Yesterday’s post spiked some conversations! I always love a good chat❤️ Different opinions, of course, but here is what I think. For me, a birth plan was very helpful. I also want to emphasize ( based on comments) that birth plan, in my view, is not telling the doctor what do to.🤗 Here are the absolute benefits of why it was so helpful for me. 🍂 we discussed different scenarios with my doctor. I knew WHAT could happen, what, generally, is done in different situations. I was familiar with different protocols. 🍂 I was able to talk about important-to-me points and understand the doctors view on things. For example, it was important to me to be mobile during labor. It was important for the doctor to monitor the baby and my vitals to access the process. We discussed the best way to get it all done, rather than having me lay flat on my back ALL the hours of labor, as it was with my first, because it was easier for nurses to hook me up to a computer. I didn’t know any different then. I wish I did! 🍂 for me, a birth plan was something I could lean on at the tough moment. I remember with my 3rd baby, my first 100% natural birth, that there was a moment I felt scared and thought that I couldn’t do it. I prepped for this. My husband and nurses knew what calms me. It was in the birth plan. They were able to give me the support I needed those very last few minutes that are the most intense. I was so glad we all had something to lean on. 🍂 I also very clearly understood that a birth plan is NOT a set “how-to”. The birth plan is a collection of paths to get to the main goal : a healthy birth. For me, knowing what can happen took the stress of unknown away. And that alone was worth it 1000x over. . What do you think? Did you have a birth plan? Did it help you? . #baby #birth #livingnotesqanda #livingnotes_pregnancy (at Los Angeles, California) https://www.instagram.com/p/BpScamIluTf/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1rk1rm399ebc0