this is amazing! it has summed up how i felt about my last birth; the way that birthing Marta was just simply filled with excitement, antcipation and most beautiful of all: sheer JOY. both of my midwives commented how relaxed and jovial i was when Marta was coming down, and all i can say to that is, is because i just allowed my body (and hers of course!) to do all the work so that my concious mind could be left to just revel in the awesomeness of bringing into this world my beautiful baby daughter. i'll treasure forever the memory of her crowning, my hand reaching down to hold her for the first time (how awesome is it to feel that soft head coming through??!!) and just laughing: laughing with joy.
something that i didnt realise would happen was the way that i was able to talk to Marta at that time. as i felt her coming down and crowning i found myself just gently talking to her, telling her i love her and that it's ok and also gently cheering her on! i remember saying 'come on baby girl, you can do it, it's ok'. it's one of my most precious memories.

**** Read also wrote of a similar approach to birth, where as a OB student he witnessed a young womans first birth and he was shocked at how calm and happy she was and later he asked her if it had hurt, and she replied: 'no. was it meant to?' AH-MAZ-ING!