Great Expectations

As most of you know, I like to read books that teach principles of success. A recurring theme that comes up often is this: "You don't always get what you want, you don't always get what you deserve (thank heaven!), but you almost always get what you expect." It's a proven fact that the person who wakes up saying "Today's going to be a great day" has a better day than the person who wakes up and says (or groans) "Ugghh".
So what is my great expectation? I want to have a natural childbirth: no drugs, no "assistance", no interventions. That being said let me clarify a few things. First, I've learned never to say never so I am leaving my mind, and options, open. As with everything in life, we'll take it one step at a time. Second, I believe that birth is unique to every woman and I don't feel that any one way is the best way for everyone. If you carried a baby all those months and brought it into the world, I don't care how it came - you deserve a medal! Third, I'm not trying to prove anything. After kidney stones, ulcers, and large ovarian cysts, I don't feel the need to prove to anyone that I'm tough. And I don't think that having a natural birth makes a woman a better person or a better mother than a woman who had an assisted delivery.
I'm simply doing this because I feel like it's right for me. Childbirth, in my mind, is a very personal thing and until I got pregnant I thought it a very private thing. It didn't take long for me to realize that most people, even guys, have no problem asking very probing questions. The one I get asked most is "Are you having an epidural?" It's hard to fight the urge to ask "Why does it matter to you?" and instead smile and explain how I feel. Usually my reply is met by a condescending smirk and a guarantee that I won't last an hour without one. Sometimes women look concerned and try to kindly lecture me on how I'm a wide-eyed Pollyanna that just doesn't understand how hard childbirth is. When I meet either of these kinds of women I politely change the subject or end the conversation. I don't want negative in my brain.
I never said I expected easy or painless or even fast. I only said natural. Why is that so hard for people to accept? Why does everyone feel the need to tell me how they feel about my decision?
So how do I "channel" my expectations? I seek out women who are supportive and positive. I have spoken with three women recently who have experienced birth in almost every way thinkable and all said that their natural birth was there favorite experience. I take just a few minutes everyday to mentally visualize a positive labor and delivery. I read books about the benefits of natural childbirth and the stories of mothers who have had great success delivering naturally. Lastly, I tell myself that I can do this. I was made to do this.
So there you have it. In a week or two I'll put up a post telling you how it went :-)