**FlashBack**

I never actually posted any details regarding Addie's birth. This isn't a flashback on that experience, but an aspect of it.

Most of our family and friends are/were aware of our desire to have a natural (ie. unmedicated) delivery. We planned to have my mom with us supporting us in that endeavor. After my grandfather asked my mom to come help during his recovery from surgery (with Addie's due date smack dab in the middle of the trip) we knew we needed some outside support in order to meet our goal.

I was familiar with the role of a doula. We had referred to my mom as our doula. Once we figured out that the baby may (and knowing Murphy's Law, probably would) come while my mom was out of town.... We outsourced.

Enter Mandy. This lovely lady moved into our ward maybe just two months before Addie was born. Talk about timing.

We were able to have the successful natural (yes, that's right no pain meds) birth we had hoped for and continue to attribute much of it to her assistance. While she obviously helped me, she did a great job of helping Chris have an active role in the experience.

For those of you that aren't aware of the role of a doula, Mandy has written a great post with some basics on doulas (spurred by a segment on The Today Show, which she also includes).

If any of you are now, or ever will be, interested in an amazingly good reference for expectant parents which explains a little bit about why anyone would want to go without pain medication (and the like), gives guidance to the father, and regardless of your choice on meds, gives one of the most up-to-date, basic, while amazingly thorough explanations of: what to expect-labor-birth-medical interventions-and more, you should check out The Birth Partner: A Complete Guide to Childbirth for Dads, Doulas, and All Other Labor Companions by Penny Simkin. We purchased the 3rd Edition, and loved it.