In researching and talking with my doctor, I have come across a few classes that I/we are planning on taking. We just started our first class: the childbirth class. I am not very good with the fear of the unknown (which has been this entire pregnancy). I really like to know what I'm getting into before I dive on in.
We signed up for a 4 week class at the hospital where I am delivering. (We will also take an infant CPR class at the hospital and I have found local classes for breastfeeding and "life with baby"--apparently more than eat, sleep, poop). The classes are offered in different formats to fit your scheduling needs. Because of Bryan's work schedule, the "get it over with in 1 day class" is not an option. So the 4 week, 3 hour meetings works for us.
Walking into the class and during the first part... I kind of acted like a teenager. I know... that's embarrassing, but it's true. The instructor was really great, she was super sweet. I think we'd be friends if we knew each other in a social setting. But as the class started, I turned into this 14 year old that giggled when she said things like "mucus plug" I mean seriously?
We were given a book as part of the class and as I flipped through it, I felt that the staged pictures were just something that needed mocking. (again... 14 year old.) The one on the left is instructing dads how to comfort a woman in labor. I just don't think I'll be wanting to be coddled with a smile on my face like this.
As class got started, the instructor compared labor to many things. I think my favorite was when she compared labor to a kick boxing class. Again, I don't know that I'll want to stand up and kick my legs in the air at this point. I'm just saying. She also gave the saying "39 is fine, but 40 weeks for cubby cheeks." I had to hide my laughter on that one.
She did give several helpful points to think about, that I don't know I would have considered without the class. Things like having music playing in the background could be comforting (Bryan leaned over and said he was going to sing "Let it Go" and how he thought that would be appropriate).
When it came time to discuss contractions, when to call you doctor and when to go to the hospital, the instructor drew this on the bored:
I leaned over to Bryan and told him that looked like boobs. It's a good thing he didn't have a drink in his mouth because he might have spewed it across the back of the guys head in front of us. That would have been okay with me because his wife brought a tuna salad to snack on during class. Really? Tuna salad to a class of pregnant women with super sniffers in their nose? Gross! I had to breathe into my hand for a little bit. (I told you I was acting like a teenager!) But at least she did eat all of it in a fairly timely manner so the smell didn't last forever.
After discussing the majority of topics for this class, we headed over to the hospital for our tour. This is where it got real for me all of a sudden. Bryan and I were laughing and joking all the way up to the 3rd floor when all of a sudden we walked into a labor and delivery room. It was very nice and the instructor explained how it had each thing that would be needed for delivery. She showed us how the bed worked and all the ins and outs of the room. All of a sudden I was staring at a bed that I could potentially give birth on. In that moment, all the jokes seemed to be less funny. Bryan and I are about to bring a child into this world. One that we are going to have to take care of, keep alive, and care for her spiritual and emotional needs. That's crazy. I almost started crying. Bryan gave me the "I know you're about to start crying, but I don't know why" face and I had to pull it together while all the other couples asked questions like if the dad can cut the cord or when does the baby get it's first bath.
We then went to the nursery and a standard postpartum room. I have to give Bryan a pat on the back, all of a sudden the questions went from baby and mommy's health to where dad sleeps. Other dads started making comments about bringing their own mattress to the hospital. As we left, Bryan made a comment of how silly they sounded and I might have fallen in love with him all over again.
At the start of this class I was all jokes, but by the end of it I was very excited and taking it much more seriously. I am looking forward to the next 3 classes and how the information will help Bryan and I to be better prepared for the due date. My next doctors visit is this Monday and I have the gestational diabetes test, feel free to say a prayer for me on that day. I'm not nervous, but I would really like that test to come back normal. Abigail is growing and kicking all of the time. I know she'll be here before we know it!
