I think I've mentioned it before. Really and truly the pain of uncomplicated childbirth for me was a totally different thing than any medical procedure. I can't expain it any better than that. Yeah, it hurt a lot, but it wasn't the kind of hurt that sent my body into any kind of fight or flight or shock like when something's amiss. It was tooooootally different than that. It was like positive pain, pain that was supposed to be happening, so although it hurt physically, the nerves and the brain were completely on the case and it was like a high. Endorphins, etc..

Yeah, really really hard to explain. I honestly from the bottom of my heart would do it again except I don't want more kids, and, medically, I can't surrogate. It was that empowering. Call me a nutjob. :p I also think I'd totally be a Swami in another incarnation. Mastering positive pain in my body is kind of a, uhhh, thing for me. It was like conquering Mt. Everest - that level of personal achievement.

Really, I mean it. Pass the Birkenstocks. Or the leather cuffs. I'm so conflicted! But, yeah, big difference for me between bad pain and good pain. Mastering the ultimate good pain really changed my entire world view. It's why I wanted midwives so badly even though homebirth was contraindicated for diabetics. I knew I couldn't have a transformative experience when there were needles and tongs and whatever manner of medical gadgets poking me. Needle in the spine? I'd probably rather die.

So there's a wee bit about my deepest spiritual stuff. Everyone's mileage will probably vary.