What's Right For Me
I can't believe it's been two weeks since I blogged last. It's incredible how busy you get when you don't have any huge work commitments. Since coming back from Toronto I've seen Scorched, La La La Human Steps, performed a mock-burlesque dance, babysat Charlotte, worked on an exciting script, went to the Doctor (all's normal), went to the Dentist (all's normal), avoided exercising, stained some shelves and brackets, put together some Ikea furniture, scared myself silly over registration forms, sold a load of program ads for a fantastic festival, tidied up my office, networked two computers, washed my car, had dinner with some friends and watched way too much Babylon 5.
I've also started reading this great book called "The Birth That's Right For You". With the labour and delivery being potentially only 100 days away, I'm starting to think about preparing myself for it. Stewart and I aren't keen on the idea of prenatal classes... brings up images of cheesy-grinned couples wearing white sitting cross-legged in a circle and sharing their feelings about birth while intermittently making "hee hee ho ho" sounds... not really our idea of a good, or productive, time. This book I'm reading is right up my alley. Co-written by a doctor and a doula it strives to present moms-to-be and their spouses/partners with the options and not the solutions. It reminds you that birth is a natural experience and that, as a human being who has already dealt with pain/stress/anxiety before, you are already equipped with the coping mechanisms necessary to deal with childbirth. Childbirth "preparation" classes are only helpful if the coping tools you're learning are already linked to your natural defenses. For example, if you had (or still have) fears of drowning, then a water birth may not be right for you... even if your sister's water birth experience was the most nirvana-like experience of her life. Or, if you normally like to lock yourself in a dark quiet room and lie still in bed when you're in pain or anxious, then chances are you won't be the type to find relief bouncing on a birth ball or walking the halls of the hospital. I know, these all sound like "well, d'uh!" ideas to me too, but they make good sense to a woman struggling to find sense in this upcoming huge life-changing event. So many women have unrealistic expectations of what they want the birth to be and how they'll best cope with it... this book is prepping me to be aware of who I am and what I desire without being trapped by unrealistic expectations or even being limited by changes in the "plan".
I've been reading this book like I would a textbook... I may have graduated but you can't take the academics out of the girl. Every time I hit a section that requires more thought, that requires me to truly put my fears and ideas into question, I write the page number in my baby book. So far I haven't even gone back to those sections to give them the necessary thought, but I'm already feeling better about the whole thing. I don't yet know what birth is right for me, but I do know that it can't be any worse than dislocating my knees... right?... and I've done that a ton of times so I can deal with this... right? Positive reinforcement, anyone?
So, shall we run a pool? How many hours into labour will Natalie demand medication?
I've also started reading this great book called "The Birth That's Right For You". With the labour and delivery being potentially only 100 days away, I'm starting to think about preparing myself for it. Stewart and I aren't keen on the idea of prenatal classes... brings up images of cheesy-grinned couples wearing white sitting cross-legged in a circle and sharing their feelings about birth while intermittently making "hee hee ho ho" sounds... not really our idea of a good, or productive, time. This book I'm reading is right up my alley. Co-written by a doctor and a doula it strives to present moms-to-be and their spouses/partners with the options and not the solutions. It reminds you that birth is a natural experience and that, as a human being who has already dealt with pain/stress/anxiety before, you are already equipped with the coping mechanisms necessary to deal with childbirth. Childbirth "preparation" classes are only helpful if the coping tools you're learning are already linked to your natural defenses. For example, if you had (or still have) fears of drowning, then a water birth may not be right for you... even if your sister's water birth experience was the most nirvana-like experience of her life. Or, if you normally like to lock yourself in a dark quiet room and lie still in bed when you're in pain or anxious, then chances are you won't be the type to find relief bouncing on a birth ball or walking the halls of the hospital. I know, these all sound like "well, d'uh!" ideas to me too, but they make good sense to a woman struggling to find sense in this upcoming huge life-changing event. So many women have unrealistic expectations of what they want the birth to be and how they'll best cope with it... this book is prepping me to be aware of who I am and what I desire without being trapped by unrealistic expectations or even being limited by changes in the "plan".
I've been reading this book like I would a textbook... I may have graduated but you can't take the academics out of the girl. Every time I hit a section that requires more thought, that requires me to truly put my fears and ideas into question, I write the page number in my baby book. So far I haven't even gone back to those sections to give them the necessary thought, but I'm already feeling better about the whole thing. I don't yet know what birth is right for me, but I do know that it can't be any worse than dislocating my knees... right?... and I've done that a ton of times so I can deal with this... right? Positive reinforcement, anyone?
So, shall we run a pool? How many hours into labour will Natalie demand medication?
posted by Natalie Joy @ 4/30/2007 04:04:00 PM
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