Hellobee Boards

I never read books for that reason. I think some sugar coat it, others are vague... each birth is different, but clearly I did not educate myself much on the subject either. I told myself my body would know what to do.

I did most of my preparation for childbirth by reading online birth stories from other moms. Most of them told it like it was, so I was pretty prepared. Although, even with knowing what would happen, I don't think you're ever really prepared for how it really is, especially since it varies so much from person to person!

I was a bit disillusioned with the natural birth crowd after my daughter's birth, though, because so many books talked about how it was panic that caused pain, and you could have a pain free birth without medication, and I'm sorry, maybe SOMEONE out there can, but I sure as hell couldn't.

I was also blown away by how long & painful recovery from vaginal birth was. It seemed like everyone else tap-danced home from the hospital and I was dying! Oh yeah, and hemorrhoids? Much worse than I anticipated. For five months. Yech. And most books touch on these things, but don't let you know how bad it can be. I think they don't want to scare women, which I admire, but it's seems like it's just lying at that point.