My lightbulb moment!

[Arimeh]

I'm currently reading A New Active Birth to give me confidence to deal with the contractions a little less... uhh.. hysterically.. next time round

And as I was reading it last night - one little line hit me like a ton of bricks:

"Whatever happens, birth is an unknown adventure..."

Adventure.

I've never thought of it that way. Just something that I can't control and I don't particularly like that feeling - but an adventure - well that just changes the whole meaning of it.

My lightbulb moment was that even though I can't control my adventure, that its ok - because its an adventure!! Go with it!! Whatever happens - happens

So instead of "don't fear the reaper" (for all you Blue Oyster Cult fans like me!) - I'm gonna change it to "don't fear the labour" - just for me

[Bloom]

Great thinking! Love it.

I think of birth as a marathon. Hard work, long, exhausting, but you find your stride, go with the flow and then the finish is worth it! (Not that I've ever done a marathon, but I've imagined it). And when I "finished", I was tired and sore but elated and I knew I would love to do it again.

[megs]

I think I'm like you Ruth08, I find my groove and just go with it. I'm hoping to back for a 4th much to DH amazement as he can't imagine why I would want to go through childbirth again. But I feel like it is such a great thing to be able to do.

Good luck Arimeh Eden for your next adventure!!

[*Ash*]

May you have a beautiful and empowering adventure!

[kirsty_lee]

Thank you Arimeh for posting that I needed to hear that.

[diva det]

attitude during labour makes soo much of a difference. i remember when i was having cx just before transition i would get one after another and all i could think of was me with a scene from the movie Happy Gilmore where the ice pucks are flying at his head and he just stands there with his helmut on wanting more to come and try and get him!! I pictured the cx to be my ice pucks!! LOL- it psyched me up even more!! Bring it on i say!!!

[Jas]

That's awesome Mel!

Good luck, wishing you an awesome birth and an awesome pregnancy journey.

I found with ds2 I was really calm and able to deal with contractions, compared to ds1. I think taking the unknown out of the equation helps a lot to just deal with it. By that I mean first time around you are so strongly feeling what does a contraction feel like, what does pushing feel like etc etc whereas second time around you know these things and also I think the first time it feels like labour is never going to end whereas second time when you have experienced labour before you KNOW that it will end and how you will feel etc etc This was just my personal experience anyway...I know everyone is different but just thought I would share.

[kylieb77]

I found that book great too Good luck on your adventure.

[Jahzara]

And what an awesome adventure it will be

So glad you are feeling much better about that now !