Anyway, good for the two of you for doing your research. My husband and I made a similar decision, but opted to give birth in a hospital. I meticulously obsessed about my birth plan for the last few months and on the day, I went in there fully prepared to scratch every detail, if necessary. I was especially prepared since the hospital where I was birthing Marisabelle had a 75% C-section rate. I was very lucky that everything went as planned. No pitocin, no drugs of any kind, just me, my husband, my sister, and a whole slew of nurses and 1 doctor (all of whom were female except my husband). It was hands down the most incredible experience of my life and I give thanks and praises to the nursing staff who supported me in my birth plan and pretty much shooed the the epidural nurse out of the room like a pitbull. It was amazing. I wish you all the best and a happy and healthy rest of the pregnancy. Feel free to email if you would like some extra tips for the big day!

Buena Suerte!

Our hospital births have been impersonal, a bit hectic and bureacratic, but otherwise satisfactory, with one exception. I suppose one should seek more than mere satisfaction with birth. The exception was one terrible nurse. Prior to baby #1 my wife made me promise to be nice to everyone at the hospital. I have a bad habit of being mean to incompetent people and she was trying to head it off. Once at the hopstial and in the delivery room my wife was between contrations, just prior to pushing so deep into labor, and quietly moaning. There was a nurse next to her that asked “are you having a contraction?” My wife said no, and then the nurse sarcastically asked “then why are you moaning?” I was ready to leap across the bed and rip her face off. Luckily another contraction came and I re-focused back on my wife, otherwise I may be in prison for 2nd degree face ripping. This same nurse blamed her inability to insert an IV on my wife’s veins being too small. Devil woman.

The minutes spent with others will eventually be insignificant when compared to the dedicated time you have with your wife and baby, but you two are smart to go the extra mile to try and have a best birth possible. All the best.

Nice to hear that you’re back at “el rio”… So jealous. Great to hear the pregnancy is going along fine. That’s one cute puppito! Talk soon,

Rick

feels good huh?!

Best of luck to you and Marcia with the birth. Are you doing it at home? My wife did our first sans drugs. It was rough but she says she liked it. Had drugs on the 2nd and I think she prefers the drugless route. If there is 3rd perhaps we’ll do water, but only if we can find a tub built for 2, and with jets.