Protein, protein, protein.

Tonight is our 2nd (out of 12) class for the Bradley Method. Last week was very informative and got me excited about the whole process of giving birth. The teacher was truthful, not trying to slip rose-colored glasses over my eyes in regards to pain. She just gave me a different perspective about the fact that this pain is FOR something unlike usual pain. I get a baby at the end - God willing.

Part of the Bradley Method, a big part, is a proper diet. Not so much calorie or fat wise, but protein wise. So she gave us a sheet that we were supposed to be tracking all of our food on. I'm supposed to shoot for 70-100 grams of protein per day and though I didn't keep up tracking this entire past week, I'm glad to say that the days I did track fully I'm usually getting up to 75 grams if not exceeding that. January 1st through the 3rd was just a blur to me - those were the rush days of us getting out of the apartment. I'm hoping that my tracking for this upcoming week will be MUCH more consistent since my schedule has gone back to normal.

Last week we learned about exercises that will help us during labor, such as tailor sitting (otherwise known - to my generation and many others - as "Indian Style"), squatting, & pelvic rocking. It's hard to imagine me doing some of these exercises while I'm actually in active labor - but that's all part of the reprogramming when it comes to natural birth. I've only ever seen it done one way. We also watched an interesting video about the progression of giving birth in the Western cultural and how we've changed it so much in comparison to other cultures. Very interesting.

On Thursday I see my new prenatal doctor for the first time. If I'm lucky, he'll be the one helping me deliver as well, so I'm excited to start a good relationship with him. I'm going to arrive early or stay late with our Bradley instructor tonight and ask her opinion on how to broach the topic of natural birth with my new doctor so that it's a supportive collaboration instead of an attack. I don't want him to feel that I'm this hard-nosed woman who wont listen to reason. But I do want him to understand that this is the method I want to try and I need his support.

Wish me luck everyone, for tonight AND Thursday :D