Sunday, August 8, 2010

i'm a baby nerd...to the max

I've always been a little jealous of those people who find something that they just love. Like a job someone just can't live without and their desire to read, study, and discover all they can about that thing never ceases. I've always wanted that.

It's funny to realize that I've always had that. Noticing every single pregnant woman in the mall and admiring her growing belly wishing to touch it and talk to it. Getting into extremely detailed conversations with total strangers about their birth experiences and not thinking a thing about how easy it is to be totally engrossed in every word. I can't get enough and I feel so lucky to love it like I do.

By the way, have you ever noticed that every woman remembers with perfect clarity her birth experiences, the good and the bad. No matter what your age, you can remember how you felt, who was there, who said what that made you happy or anxious, and what you thought when you met your baby for the first time.

My friend Libby who has grown kids now said something so interesting. Back when childbirth was extremely medicated (well, still is) but when there wasn't a whole lot of support to birth naturally without a lot of intervention and husbands were not heavily involved, she had opted for an un-medicated birth and felt totally alone in it. In the midst of transition and pushing, she asked her nurse, "am I doing this right" and that nurse said, "you are doing perfect". That was all she needed to know she could do it. Those simple 5 words gave her that support to believe in the process and that she naturally knew what to do, and that she was doing it.

I hope that every woman, whether you're getting pain medication or not, choosing a home birth or a hospital, whatever your preference, has the knowledge that this is your birth and you have a choice to make it whatever way you want. If you don't want something, voice it. If you do want something, voice it. If you don't decide someone else will for you. And you know what, that works for some people. But if this is an experience you will remember all your life, make it your own. Don't let anything be taken from you. Get educated...don't just follow the system.

There it is, my first child birthing rant. We all knew it was coming at some point. I'll try and keep it under control. Promise.

2 comments:

Amanda said...

basically i love you, and i love this post. i feel the same exact way. i too am so passionate about childbirth and pregnancy and babies- this is why i need to be a doula, because otherwise i would have to have 100 babies to satisfy my need.

Unknown said...

You're starting to sound pretty granola! I knew it was coming!! =) You are totally right though. It's only a matter of time before you birth a baby in a bath tub. (If you do I totally want to be there for it.)