After typing up my two-page birth plan, I had five copies printed out on highlighter-green paper and laminated. After going over this plan with my “birthing companions” (my husband and my mother), these copies were placed in the suitcase I would be bringing to the hospital, so as to be handed out to hospital staff who would be attending to me.

I had drawn up this document after attending a breastfeeding class, an all-day birthing class and a three-week hypnobirthing course. Though I had always been the type of person who rolled her eyes at “breast is best” pronouncements and who thought attempts to have a natural birth were utter lunacy, suddenly I was making plans to allow only intermittent monitoring and to refuse an epidural.

To read more of my first post for mom.me, click here!