preparedness

Yesterday, Mr. R and I attended an 8-hour, prepared childbirth class. We didn't have to watch a video of childbirth (thank God. we already did that, online, months ago and it scared to crap out of us), so neither of us hurled, and the information we received was very helpful. I've been reading a lot of books and likely would be "prepared" with the information I've gleaned, but since Mr. R will NOT read anything beyond horsepower manuals or golf tutorials, and since he is so flipping smart, and calm, and knows exactly how to shut down the voices in my head, he needed an education in order to get us through labor and delivery. The instructor was kooky, but she totally focused the class on the coaches (in other words, the husbands), and she did a great job of showing the process as mechanical, and linear, and I know my coach understood every word. In fact, looking around at the other couples, I was really glad for the coach I had.
My key takeaways were the breathing instructions and the hospital tour. At least I now know by which door to enter.
The thing that really surprised me, though, is that I'm not afraid of labor anymore. And, it wasn't because of the class. I've just started thinking about birth from Audrey's perspective: one minute, you're bobbing along in a cozy cocoon, and then suddenly it starts to disintegrate. No warning, no idea what lies beyond, no training for the journey, and no one to coach you through it.
Me? I have knowledge, other people's advice and experience, a coach, and a whole team of professionals. And, more importantly, I'm the mom. It is now my job to be the calm one, the one who is in charge, the one who holds it together, the one who she relies on during times of crisis.
Thinking about it in these terms changes everything. I'm almost looking forward to it.