More pics and about today

Today was a full day as i also had my first apointment with a midwife at the hospital where i'll be delivering. It's a small maternity with only a few rooms and there's a real neighborhood feel. The midwife (the "head midwife" in fact:) explained how they try to keep everything as "natural" as possible, not pushing anything on women, not even suggesting an epidural if they don't want one. Apparently their rate of epidural is only of 45% which amazed me (!) and that of C-sections is 16% so that's a good sign. I might be crazy but i'm considering the no epidural option...don't know maybe i won't be able to hold up to the pain and be screaming for it but i'm going to prepare in that direction. So it was good to hear the hospital is going to be supportive if i choose to do that. They also let women wander around, walk, squat, do whatever they need to go through labor, their motto seems to be as little intervention as possible which is good with me. I learned that in france midwives are usually delivering babies- other than if there's a pb or a c-section's required- otherwise they try to keep it between us "gals" as she put it. And also they can keep you at the hospital up to 12 days after the delivery if you need/want to (!), most women leave sooner but usually after 4 or 5 days which is way longer than in the US. She gave me some info about prenatal classes - some "theoretical" and some aquatic classes at the swimming pool which i'm eager to get into - have to wait a month or so more for that. And i got to ask some of my crazy questions including what about episiotomies? and do women really do #2 on the delivery table? (some of my worst fears other than a c-section:) and she was really nice about all of it. I guess it's her job and maybe all midwives are nice but i feel relieved and good about this choice of maternity.