We have just completed our 12 week course on the Bradley method of natural childbirth. It's so hard to believe it's over and it feels like one more huge item is marked off the checklist.
Part of me felt a little out of place because generally, you take classes on what will happen in labor...the first time around! You read all the books and do all the research...the first time! For whatever reason, I floated through the first pregnancy without really doing much of any of that, so when it came to labor I was so clueless-which also equaled terrified in my case-that I just went with whatever was suggested and never thought twice about it. That's not to say it wasn't a great experience, it was. I just had the feeling I wanted something different this time.
Overwhelming curiosity is what really started my entire journey towards what other options I had. When I hit about 24 weeks I suddenly could not stand the idea of not experiencing labor totally un-medicated...no matter what that might involve, I HAD to know! I also knew that ignoring that instinct would only leave me feeling regretful, so off we went! We decided on the Bradley method, and I think I was totally blown away on the amount of information that I learned, everything from the details of what happens physically to emotionally. We ended the series feeling very informed, and ready to face labor with absolutely no fear!
So that brings us to now...I am sitting and waiting for labor to start. Unfortunately I have an entire 4 more weeks until the due date...so I probably shouldn't hold my breath!
In the meantime I am trying to keep busy, and keep blogging so I can have some memory of this time, in a year or so it will all be a blur, I'm sure of it!
