Kimberley Klaver about her birth plan: ‘I want to dance and meditate, without pain relief’

Week 38…

These days feel like bonus pregnant days. Julius came into the world at 35 weeks, so I didn’t take into account holidays and days of rest. But that’s what I’m in the middle of right now. And that’s nice. And a little awkward.

No guarantee

It gives me the opportunity to relax, read books and think carefully about the birth. Because yes, this boy is really not delivered by the stork: I will have to do it myself again. And although it went well last time (despite the contractions), that offers no guarantee or certainty for delivery number two.

I found it difficult to draw up a birth plan, because I can only speak about wishes. Wishes where the most important goal is to bring our son into the world healthy.

Giving birth in the bath

I would like to give birth at home this time. In our own familiar environment, with my familiar stuff, my music, my familiar faces. I would like to give birth in the bath – I am a bath person and taking contractions in warm water can provide some relief. It also seems like a nice transition and soft landing for the baby.

I would like my sister Mel to be there so she can help with Julius and my three bonus children. They live with us for two weeks a month, so there is a good chance that they will be there too. And that’s beautiful. After all, they all get another baby brother and it seems to me a special experience to be able to share this together.

This time I would like to dance, meditate and above all stay calm. Without pain relief, not because I love pain, but because I like to opt for a water birth with as little medical intervention or distraction as possible.

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Letting go and being flexible

Well, there are a number of wishes and that is allowed. But what I especially want to keep reminding myself of is the art of letting go and being flexible. Because I can want anything, but if things go differently, I have to be able to deal with that too.

sick to my stomach

From my first delivery I still remember how I scolded and was anything but zen. How I begged my husband for a back massage and then begged him not to touch me again. I remember throwing the ‘delicious fragrance spray’ across the room because it made me sick to my stomach. And I remember the desperate moment when I yelled to myself why the hell I didn’t insist on morphine, general anesthesia, or SOMETHING.

Yes, that was also all part of the delivery and something I now have to take into account: being flexible with that flow is just as important.

The power of your body

What I do believe in is the immense power of your body. Despite the excruciating pain, it did what it was supposed to do and was useful pain. I felt in my body what had to be done and that gave me confidence in my strong body, and in every strong and beautiful woman’s body.

Anyway. Whether it will be a relaxed bath birth or a swearing cannonade? That’s the big question. I’ll keep you posted via this road and via Instagram ;).

Kimberley Klaver (34) is mother of Julius Laurens Alexander (2). She studied from the age of 5 to 15 at the dance academy of Lucia Marthas and later HBO Communicatie. She is known for Spangas, Vechtershart 1&2, co-host afternoon show Q-Music and as program maker of Badgasten and Known Baasjes at LINDA. TV. She lives with Michel, who has three children from a previous relationship.