Alanna Risse

This is the beginnings of a birth plan, and just things that are important to me when planning for the next few months.

• I want to give birth in my own home, with people I trust and love.
• After giving birth, I want to be home with my husband and baby, not in a hospital.
• I want to be mindful of the foods I eat. I want to eat wholesome foods and limit empty calories, without going overboard. I think a ginger beer or a cheeseburger and fries every once in a while is good for the soul. I will be careful to make sure the majority of foods I eat are nutrient rich.
• I want to be physically and emotionally present at my own birth. I want to be in charge of bringing my baby into the world, along with strong support from trusted, experienced midwives who can help guide me through the journey.
• I want to avoid pain medications and instead want to rely on more nature forms of pain management.
• I want to train for my birth physically. I want to make sure I keep going to the gym, yoga classes, and working out at home as long as my body is comfortable doing it.
• I want to train for my birth mentally. I’ll looking at techniques like hypnobirthing. I am reading Ina May’s Guide to Childbirth. I am reading about and watching videos of other home births to help prepare me.
• I want my birthing process to be as long or short as my body wishes it to be, as long as I am not endangering myself or my baby.
• I want my husband to play an active roll in my birth. I want him to experience it with me as much as possible. I’ll spare him the pain part.
• If I am unable to give birth in my own home, I want an advocate with me at the hospital who understands my wishes.
• I want an caregiver who will get to know me personally before the arrival of my baby and who will support me after birth
• I don’t want to give birth in the presence of strangers
• I want to hold my baby immediately after birth
• I want to breastfeed my baby