Pregnancy Book Help
A blog reader, Kathy Pride is writing a book on pregnancy and childbirth – a blend of What to Expect and The Girlfriend’s Guide to Pregnancy. She is looking for stories to include in her book. If you are willing to help, please read on and email her. Thanks!
From Kathy:
- Pregnancy and Childbirth…How do you really prepare? The free advice that is pretty costly, discussion of pain which is a four letter word, body changes which include the uterus going from pear sized to watermelon sized and the fact that too often it seems like birth can become a spectator sport.
- What surprised you?
- Were childbirth classes worthwhile or worthless?
- What didn’t anyone tell you?
I am excited to have this opportunity to write a tell it like it is approach to pregnancy and childbirth with both humor and a Christian outlook, acknowledging the majesty and miracle of birth. If you have stories to share, please email me at Kathy@Kathypride.com
I think yours is the perfect story because you can be honest about the, uhmmm, intensity and length of your labor (dude that was a llooonnngg night) and tell it with your amazing attitude and grace. Perfect choice for her book!
sounds like a great book!
Childbirth/lamaze classes-WASTE of time in my opinion! Which my husband likes to point out in an “I told you so” fashion since I dragged him to them. Who can think about breathing techniques once those contractions hit? Not me! Also-if your water breaks…it’s A LOT! As in, not a little trickle. As in, 5 folded towels in the car will be soaked through by the time you reach the hospital. And then they will have to MOP the floor in the ER! I’m just saying. If your water breaks…do not waste time, GO! One other thing that nobody told me about is afterwards. You have been the focus of attention for 9 months. I gave birth and every single person, husband included, trooped off to the nursery windows to watch them bathe my son. There I sat with my feet in stirrups, not cleaned up yet, after all that work, and everyone left! I remember thinking, “What about me?” (Oh honey, I want to say to myself now, you had no clue!) And a great tip from a friend that worked for me, too: Tums Smoothies. Awesome for heartburn, esp. for people who don’t like the chalky consistency of regular Tums.
First, Jessica, thanks so much for posting this. I have already gotten a couple of emails, so much help!
Katie, thanks for your comments. Yup, it can ge a gush. A big gush. Too bad the classes were a waste of time. The ones we went to were too, years and years ago, which is why I became a childbirth educator. There had to be a better way, and it is about confidence, choices and empowerment, communication and information. You’re right. Once the contractions begin, the breathing, well…it’s not anesthesia that’s for sure! So I became the talk about everything try to eliminate the surprises try to make it fun go to person. And I hope that’s what the book accomplishes too. I am glad there is a publisher who saw the value in that. Thanks for sharing!
And Jessica, I would love anything you would like to include!
Great idea for a book! I plan to take some time to share my thoughts with Kathy this next week. Quickly though my husband & I learned hypnosis for birth relaxation techniques which made all the difference in the wold. I had an amazing drug free labor & delivery. I knew I'd get no sleep but WOW sleep deprivation kicked my butt big time! Labor & delivery was nothing compared to the first year of changes! It's wonderful but WOW a change. Thanks Jessica for this opportunity to share.
For me the Baby BLues were shocking. I had tried to have a child for 7 Years and when she finally arrived I couldn’t get over how depressed I was. I wish someone would have told me that some women experienced it. I went 6weeks feeling so guilty that I felt so depressed. When I had my 2nd and started feeling the same, I was able to work through it much quicker. Sleep Deprivation does not help with the emotions.