Cookiethief2:
Congratulations!! Any tips for those of us attempting it?!
1. Know what to expect. I took Bradley classes before the first, but that may have been overkill. Just expect the pain, know the stages, and have many plans on how to cope. What actually works for you might not be what you think of right away.
2. Have a good support system. A doctor/midwife who supports drug free birth, a doula, a friend or a husband who will stand up and be your voice. During much of my first labor, I was in too much pain to speak and was thankful to have my doula and DH tell the anesthesiologist to get lost.
3. Have a birth plan. But also know that things won't go *exactly* the way you want. Don't beat yourself up if things if the plan needs to change, that's just how life is.
Good luck!