If there is one skill, and one skill only, that we 21st century women need to possess it's the ability to be decisive.
When it comes down to it, we seem to have so many major decisions thrown at us and so many options to choose from on a daily basis. More so than our ancestors ever had to deal with and many options these days are so easy to take, (so long as you have time, patience and money too that is.)
For instance, instead of simply spending our lives wondering, we can choose to investigate the theory that blondes have more fun, merely by reaching for the bottle of bleach on a supermarket shelf. In fact we can indeed choose to live with barnets of practically every colour of the rainbow, should we wish.
We can choose to don power suits and go out in pursuit of fabulous careers, we can choose to have fabulous babies instead or we can choose to balance both!
We can choose to marry, stay single or date forevermore without anyone really batting an eyelid, (certainly no-one from our generation anyway.)
Yup, every single day we are faced with decisions and every single decision we make will have an impact on our lives in one way or another.
So it's a wonder really that 5 years ago, when pregnant with my daughter, Lorelei, i didn't give the options regarding her actual arrival, the labour, much thought at all, instead, through fear and perhaps naivety the only decision i really made was to leave the decision-making up to the shambles that is also known as the NHS.
I suppose i was under the impression that I didn't really have much control over the situation at all and that it was only passionate hippy types or high maintenance celebs who could determin how their labours would pan out. The average woman, as far as i could tell, simply went along with the norm.
And so it was that my daughter was born in a hospital, delivered using the pain relief chosen for me by the midwife, (pethidine) and that the two of us were sent home a mere 3 hours after her arrival in order to make space for the next 'victim'. (Ooops, i mean, 'patient.')
It wasn't a horrific ordeal, far from it, but it was the significantly painful and relatively frightening experience that i had pretty much expected it to be. And when i really think about it, really break it all down, i think in my case the whole thing could have been a damn sight easier if it hadn't of been for the restrictions and the policies at the hospital.
Now I'd like to point out that I am by no means saying all hospital staff are rubbish, (this is definitely not the case, my midwife was fantastic, and anyone can see how hard they all work,) and I'm not saying that having a baby in hospital is a terrible decision, (many women find it works out perfectly for them!) - I am instead merely sharing my own experiences and future plans . . .
So I have four weeks to prepare for Baby C's arrival, and whilst i am (pardon the expression,) shitting bricks at the thought of going through labour all over again, i am also strangely excited at the prospect of having my baby in the comfort of my own home.
So what do you think? Are you shocked? Am I crazy? Or would you do it too? Let me know, would love to hear your thoughts!
Love to all!
Stephie x
