Our Birth Plan

Daniel and Hailey Hester: Our Birth Plan:

Full name: Hailey Briana Hester

Partner’s name: Jonathon Daniel Hester

Baby's Full Name: Skylee Rae Hester

Today’s date: January 31^st, 2014

Due date: OR Induction date: March 10^th, 2 014

Doctor’s name: Dr. Gregory DeLong, but hopefully we will be delivering with his midwife, Beth

Hospital name: Lower Keys Medical Center

side note: I am not handing this typed birth plan to my doctor or hospital.  I wrote this out simply so I would know the things I want/don't want.  I've discussed each of these things in detail with my midwife, and I don't feel like it's necessary to walk into the hospital with a list of demands before the staff even get to know me.  I feel confident that my midwife will make sure that the major things are taken care of without a bullet point list. 

Ø  My delivery is planned to be vaginal.

Ø  I would like my spouse, my mother Kimberly Stockton, my mother-in-law Patty Hester, and my sister Bentley Stockton present before and during labor.

Ø 
During labor, I’d like:
[X] Music played (I will provide)
[X ] The lights dimmed
[X ] The room as quiet as possible
[X ] As few interruptions as possible

[X] To wear my own clothes
[X ] My sister to film AND/OR take pictures
[X ] My partner to be present the entire time
[X ] To stay hydrated with clear liquids and ice chips
[X ] To eat and drink as approved by my doctor

Ø  I’d like to spend the first stage of labor:
In whatever position I feel most relieved in.

Ø  I’d like fetal monitoring to be:

Performed at the discretion of my doctor and the hospital staff. However, I would like to remain mobile for as long as possible, so I would like the fetal monitoring to allow for that.
 

Ø  I’d like labor augmentation:

Performed at the discretion of my doctor and the hospital staff.  My first choice will be to try the natural methods, and if that doesn’t work, I will be open to discussing any form of induction that my doctor feels appropriate.  I would like all procedures to be discussed with me BEFORE they are done.

Ø  For pain relief:

I would first like to use breathing techniques, hot/cold therapy, distraction, hypnosis, massage, meditation, and other natural pain relievers. I would really like to have a natural, med-free birth.  However, being a first time Mom, I am not adamant on NOT receiving pain relief. I would just like to give my body a chance to do it on my own before I take the medicine. Please DO NOT OFFER ME any pain relievers until I bring them up.  If they are offered to me in an extreme moment of pain, I will probably give in and take them.  I will ask for them when and if I feel like my body cannot handle it.

Ø  During delivery:

I am not set on any one position. I am open to any positions that would help with a quicker delivery. I would like to be in a position that allows gravity to aid me in delivering the baby.

Ø  As the baby is delivered, I would like to:

Push with my body’s natural urges.  I would also like to be asked if I want to touch her head as she crowns, if I would like to use a mirror to see her coming out, and if I would like to help catch her.  My only adamant preference in my baby’s delivery is I DO NOT WANT the use of a vacuum or forceps.

Ø  I would like an episiotomy:

I am leaving this decision up to my doctor.  It is my strongest desire, however, that an episiotomy will be done ONLY AFTER all other natural methods have been attempted.  If an episiotomy is absolutely necessary, I would like the use of local anesthetics for the procedure and also for sewing me back up.

Ø  Immediately after delivery, I would like:

            My partner to cut the umbilical cord after it stops pulsating. 

Ø  If a C-section is necessary, I would like:

To make sure all other options have been exhausted.  I would like to be conscious, and I want my spouse to remain with me the entire time.  I want him to hold the baby as soon as possible, and I would like the chance to breastfeed in the recovery room.

Ø  I would like to hold baby:

As soon as possible after delivery. I would like the baby to be handed to me for skin-to-skin contact.  I would like for her to be wiped clean while I am holding her. I would like to breastfeed as soon as possible after delivery.  If there is any need for her to be taken from the room, I would like my husband to accompany her everywhere she is taken.

Ø 
I’d like ALL of my family members:

To be able to join me and the baby as soon as I’m ready after delivery.  I would like them to have unlimited visiting after birth.

Ø  I’d like baby’s medical exam and procedures:

Given in my presence, and only after she’s been handed to me for first skin-to-skin contact.  If it is not possible for me to be present, I would like my husband present.

Ø  Please don’t give baby:

Any form of supplements without discussing with me first.  I would like to begin breastfeeding as soon as she is delivered.  Please ask before giving her a pacifier.

Ø  I’d like baby to stay in my room at all times unless there is a medical reason for her to be taken out.

Ø  I’d like my partner to have unlimited access to my room at all times, and to sleep in the same room as well.

Ø  As needed post-delivery, please give me any pain meds, stool softeners, or laxatives that the doctor prescribes.

Ø  After birth, I’d like to stay in the hospital as briefly as possible.

Ø  If baby is not well, I’d like my partner and myself to accompany her to the NICU. I would like to pump breast milk if I cannot nurse her. I would like to hold her whenever possible.

Got my computer working right again!

For the past 5 weeks or so, my computer wouldn't allow me to do anything on my blog.  Which is why the pictures and updates got so behind! But I was able to get around the issue today, and everything is back up to date!

Things have been crazy since I last posted anything.  Important things first, though.  They still have me on the Procardia medication and so far I haven't had any issues with more pre-term labor!  They will be taking me off of the meds at 36 weeks, so I have a little over a week before I stop taking them. Everything is starting to get a little bit more real. I'm starting to feel very anxious about these last few weeks, and most specifically, nervous and scared about the labor and delivery process.  After I post this update I am going to post a copy of my birth plan, just for kicks and giggles.  I can't wait to meet our little girl.  

I really can't complain much about my pregnancy.   It's been very difficult some days, yes (can't lie about that), but we have been blessed with such a little miracle and I know it's going to make it all worth it.  The toughest things I'm dealing with these days, is probably the constant aching and the extreme heartburn at night.  I've found a sort of solution for the heartburn, though, and it has been helping me this past week to get more sleep.  I don't eat or drink anything after 5 if I can help it.  If I feel like I'm starving and ABSOLUTELY have to eat something (which happens on occasion LOL), I make sure it's something extremely light, like crackers.  That has really been helping the heartburn not be as intense as it was.  

More so than anything else these days, I'm really struggling with all these changes to my body.  It probably wouldn't be so bad if people didn't feel like they needed to make insulting comments all the time (I could write a book about all the comments people have made), but then again, who knows. I'd probably still feel this bad about my body even if no one said anything.  I've gained about 38 pounds up to this point......so I'm already over the "recommended weight gain" for an average woman (25-35 pounds).  It's getting harder and harder to find clothes in my closet that fit me, and that makes me even more self conscious.  But, as I said before, I know this little angel is going to be worth every bit of it!

School started back in full swing on January 10th. I already had my first exam, which I made a low B on.  I feel like I should have and could have scored a whole lot higher, but I didn't prioritize.  I've had so much going on and I didn't really give studying my 100%.  That's okay though :) There's always the next test.

Skylee's nursery is ALMOST complete :)  I can't wait to post pictures. It's really turned out beautifully.

One of the most pressing things I need to get done now is my maternity pics!  I'm so nervous that I'm going to go into labor and not get these pictures done!!!  It's just been hard because Daniel's schedule has been flip-flopping like crazy. Hopefully here within the next week I will be able to get them done!

Skylee Rae Week 34 :)

How your baby's growing:

Your baby now weighs in between 3 and 1/2 pounds and 4 and 1/2 pounds (about the size of a butternut squash) and is almost 18 inches long. Her fat layers — which will help regulate her body temperature once she's born — are filling her out, making her rounder. Her skin is also smoother than ever. Her central nervous system is maturing and her lungs are continuing to mature as well. If you've been nervous about preterm labor, you'll be happy to know that babies born between 34 and 37 weeks who have no other health problems generally do fine. They may need a short stay in the neonatal nursery and may have a few short-term health issues, but in the long run, they usually do as well as full-term babies.

Skylee Rae Week 33

How your baby's growing:

This week your baby weighs right at 4 pounds and has passed the 17-inch mark (about the size of a durian fruit). She's rapidly losing that wrinkled, alien look and her skeleton is hardening. The bones in her skull aren't fused together, which allows them to move and slightly overlap, thus making it easier for her to fit through the birth canal. (The pressure on the head during birth is so intense that many babies are born with aconehead-like appearance.) These bones don't entirely fuse until early adulthood, so they can grow as her brain and other tissue expands during infancy and childhood.

Skylee Rae Week 32

How your baby's growing:

By now, your baby weighs 3 3/4 pounds (about the size of a squash) and is about 16.7 inches long, taking up a lot of space in your uterus. You're gaining about a pound a week and roughly half of that goes right to your baby. In fact, she'll gain a third to half of her birth weight during the next 7 weeks as she fattens up for survival outside the womb. She now has toenails, fingernails, and real hair (or at least respectable peach fuzz). Her skin is becoming soft and smooth as she plumps up in preparation for birth.

Skylee Rae Week 31

How your baby's growing:

This week, your baby measures over 16 inches long. She weighs about 3 1/3 pounds (about the size of a pineapple) and is heading into a growth spurt. She can turn her head from side to side, and her arms, legs, and body are beginning to plump out as needed fat accumulates underneath her skin. She's probably moving a lot, too, so you may have trouble sleeping because your baby's kicks and somersaults keep you up. Take comfort: All this moving is a sign that your baby is active and healthy.

Skylee Rae Week 30

How Your Baby's Growing:

Your baby's about 15.7 inches long now and weighs almost 3 pounds (about the size of a cucumber). A pint and a half of amniotic fluid surrounds her, but that volume will shrink as she gets bigger and takes up more room in your uterus. Her eyesight continues to develop, though it's not very keen; even after she's born, she'll keep her eyes closed for a good part of the day. When she does open them, she'll respond to changes in light but will have 20/400 vision — which means she can only make out objects a few inches from her face. (Normal adult vision is 20/20.)

Skylee Rae Week 29

How your baby's growing:

Your baby now weighs about 2 1/2 pounds and is a tad over 15 inches long from head to heel. Her muscles and lungs are continuing to mature, and her head is growing bigger to make room for her developing brain. To meet her increasing nutritional demands, you'll need plenty of protein, vitamins C, folic acid, and iron. And because her bones are soaking up lots of calcium, be sure to drink your milk (or find another good source of calcium, such as cheese, yogurt, or enriched orange juice). This trimester, about 250 milligrams of calcium are deposited in your baby's hardening skeleton each day.