"Pain with a purpose"

After seeing our midwife for the 33 week appointment today, Russ and I ran into another young pregnant woman in the waiting area, who has been a part of the childbirth classes we have been attending this month. As I stood in line to set up the next appointment, I caught pieces of the conversation Russ was having with her. At some point, I overheard her say, "Pain with a purpose." I looked over at her and we exchanged smiles. Was she quoting what I had shared weeks prior in childbirth class?

During the first class, our instructor was asking us about pain. She first asked us to share the worst pain we've ever felt. Our quiet classroom of couples remained quiet. I personally couldn't think of any significant or interesting pain story other than the occasional charlie horse. A husband behind me shared his pain from herniated discs. We all winced, made groaning noises, and empathized with him.

The instructor then asked us what the difference was with labor pain. While our quiet class continued to remain quiet, I couldn't help but share what I had read about labor pain. Quiet me spoke up and said, "It's pain with a purpose." I don't remember how exactly I built on that, but I remember talking about how the baby is the source of that pain, as he makes his way down the birth canal with each contraction. How can we think that's a bad thing? It's part of the birthing process.

Our instructor clicked on the next Powerpoint slide to show what each letter in the word PAIN represents:

P--Purposeful
A--Anticipated
I--Intermittent
N--Normal

These four words certainly capture and summarize what labor pain will be like for us pregnant women, or so I've read. A number of women who I have spoken with fear labor pain, imagining it as intolerable and/or torturous. Some believe an epidural is a necessity so as to avoid this normal, expected pain. Then an obstetrician may throw in some Pitocin to get the job done quicker. But do we question the side effects to these drugs that are often played down by healthcare providers? To each his own. I am clearly hoping and praying for a natural childbirth, knowing that in the worst case scenario, I may end up with a cesarean section.

What surprised me the most as I did my own reading about childbirth, is that the pain is not constant, but intermittent. When you break it down and reflect on what's really happening during childbirth, the process becomes so much more meaningful and beautiful. While we may fear the pain that we anticipate during labor, we can be comforted in knowing the essence of the pain is this precious tiny human trying to make his way out into the world. It will certainly be pain with a purpose.

Grateful

I am just floored, overwhelmed might be the better word by the myriads of gifts for this tiny human being residing in my womb. It began with a set of diapers from my favorite secretary at work during the first trimester down to an elderly woman who we have never even met. She gave us a check for the baby during our shower this past weekend. While the expected due date is exactly two months from today, she wrote in her card that she hopes the baby will be born on her birthday, April 13th. From gently used gifts to brand spankin' new ones, I am grateful beyond words for the generosity and kindness of so many in our lives.