DON'T KNOCK THE AROMA IF YOU HAVEN'T TRIED IT

Brittany is nearing Week 36 of her pregnancy. At Week 37, a baby is considered full-term and even though Britt's due-date is October 29, you never know (well, Gaz kids Britt that the baby will arrive at Thanksgiving.)

I thought now an excellent time to jot down (via this blog post) some random thoughts about Brittany and her pregnancy.

She has been strong and confident with a wonderful sense of humor during these past months. She has worked hard at her job and even earned a promotion. She has cared for the baby in every possible way...diet, rest, exercise, vitamins and just being a lovely and radiant pregnant woman.

During these last few weeks, she has been very attentive to the approaching labor and delivery. Therefore, she has been practicing natural things such as breathing, yoga ball stretches, aromatherapy and overall meditation and relaxation exercises.

She is not planning a natural delivery, just wants to be prepared for the first phase of labor.

Here's another observation of mine. It seems many other women are quick to toss out words of fear instead of words of encouragement. Why is that? Why not words of support?

Brittany fully understands that labor is hard and there will be pain. She also has a level of trust in her health-care providers and the facility she will check into. She also knows knowledge is power and by arming herself with information, she will not enter into labor with undue fear and trepidation.  She has taken advantage of vast amounts of information shared by intelligent women who have given birth.

A recently posted photo of her (not by her) on Facebook was met with an odd assortment of comments, by women. With almost 100% being less than supportive of her meditation and relaxation exercises. Some seemed to be almost scoffing and I wondered why that to be the case. Maybe folks who have (and many who have not) experienced labor and delivery feel entitled to jump in and have a say (even a sort of negative one) about giving birth.

Labor and giving birth? Yep, it can be long. Yep, it is painful. Yep, Brittany can do it!!!

Oh, all those who doubt the positive effects of effective breathing exercises, focusing and aromatherapy? They should try it. It could make them feel much more serene...even when they aren't  pregnant.

Doubters will doubt (can't stop 'em anyway). Keep going with the Yoga ball relaxation, breathing, meditation and the effective aromas for your first phase of labor (they can't give drugs during that time, just in case people have forgotton), Britt.

We didn't invent it, but I am sure grateful that someone did.