Bradley Method Classes

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So Bob and I have been taking a 12 week child birthing class using the Bradley Method. It's an all natural approach to child birth... no drugs, no episiotomy, etc. To manage the pain instead, you use a birthing tub, physio balls, massage, and so on.

A few things about this class:

• I feel VERY ready to deliver Margot. In fact I'm looking forward to it. I know it will hurt, but I am regarding it as the ultimate marathon experience. One where I get to bring a baby home at the end! The class has taught us so many different exercises that open the birth canal (like squatting. I've been practicing so much I think I could be a catcher on a softball team. My current record for holding a full squat is 7.5 minutes) and the basic mechanics of how birth works. The baby and mommy work together to make delivery possible.
• We're great friends now with the other couples in our class. There were five other couples, and I'm cheering for them and their deliveries... may they be healthy and uneventful.
• Our Bradley Method instructor, Emmy Marcelynas, is now our hired doula (birth assistant). We know her very well after these 12 weeks, and we're confident she will make Margot's birth just a bit more reassuring.
• Finally, it's been fantastic to have a place to go each week (Tuesday nights) where EVERYONE in that room believes it is possible to have a completely natural birth. I can't begin to tell you how many people say to us: "Just you wait. You'll change your mind. You've never had a baby before, so you don't know what to expect. You'll WANT the drugs. I don't know... I wanted natural too, but I ended up having a C-section."

Really, people, do you think we haven't considered all these things? It's completely maddening. I can't think of another arena in life where people tell you you're absolutely wrong about your choices. Can you imagine hearing, "I thought I'd go to college too... good luck with that." "I always wanted to be married to the same man my whole life; it's just not possible." "You've never been 30 before, so you just have no idea what to expect. Take it from me: it's not doable." "I know you've been training correctly for this sporting event for months, but I'm telling you: have an open mind. You might not finish without some medical assistance."

I know Bob and I have never had a baby before, and there are some things that are out of our hands... like a breech position or any other number of things. And I completely am okay with whatever needs to be done to have a healthy baby and to be a healthy mommy. But I wish people would let us strive to achieve our goal without the negativity.

Okay, I guess that's the rant. It's hot here (98 with no air conditioning)... so you'll have to excuse the diatribe. And no matter what happens, if I hear one single person say, "I told you so..." God help me.