​I was a doula for two years before I became pregnant with my first baby. My husband and I were thrilled! I was finishing my last semester of my bachelors and the day after I had the positive test, we closed on our first home. We conceived three months after I had a double hip replacement. My surgeon had said that future vaginal births wouldn’t be an issue, I’m just not sure he was thinking that I would be pregnant so soon. Managing pain the first trimester was a challenge, but by the second I was healing nicely and didn’t have to take Tylenol on a regular basis.

This blog was originally posted on 1/14/2018

As a first time mom we all wonder how labor will start. Will it be like on t.v. where all of a sudden I will be doubled over in the worst pain of my life? Will I have an unexpected gush from between my legs while I’m shopping at target (Clean up aisle 4 anyone??)? Is it going to be unbearable where even if I planned for a natural birth I will immediately be requesting an epidural? How will my husband react- do I have a cool calm and collected partner or will he fly off the handle grabbing things as we rush out of the house headed for the hospital? Will I even be going to the hospital? Will I make it to the hospital? Should I just google, “How to remove amniotic fluid from fabric?” now? How will I know what it feels like? Will I see my mucus plug? Do I need to check the toilet paper every time, what if I miss it? Did I choose the right care provider? Do I even like them- what if I change my mind while I’m in labor?