Every emotion and thought overwhelmed me. Was this normal for a new mother?

"And now, as we come to the end of our last session, I’m sure you feel more confident about the entire process. I can’t wait to get all your mazel tov phone calls!” Our childbirth instructor waved us out of her home, satisfied with all the information she’d loaded us with over the past four weeks.

Ever since she’d handed out notebooks and pens during the first class, I, together with the rest of the attendees, dutifully took notes on everything she taught us about pregnancy and childbirth. I’d filled the pages, outlining what to expect during my final stage of pregnancy and during the birth.

I flipped through my notebook again as I eased into my car, noting my clear summaries of the stages of birth and what to anticipate during the labor process. Driving home that evening, a few weeks before I was due, I wondered, as I’m sure every other first-time expectant mother has wondered, what exactly was in store for me. What would it be like to put all those preparatory hours of learning into practice?