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I'm not a hippie. I don't wear hemp, live in a yurt, or demand that all of my food be pesticide- and cage-free. But I have decided to attempt natural childbirth. I saw "The Business of Being Born" (a documentary about natural vs. drug-intervention childbirth), and the natural childbirth experience seemed for the most part, very peaceful and loving. Not to mention, I hate needles. And the thought of a needle the length of a banana being drilled into my spine ... well, no thank you.

My chosen method of drug-free labor is hypnobirthing. I know this sounds like a freaky, voodoo-like process reserved for women who own tarot cards and can't function until they read their horoscopes every day, but it's really just a five-week class that teaches women how to find a deep state of relaxation in order to allow their bodies to do what they do naturally in the birth process -- without fear or anxiety getting in the way. So what's my problem? Nearly every time a woman has asked me if I've thought about how I'd like to give birth and I tell them, I get one of three responses: an eye roll, a snicker or a condescending "Yeah, right. Just wait until that first contraction."

I understand that childbirth is painful. And please believe that if, after 15 hours of intense contractions, my doctor comes in and tells me I'm only dilated two measly centimeters, I will most likely be screaming for drugs. Loudly. But where is the support from fellow women?

Childbirth is an experience that most of us have or will go through at some point in life. It's a shared bond that only we can understand. Why are we so judgmental of each other? It's not just epidural-using women judging natural laborers. I've seen the reverse in action as well: "You're using drugs? Childbirth is a natural process. Narcotics are so bad for your baby."

I'm a feminist, which means I love that we as women have choices: Some of us can choose to work outside the home or stay home with our kids; we can choose who we want to vote for; we can choose if we want to wear pants or skirts (or hemp jumpsuits). And we can choose (thanks to advancements in medical technology) what kind of birth experience we want to have.

If a woman has done her research, is knowledgeable about all the birthing options that she has, and chooses to have an epidural and a scheduled C-section -- or wants to give birth at home in her yurt -- who am I to judge?

Colleen Oakley is a freelance writer who cries when she stubs her toe, and used to be terrified of childbirth. If you hear a loud, intense wailing for hours around the middle of July, it's because hypnobirthing isn't working for her the way she hopes it will.