| When you are pregnant with your first baby, you have | | | | end of the spectrum to the other. For example, |
| no idea what is about to happen to you through the | | | | according to my mother-in-law, she never had one |
| pregnancy, including labor and delivery. You go along in | | | | contraction or birthing pain. The doctor had to stop her |
| your pregnancy, with morning sickness, swollen feet, | | | | from playing cards to tell her that she was giving birth |
| and anything else that comes along. However, until you | | | | (is this possible?). Or on the other hand, the 7 day |
| actually deliver your baby, you can't possibly | | | | labors (is that possible?). The point is that we all forget |
| understand what it feels like. How can you possibly | | | | the fine details of our actual labor and delivery. |
| describe to someone what a contractionfeels like? | | | | Having two daughters, I did my best filling in the blank |
| How can you create a mental picture of what it feels | | | | page in my pregnancy journal entitled, "Labor and |
| like when your milk comes in? What about the | | | | Delivery." Pretty vague; I really didn't know what to |
| frustration of nature bearing down and you not being | | | | write. I wish I would have done a better job journaling |
| able to push because it isn't time? Impossible. | | | | my births, so that one day I would be able to recall |
| When this monumental "Birth Day" finally arrives, it is | | | | them more accurately. A detailed Birthing Journal |
| very overwhelming. Everything you have prepared for | | | | would provide: |
| with prenatal vitamins, exercise and baby booties will | | | | - An accurate account for future pregnancies and the |
| finally arrive. Sometimes labor and deliveries are fast, | | | | important information your doctor needs. |
| as with emergency c-sections or just a fast delivery; | | | | - When your pregnant friends and family ask you |
| some are slow and may take days. Either way, it is a | | | | questions about your labor and delivery you can |
| physical and emotional experience that will forever be | | | | answer them without making it the "Big Fish" story. |
| etched in your brain (as will as those pesky stretch | | | | - When your own children start a family, you can |
| marks). | | | | answer their questions they may have for you. (Mom, |
| Immediately after giving birth, you swear you'll never | | | | when did you go to the hospital after you went into |
| forget the physical pain or enormous emotions. | | | | labor?) |
| However, as time passes you do eventually forget all | | | | - You create a keepsake to be passed on to your |
| the truly important details of what happened. Although | | | | children and grandchildren about the miracle of birth. |
| you will probably remember if you had an epidural or | | | | Don't make the mistake most people make and think |
| the moment your water broke, there will be other | | | | your memories will last forever. You'll only remember |
| details that you will forget. For example, who were | | | | the big moments and forget the important details that |
| those gentle nurses that helped ease the pain; who | | | | are truly the important ones. Later in life, you'll regret |
| came to see you at the hospital; who called and what | | | | not taking more time to create a family legacy. |
| was your first meal after having the baby? | | | | Your family keepsake is not only passed down to the |
| Birthing stories somewhat become like fishing stories (it | | | | next generation, it can be used during difficult times to |
| was this BIG, with their hands 3 feet apart). Birthing | | | | draw the family closer together, by remembering and |
| stories become these horrendous stories from one | | | | re-experiencing the joyous moments. |