Hi,

I will not have my partner with me during my labour as he left me when I was 7 months. I spent alot of time early last month when it happened thinking 'this isn't how it's meant to be'.. etc..

I was alone for my first labour at 21 and it was downright horrible- unfortunately even though the first time was my wise choice that partner was not in the picture, in a million years I did not expect to see this replicated 8 years later.

I am starting to move past this however I want a very positive and memorable birthing experience. I'm probably not having the big wedding or engagement, house purchase celebrations in the next decade and I consider this my last significant life event for some time, so I'd like to formally celebrate it to remember later with the fondness it deserves.

Birthing partners/attending labour will be my lovely doula, a friend with a newborn herself who just had an incredible birthing experience 12 weeks ago and wants to help me achieve my own, and another friend. This will be first birthing experience for my 2 friends, bar their own children.

We are all in late 20's and I am having my son in 2-3 weeks in public. Would like some tips and ideas to keep it a
positive, calm, fun and uplifting environment for me, as well as memorable in its own right.

I will stay at home until doula picks me up and then attend hospital as soon as DD is dropped off at best friend's for sleepover.

What I have planned so far-

A Happy Birth Day cake, for us all to celebrate his birth once he has had a bit of snuffle round and is asleep.

Taking my high quality camera for doula to record candid shots of the while experience for everyone (also the girls and I interacting during early labour, not just the usual cuddle/crowning pics :P) I will then make this into an age and public-viewing appropriate slideshow for my daughter (7).

'Bounty Bags for Birthing Partners'- these involve pretty gift bags with a handwritten thankyou letter, a piece of jewellery to remember the day with, and an IOU for a day of babysitting their little ones. (Not valid for the next 3 months!!).

Taking Monopoly to birthing suite- Monopoly is ALWAYS fun

Also due to SPD will not be able to be very mobile/active. Will be having an epidural after early labour.

Thanks in advance for any other ideas to make this really memorable for me.

Kat