Journal - Our Birth Plan 2005

November 15, 2008 I was released from work on Doctors orders. I knew how important it was for our nursing staff to know our situation, prior to caring for us. I immediately came home and started compiling all the info I had gathered and began writing Our Birth Plan. I thought I would have more time to do this. In fact, I wanted do it over the weekend but other things came up, like having fun.

I continued to have contractions 10 minutes apart and I wanted to be comfortable on the couch. So I used the old laptop and disks. After 8 hours, I finished at 10pm. I was pretty anxious about losing the info and contractions can break your concentration. So I saved it to disk, all the way through. When I went to the desktop to print it all out. The file… would not “Open”. It did not work! There was a problem with the disk or laptop. Who knows! I was SO stressed! I just went to bed.

I was cramping all night. So obviously, I could not sleep. So at 4am, I got out of bed and went to the desktop computer. I ordered the preemie baby outfits. “Angel Kisses” for BOY & GIRL. Then I began writing Our Birth Plan all over again. I finished it about 8am. Weird Fact: Usually when I transfer information like that from my notes to the computer I rip them up, so I know which info has been used. But last night as I wrote the original Birth Plan I did not rip anything up. I guess Mother Instinct's must have been talking to me again.

LOVE was all she ever knew!!!

Our Birth Plan

Journal 2005:

May - June - July - August - September - October - November - December

Hope Angel's Birth Plan

TABLE OF CONTENTS

LINKS

Due Date – January 11, 2006

OB/GYN Dr. June Melin

"We were planning on having a Baby… but we are having an Angel instead!”

Please Read Our Birth Plan. We would like to be attended by nurses who understand our situation. This will help anyone involved with our birth assist us in creating a loving environment for our family.

OUR STORY

We will soon go through labor and delivery of our first child who has been diagnosed during a 17-week ultrasound (August 4, 2005) with Bilateral Renal Agenesis, also called Potter’s Syndrome. The kidneys failed to develop.

This condition is "incompatible with life". On average, baby’s without kidneys live for a half an hour. We hope and pray that we might see “Our Angel” alive if only for a little while. Understandably, we want that time spent with her/him to be precious.

We have decided to carry "Our Angel" as long as God allows, up to the due date. We do not know the sex of “Our Angel”.

This is a very difficult time us our family and friends – including you, as you work to support us and care for us throughout this part of our journey. We truly appreciate your help and support, and ask that you understand if we seem indecisive or happy and sad. We also appreciate and find great comfort in your expressing your emotions of sadness or happiness. We believe you are in this profession to give the best possible care, be yourself. We are happy to meet "Our Angel" and will be sad when he/she goes to heaven. But our time is precious.

We have tried our best to prepare for this short time with “Our Angel” and we want to be able to spend as much time with her/him as possible. Thank you so much for helping us and supporting us through this celebration of “Our Angels” short but precious and meaningful life.

LABOR ATMOSPHERE

Daddy is to be present throughout the labor and delivery. Should there be an emergency, Daddy should be allowed to stay with Mommy or accompany "Our Angel" as desired.

Mommy wishes to have a vaginal birth, No internal fetal monitoring. No Cesarean due to fetal complications.

Mommy would like to remain mobile, as much as possible, and may be interested in having an epidural when the time is right.

Mommy needs to be alert during and after delivery, to the extent medically possible.

An Episiotomy is not preferred. Please help Mommy to prevent tearing. This may change.

“Our Angel” should be placed with Mommy as soon as possible after birth, with vitals taken while we hold him/her. We would like Dr. Melin to clear airways to initiate breathing, if necessary, immediately after birth. We do not want any extraordinary measures taken to prolong her/his life other than any routine care that would be given to any normal newborn (i.e. suctioning for respiration). We know we will have very little time (if any) with "Our Angel" while he/she is alive and want to hold the baby for as much of that time as possible.

We would like Mary to baptize “Our Angel” as soon as possible. If Mary is not present, we would like Daddy to baptize “Our Angel”. Making the sign of the cross on whatever body part is visible, saying, “I baptize you in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, Amen”.

When she is ready, Mommy would like to bathe and dress "Our Angel".

OUR VISITORS

We would prefer the actual delivery, be ONLY the Two of Us. Although,

the following family & friends are allowed in the Delivery Room. NOT all at one time. However, please ask Mommy & Daddy if the time is appropriate. Let us know if additional family or friends arrive. We would like them to be nearby to meet “Our Angel” ... when we are ready.

All Our Parents, including Step Mom

Grandma & Aunt

All Our Brothers & Sister & Nephews

Friends - Mary & Becky

NO VISITOR is allowed to view Mommy’s Private Area.

Please keep them at her head or waist.

OTHER WISHES

To help us celebrate and remember this special time with “Our Angel”, we have thought about mementos and rituals that we would like to do. Here is a list of those things; if there are others that you think we might want, we would be grateful for those suggestions.

Birth and Death Certificate

Bassinet Card

Hats/Shirt

Baby Blanket

Photographs (please help us take pictures)

Hand and Foot prints

Lock of Hair

Hospital Bracelets

CONTACT INFORMATION

If you can help making the following contacts, we would appreciate it.

Potter's Syndrome Research

www.KidneyGenes.com