Childbirth Class

Buddy and I had our all day child birth class this past Saturday. We were there from 9-5 with a one hour lunch break. It didn't seem as long as I thought it would, but it was pretty long and uncomfortable. Our instructor looked oddly like Mrs. Shelia's twin. She is a nurse on the 5th floor and I hope she is there when we are because I want you all to see this craziness, and also to get a picture of Mrs. Shelia with her side by side.

I did get to feeling really uncomfortable and light headed during the morning session and had to take a 30 minute breather in the lactation room. I had told Buddy I didn't feel good and was going to the bathroom. Well I didn't come back for like 20 minutes because I was sitting in a more comfortable rocking chair in the lactation room where I could still hear what the instructor was saying for the most part. Buddy says the instructor stopped and asks him if I am alright. He turned around and told her he thought I was just standing up in the back this whole time. So off he went to find me with the instructor. When they found me, she told Buddy to bring the rocker out to the room so I could be a part of everything. I felt really bratty being the only one sitting comfortably, but what can I say? I felt better, I'm sorry they didn't think of it first. And I made it back just in time to see the graphic footage of a woman giving birth. When the baby came out (which they showed) I actually said, "Uh" in disgust. It looked disgusting, weird and painful. So glad I am going to be heavily medicated at that point.

That was all before lunch. After lunch we got back and went over what we needed to bring to the hospital, what we should expect happens after we give birth, how to diaper and swaddle a baby, then we had a hospital tour. The tour was probably the most beneficial part of the whole class. I liked to see where I was suppose to go, where everyone else would be in the waiting room and what the rooms looked like.

I will say that the Labor and Delivery room looks like a hotel suite. Which I am guessing they are trying to make you as comfortable as possible while you endure intense pain and raging hormones. Good plan. But you know what's not so good? The broom closet they put you in after you have GIVEN BIRTH! I don't know how they expect you, your husband, the baby and 3 other people plus a nurse to fit into this room. It will make me feel really overwhelmed and nervous if that many people are in my room at a time. I might scream, and possibly do a lot of other things I won't be proud of in the morning. So if I go crazy and tell you to get out, know that I love you and appreciate you coming, but make your visit short or just come see us at the house.

I feel much more prepared now, but it is starting to set in that I actually have to do this soon and that is scary. Approximately 8 weeks from now I will be in the worst pain of my life. The anticipation is anxiety is odd. How can you prepare yourself for pain? Usually you don't know it's coming, but I know it's coming and I have no idea how to prepare for that. And I don't know how either one of us is going to handle it. I am already thinking I might want my mommy (yes I said mommy) in the labor and delivery room. We have decided it will just be me and Buddy, and I am going to try to stick to that. I just have a feeling I might have a break down and want her too and at that point Buddy might want her in there too to take some of the pressure off him. Who knows? I guess we will just have to wait and see.