[satya]

Just so you know you can get the negative comments even when you are planning to do things more mainstream. I must admit I haven't had many though.

I'm happy to accept as much pain relief as I can get whilst in hospital. I've had people say things like "don't count on getting an epidural, they wont give you one there" (meaning my particular hospital) or "good luck getting an epi". Great, just what I want to hear. The last midwife I saw said I will get one if I want one and they feel it is warranted.

Until recently I had planned to labour in the big bath at the hospital and I got negative comments from a couple of workmates about this - "one saying don't bother with it - it's so uncomfortable you wont want to do it" (she gave birth at the same hospital). I was a little shocked by the comment. I don't think I will actually use it now as I had a bad experience getting out of my own bath last week so will probably just stick to the shower, much more gentle on my fragile ankles.

I also got a lot of negative comments about my decision not to go to birthing classes. I read up on it and decided I had enough information on it (probably too much actually) yet my decision upset my mother, my MIL and my partner's grandmother. They kept asking me if I'd changed my mind until they realised I wasn't budging on it.

I hope you get to do things the way you plan and that people start keeping their opinions to themselves. Everyone has their own ideas on what's right for them and people just need to accept it and keep their negativity to themselves.