Another midwife and I were at a prenatal home visit the other day. We were talking through all of the prep, expectations, signs of labor, etc.
I’ve heard it all a million times so I kind of checked out for part of it. Then she said something unexpected and really great, my ears perked up and it really stuck with me.

Photo Credit: Betsy King

Photo Credit: Betsy King

She said:
“Whenever you reach a new level of intensity and you want to say ‘Whoah!'” (I thought she was going to say, you should call me). But what she said was: “You should CELEBRATE. Because that new level of intensity, that really big feeling that may even include doubt, means that YOU are making PROGRESS.
So, celebrate it!”
So, in these times when you are pushing yourself, and it’s new and scary and you want to yell “Whoah!” — CELEBRATE! You’re making progress!

See more pics and read this Mama’s awesome birth story.