Birth

Okay peeps - today's blog may be boring for you, but like I have said before, I am documenting life experiences and thoughts here to save them almost like a journal and for the future baby to read one day - sorry if it's not too entertaining. :)
Dave and I have had two lengthy childbirth classes given to us by one of the best! Her name is Penny Phillips and she normally teaches up at the U of U to groups of soon to be parents, but because she and my mom have been great friends for at least a couple decades, she has been coming to give Dave and I private lessons at our house! We feel very lucky.
I must say, however, that I am getting a little nervous, though not nearly as nervous as I would have anticipated a year ago that I would be. I'm about 45 days away from the big day and I feel pretty calm. I have said before that I am doing this all natural with no meds or epidural, and that is still my plan. I've been working on relaxation, breathing, positions and just the general mindset.
Seeing what the epidural needle and process actually is, scares me more than giving birth. That needle is a bitch! Also, the space that they have to hit is very small, and the anesthesiologist does it by touch. I am sure they are skilled, but giving too much, too little, in the wrong space even a little, or if you move while they are putting it in, makes for potentially serious complications or a very poor birth experience.
Dave and I have also educated ourselves and learned a lot about what goes on at hospital births and how to advocate for yourself and your baby. Our midwife is completely on board with our birth plan and I am so glad to have chosen her, because I know she will advocate for what we want, despite the fact that some of our plans are pretty abnormal for a hospital setting. My mom, who had 2 births at home and has attended LOTS of births, kind of in the doula role, will also be advocating and supporting me during the whole process. All of those factors have provided me a lot of relief in feeling pretty certain that I'll have a positive experience (despite the pain!)
I think that many, many women just go through the motions without asking questions, just trusting that their doctor knows what's best and assuming that they have no choices. Anyone who has thought about doing things a little different from the typical birth (typical in the USA anyway) might want to read "The Thinking Woman's Guide to a Better Birth," by Henci Goer. I think educating yourself is so empowering - if you have educated yourself and still want to have a typical hospital birth with all of the routine procedures, that is great - because you will have had the power to make those choices. !
Well, I could obviously go on and on, but I won't...well, until later maybe :)