Labor and delivery peer pressure?!

I never in a million years thought I'd feel pressure to not try to have a natural child birth and breast fed baby.  For some reason people love to ask very personal questions about your pregnancy and then they insist on giving their thoughts on it. Why would any women want to bring fear to a pregnant women? Why wouldn't they embrace a pregnant women and life her up in love and support?  I love the idea of women passing on love, stories and help but I think it's ridiculous I'm not even halfway to even birthing and people not only want to know what my plan is but they want to tell me I can't do it. I'm not sure if they have any idea how hard headed I am but I refused to be scared or beat down with negativity. I am surrounding myself with literature, videos, websites and people that that will support me and allow me to make educated decisions.

So, If you are wondering my "plan" is  it is listed below. If you don't support my birth "plan", I don't care, but you should know if you won't be allowed into my labor/birth circle of trust. Let me say I know you can't actually plan for a labor and birth but you can have an idea of what you'd like and prepare for what you are willing to accept if things go differently.

The Plan!

I am planning on having a natural labor and delivery. (Gasp, I know!) I don't want to be stuck in a bed trying to work through labor. I don't want to be stuck in stirrups trying to push a baby up and out against gravity. I want to use gravity to my advantage. Alternative positions are imperative to me. I'd like to use water, a birthing ball, music and whatever else I can get my hands on. Hence why I'm driving all the way to Nashville to have a midwife and doula. I understand that labor is hard, life changing and painful. I also am well aware that women for thousands of years have experienced and worked through labor medication free. We are one of the only countries that insists birth is a medical condition that requires hospitalization, medications and lots of interventions. No one has asked me yet, but I think it's important to say, the reason I'm not going to the world renown Farm, which is much closer to me than Nashville is because I do value the medical community and the Farm is too far away from a good hospital that I feel could deal with a medical emergency. I also live too far out in nowhere to do a homebirth. Do I think they are valid options for some? Absolutely, just not for me. I am not against medical intervention, medications or even an epidural. I just want to try and handle things as naturally as possible first and I want to know what the reasoning is, the risk and benefit before I go for them. 

Next people like to know how in the world am I going to deal with the pain of child birth. And the only people that have responded positively to my answer have been Jason, my parents and my midwife. I'm taking hypnobabies classes with Jason starting in November. I'm reading everything I can get my hands on and I'm focusing inward to find inner strength. What is hypnobabies? Hypnobabies is a self hypnosis class to assist mothers in labor and birth. Why do I think this will work? My mom gave birth to me while under self hypnosis.  Here is a little video of a mother laboring with the technique in a hospital setting, which is where my labor will take place. 

I want to breast feed my baby. Yes, I know at first it will hurt and it will continue if my baby isn't latching on approrpiately. Yes, I know not everyone is successful with breast feeding but I'm pretty driving to give it my all because not only will it save me a ton of money, it will also save me time in the middle of the night and offer my baby's immune system an extra boost. How will I deal with this pain? By sacrificing like other mothers have done thousands of year, through the assistance of lactation specialist and lots of lanolin. Do I think formula feeding is wrong? Not at all and if I should lack the ability to produce milk, I will be using formula to supplement as I see fit. 

Once my baby arrives I want Jason to stay with the baby. I will have a doula to support me during this transition time. The reason I have this planned already is because I  was reading "Birthing from within" and started crying while reading about when the baby goes off to get checkout and the mother is left alone to get cleaned up. It was like I felt that emptiness in my soul and longing for my child... and yet it isn't even here yet. Vandy does allow post-poning tests to allow for bonding time but when the time comes I still don't think I will want to have to be alone after such an event. 

Following birth we are going to try cloth diaper. Yes I know what you are thinking but we're going to try it. I mean I help people with their ADLs all day long.. what would make washing out my own babies poop any worse? It saves money in the long run and although there is some controversy as to if it is better for the environment or not. I think it is and most importantly I love that my child will have a decreased rick of diaper rash and will potty train eaiser. Now, I can't say that this will work... but we're going to try it and I'm praying that it is as easy as some of the moms out there say. We're going to do a rental program for newborns to try it. We'll be using bumgenious and or grovia diapers which are basically identical to disposables. Check them out, they aren't your moms old prefold diapers. Ultimately, I think doing the rental is going to be a  great option for us so we can see if this is something we are ready to invest in, because the diapers aren't cheap.

Peer pressure you can suck it! I didn't give into you very often as a teen and I'm sure as hell not going to start now. :)

PS - If I could have a water birth I would sadly it isn't an option in the hospitals here. Also, if you think that is gross, don't bother telling me. I may judge you as much as you are judging me.