Well, maybe not falling off a log. But as uncomplicated, and much less unpleasant than, being sick.

I found this article - it's not brilliant, they got the drs name wrong and there IS some jargon in there which might be trying if you are not actually a midwife or similar.....

But it explains a lot about why your mental attitude is important; you need to be in a place where you feel comfortable and secure, yet "unobserved", and you need to "surrender" to your labour, and just let your body do what needs to be done. It explains why some women can have incredibly short, easy labours and birth a 11lb baby without help and without tearing or straining.... This is all GOOD stuff to know. Knowledge is power.

http://www.collegeofmidwives.org/pra...1/MFer_01a.htm

Indirectly, it also explains my own approach to birth, why I want to avoid interventions, pain relief and a hospital setting.... Not because I expect some kind of medal or sense of achievement for enduring all that horrid ohsoagonising pain... and not because I'm a granola crunching hippie who believes the whole thing is incredibly spiritual and all that nonsense.... But just because I hope to avoid all that agony in the first place, and make the whole experience easier and more enjoyable for myself.

[Edit - there is a slightly-graphic picture when you scroll down the page. Mostly, all you can see is an alert baby, some thighs and some pubic hair. The baby blocks most of the view ]

Edit again - I'm wondering whose hand that is - I mean, OK you didn't have time to put your gloves on as LO was shooting out, but good grief look at the size of that rock! You'll have his eye out!

Thanks - just off to bed so I won't read the article now, but just wanted to say your last paragraph hits the nail on the head - that's me too.
And 'Granola crunching hippe' :

Sounds pretty correct!

i am far too tired to understand that article just now lol but i agree 100% on your post.

I'll bump it in the morning when you've all had your (de-caf) coffee

I'm going to add this page to my bookmarks and have a read tomorrow as I'm off to bed now... HOWEVER I do agree with the post and the whole positive attitude thing.. AND..

I HAD to look at pic .. I MUST add.. Shave lady garden to my "Things to do before due date" list lol... Cute baby though

Thanks for posting! I took a quick read through and have to agree with most of what what said.
In my own personal experience, while I was induced and had my baby in the hospital, I went into labor with a very open mind. I was not adverse to drug intervention, but didn't go in thinking I have to have drugs or even that I don't want drugs. I made absolutely no birth plan, other than my plan to roll with the punches. I went into my own little world, did what felt right for my body (which even included doing a sort of hula dance type thing in the middle of the hospital hallway while I was walking lol) and found it to be a very pleasant (for lack of a better word) experience. I had a 10 pound son in a total of 5 and a half hours, using only gas as my drug. I never once felt out of control or that the pain was too much to handle.
I think that many women go into labor with a specific plan or idea of how they want things to go, but if you aren't willing to be open minded and do what feels right, you will end up with more pain and problems.

has never been easy for me.

I have managed all my labour on just gas and air too, have always had a bit of a moment where saying i cant do it, but i have listened to my body and got on with it. I agree being open minded is the best way forward, also for pain relief knowing its there if you need it. Im hoping this one goes as well as the others.

I totally agree it's a lot about your mental approach. I knew I'd have a good labour with my second after my first hospital induced forceps escapade. I decided up front how it would be and believed in my body's ability to do what it was designed to do. Fear causes tension and in turn pain. Stay relaxed, believe you CAN do it and you can have an easy, gentle calm birth. It might not be entirely pain free for everyone but you can go a long way by not fighting your body.