How I’m Preparing for Labor and Delivery

I can't tell you how many people have literally laughed in my face when I tell them my birth vision. But I love this analogy:

When a woman gets married, she spends months planning every detail, envisioning every moment, and spending tens of thousands of dollars on one day.

But when she decides to have a baby, which is an equally if not more important day, she gives no thought to the delivery and places all of the control (and credit) in the doctor's hands.

Now I am NOT judging any women out there! Please don't think that! My goodness, to each her own. Yes, I know things may NOT go as planned...and I'm cool with that. But I've done my research and know my options.

Sean and I have invested over $1K into the birth of this child (between the doula, classes, and books) and people think we're nuts. But this is our preference and choice (and that investment is a drop in the bucket thanks to my Beachbody earnings)! So people can keep laughing because we don't mind.

So what have we done to prepare?

Read Ina May’s Guide to Childbirth
Read Doula’s Guide to Birthing Your Way
Hired a doula to help us through the prenatal period, labor, delivery, and the first breastfeeding.
Attended four 3 hour classes called Confident Birthing at Shining Light Prenatal Education
Attended a 3 hour breastfeeding class at Shining Light
Attended a 3 hour Infant Basics class at Shining Light