Birth class number four. We met an absolutely adorable little baby and heard the story of her birth from the new parents. It was good to hear. We also learned about epidurals, spinals, and narcotic pain relief during labor. Holy medications and long needles to the spine, Batman! I'm keeping my fingers crossed and doing what's in my control to try for a drug-free birth but it's also important to understand what the drugs are should I wind up taking them.
Anyway, what I really wanted to share with you is one of the "lines" that the coaches (husbands) learn each week in class. So far, Jonathan has learned to say "You're doing great" and he's learned to remind me to take deep breaths in through the nose and out through the mouth. Oh, and he's learned to match his mood to mine (no cracking jokes if I'm getting snippy, etc.). And he's learned where I carry my stress (lower back) and how to massage that. So I guess some of them aren't really "lines"... but there is one line that I love and I'm going to make him say over and over again:
You're already doing it.
Because I've been told that almost every woman says, at some point in labor, "I can't do this." And my favorite response to that so far is: "You're already doing it."
It applies to so many things, even beyond labor. It definitely applies to grad school. To parenting (I think?), to coping with grief and loss and stress and frustration. So, if you're feeling like you can't stay afloat today, just remember that you're already doing it.
Anyway, what I really wanted to share with you is one of the "lines" that the coaches (husbands) learn each week in class. So far, Jonathan has learned to say "You're doing great" and he's learned to remind me to take deep breaths in through the nose and out through the mouth. Oh, and he's learned to match his mood to mine (no cracking jokes if I'm getting snippy, etc.). And he's learned where I carry my stress (lower back) and how to massage that. So I guess some of them aren't really "lines"... but there is one line that I love and I'm going to make him say over and over again:
You're already doing it.
Because I've been told that almost every woman says, at some point in labor, "I can't do this." And my favorite response to that so far is: "You're already doing it."
It applies to so many things, even beyond labor. It definitely applies to grad school. To parenting (I think?), to coping with grief and loss and stress and frustration. So, if you're feeling like you can't stay afloat today, just remember that you're already doing it.
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