Thursday, January 29, 2009

Now this is a good birth plan!

I just thought I would share this. It is absolutely great! I imagine each mama would get much closer to her ideal birth if she took this approach...

We will be using hypnosis during this birthing and have as our goal a natural, non-medicated birth, complete with tweeting blue birds and Louis Armstrong singing "It's a Wonderful World" in the background. We ask for no interventions to be performed, no matter how minor, without prior informed consent by me and/or my husband. We sincerely thank all hospital staff involved in assisting with our birth in advance for your support and encouragement.

Have a brownie! I made 'em from scratch.

If there are no medical contraindications, the following is our ideal birth plan:

HYDRATION

I plan to hydrate myself with water or other liquids by mouth (excepting vodka), and am willing to accept a heparin lock placement if y'all would prefer that. I request IV use occur ONLY in the event of a complicating factor, and ONLY with my (or my husband's, if I'm unconscious for some odd reason) prior informed consent.

MOVEMENT OF MOTHER

I prefer to move around freely during my birthing time, stand on my head, or assume any other positions I find comfortable.

MONITORING

I prefer external monitoring to be performed sporadically when necessary (20 min. per hour), but not continuously. Internal monitoring to be used only in a life-threatening situation and upon our prior informed consent.

ROOM ENVIRONMENT
Please do NOT report dilation centimeters out loud (or even whisper them), but it's okay to send hand or smoke signals to my husband and mother.

The use of hypnosis is supported by dimmed lighting, quiet voices, soft music, positive statements, and angels and fairies flitting about.

Please refrain from scaring me to death: i.e. asking how excruciating my pain is, telling me what I will feel ("Hang on, honey, this is gonna hurt like hell..."), or telling me how a certain phase or intervention will be experienced. I am very suggestible even when not in hypnosis and need all the help I can get to keep myself planted in my own little dreamy hypnosis zone.

Please do not discuss cervical dilation progress/lack of progress, (including the numbers of centimeters of dilation) while in the room with me. Knowing these numbers could completely depress me and ruin my optimistic outlook for the idealic birth I have my heart set on. In most situations, I advocate for full disclosure of all facts, but with first stage labor, ignorance is my friend, at least until I scream, "I've got to poop!"


VAGINAL EXAMS

As much as I enjoy vaginal exams, I prefer to limit them during the course of this birthing to the following situations:

1. An exam upon admission to the hospital seems appropriate so we all know where we are in this epic adventure together, and to ensure that I am, in fact, in the throes of actual birthing,

2. If progress appears to have seriously stalled, and

3. Upon the desire to push, to be sure I'm not trying to force a grapefruit through a straw.

PLEASE DO NOT STRIP MY FRAGILE LITTLE MEMBRANES DURING ANY ROUTINE VAGINAL EXAM WITHOUT TALKING TO ME FIRST.

MANAGEMENT OF LABOR

I prefer to allow the birth to proceed on its own course naturally, assuming no complications. If an increase in oxytocin becomes necessary, I prefer to try natural methods of stimulation (the fun, aerobic, and sexual ones) before being poked with a needle full of pitocin, or stripping or rupturing my membranes.

Please do not offer drugs for pain management. If we want them, you will know.

PUSHING

I hope to emerge from this birthing experience without varicose veins all over my face. I plan to push in the way my ancestors of long ago pushed, hopeful that this inherent knowledge has not been completely cleansed from my collective unconscious and genetic code. Please do not coach my pushing unless I am failing miserably on my own.

PERINEAL MASSAGE

I'd love midwife/nursing assistance with warm compresses and oil massage of the perineum during crowning and birth. Peeled grapes and a handsome Greek god fanning me with a palm leaf would be okay, too. Of course I want to avoid an episiotomy. Who wouldn't?

THE BIRTH

Please allow my baby to birth without pulling or turning his or her head. If those pesky shoulders are stuck, I'd like to try changing my position before twisting the baby's neck like a pretzel.

Charlie wants to catch the little "guy," and Charlie wants to cut the umbilical cord too, which hopefully won't be clamped or cut until the cord stops pulsating.

We are dying to meet this kid. Please let us fawn over "it" for a while (up to two hours) before whisking it off for newborn procedures (bathing, eye drops, measurements, etc.). Of course, we are breastfeeding. No one with a birth plan like this one would feed his or her kid formula.

PLACENTA
Please do not yank on the umbilical cord with the delivery of the placenta, but do feel free to toss it after it is all out. I waive the right to fry it up and eat it. Thanks.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HELPING US TO HAVE A SAFE, JOYFUL, AND WALDORF-APPROVED BIRTHING EXPERIENCE.

Saturday, October 25, 2008

It's Done!

So I decided to try out a flash palette for my web design for my photography biz. Good grief!! They were far more complicated than I thought, but I am very pleased with the results. It is finally finished. I am testing the trial version right now and will for about a month, I think. I want to see how easily people navigate thru it and how easily I can manage it before I make the leap. So, please feel free to leave me feedback! I would love to know what you think!

www.earthmamaphotography.com

Wednesday, October 8, 2008

Back to Birth!

After some discussion about our current finances and our plan to start our own company this spring, Tom and I decided that I should go back to taking births sooner that previously planned! I am excited and a little nervous at the same time. I usually wait till the babe is 1. Ben will only be 4 months. Scary!

So, I am currently planning on accepting births (both Doula and Photography) as of January. I am doing maternity, newborn and family photography sessions now ofcourse. So if you know anyone interested, spread the word!

Friday, September 5, 2008

My fourth child has arrived!

Just thought I would share that Benjamin Warren Boyce has made his "late" arrival into this world!


He came on Tuesday September 2nd at 6:55pm. He weighed in at a surprisingly small size, 7lbs 7oz and 19" long making us wonder about his 43 wk arrival!


Labor and delivery was difficult, but ultimately successful and he arrived at home as planned in a relatively short time of 8 hours.


Here are a few newborn photos I took at 3 days old. Birth story and birth photos coming soon!



Monday, August 11, 2008

Gentle Birth Choices Now Available!

Just wanted to say "THANKS!" to Lydia for donating Gentle Birth Choices to my library. It is a great book and hope you get to enjoy it as much as I did.

Thanks hon for thinking of me!

Friday, July 25, 2008

What a way to end!

I had my very last birth on Wednesday night/Thursday morning before officially taking my maternity leave. Just in time too, as I am 37 weeks pregnant! I was worried about being so full term, but it worked out great and other than being tired and swollen, no big deal!

So this was the second time that I had the honor of attending this couple's birth and we had a friend of their's help out as well. It was fantastic! I swear, this mom is just meant to have babies. She is so beautiful and calm while she labors. She smiles inbetween contractions even at 9cm. What a joy to support during labor! He hubby is a doll and continuously supports her anyway she needs. "D", their friend, was a gem to have there as well.

Needless to say, this mom had a beautiful, relatively quick natural birth and was so proud of her accomplishment. They had another daughter, "C". She is gorgeous, just like her sisters. Enjoy a few pictures...









Congrats again you guys!! So glad I was there.

Monday, July 7, 2008

4th of July Baby!

We had a beautiful baby girl born at 9:06pm as the fireworks were going off around the metroplex! What a welcome into the world. "C" was born naturally and quickly into this world and her parents did an amazing job. They are excited to add her to the family! Here are a few pics from a great birth!