Planning a Healing Birth

I think everyone that reads this blog knows how badly my first birth experience went.  Just about anything that could go wrong did.  Gone was the hope of that beautiful natural process when Alexa decided she was ready to enter the world at 30 weeks.  That’s 10 weeks premature to those not down with the pregnancy count.  That birth stripped me of the confidence in my body to work correctly.  I’m hoping this time I get it back.  I realize that all the planning in the world can’t save me from what this baby or my body has in mind.  That said, I’m doing all that I can to ensure a safe and healthy labor this time.

I’m considered high risk because of the last preterm delivery.  That means I have fairly constant monitoring.  Pretty much opposite of my natural desire, but we’re doing whatever it takes to make sure nothing gets missed should something go awry this time.  I’m trying to surround myself with all the positive energy that I can.  Alexa’s pregnancy was easy but her birth was hard and scarring.  Her sister’s pregnancy has been very hard, chock full of negative side effects, so I’m hoping that the birth will at least be normal and natural.

Since we’re delivering in a hospital this time around (I have no choice since I’m a high risk VBAC) we’ve opted to go with the midwife team that has rights there.  We’ve also hired a Doula, Your Best Birth to act as my labor coach and signed up for their birthing classes. I’m so thankful to have found ladies to work with that already feel like family.  There’s something so warm and welcoming about everyone we’ve brought into our prenatal care.

We’re trying with all our might to make this birth experience a positive and empowering one.  The steps we’ve taken won’t guarantee that everything will go smoothly, but working with naturalistic practitioners was the one thing we had control over.  Being cautious with my health and cognizant of the risks is all we can do and I truly hope it’s enough.