. (I don't intend to go into all that at this point. For those interested, there are plenty of books that discuss hospital and home birth options from either point of view.)

We must remember that a mom's comfort level is vital for having a safe, smooth birth ("stress" hormones can really screw things up). If she's more comfortable in the hospital bed, then that's where she should be. If she feels more comfortable in the birth center or at home, then that's where she should be. Neither side should be quick to judge the other's choices. I'm quickly learning about the huge wall growing between the two 'schools of thought', throwing the balance off in both natural and medical holistic care.

At the same time, I am quickly becoming an informed advocate for natural home/birth center births; and if you ask for my opinion, be sure it will be bias. However, don't try to get me on the defensive, trying to convince you why you're wrong for wanting a hospital birth. First of all, it's YOUR birth, not mine. Second of all, I think that giving advice/judgement/opinions should be reserved for those who specifically ask for it. Truly, I'd appreciate the same respect in return.

So while I said earlier that I don't get too offended...I guess maybe I do a little bit, despite my efforts not to. I just don't want to be labelled as a bad mom before my baby is even born. I'm sure none of us do.

CAN'T WE ALL JUST GET ALONG?

loving you all for loving me and our little one...