Hoping to start a discussion about something I’ve been reflecting on lately, now that my son Landon is 6 months old.
Before giving birth, I spent a significant amount of time creating a very detailed birth plan. I read all the books, researched different options, and felt very prepared. Now, looking back, I’m finding it interesting to see which parts of my plan were actually important and which ones were completely forgotten in the moment. For instance, I had a whole section on wanting specific low lighting and a carefully curated music playlist, but when labor really got going, I didn’t notice or care about either.
It makes me wonder about the emphasis we put on certain preferences. I’m curious what others experienced. Did you have a detailed birth plan? What were the things you thought would be essential that ended up not mattering at all? Conversely, was there anything you didn’t plan for that became a critical part of your experience?
I’m less interested in hearing about plans going ‘wrong’ and more interested in a logical look at what truly provides comfort and support versus what is just noise. It seems like a useful way to gather some real-world evidence for any future pregnancies or to help friends who are expecting.