+ Learning to birth a baby, part one +
So, the first childbirth class is history. Daddy and I concurred that we didn't really learn a lot, but that we're okay with that. There were a couple of things he didn't know about (BM's during labor, episiotomy), so he felt it was worthwhile to have learned anything. Plus, we figure if we feel at the end of the 4 weeks that we knew what we needed to before starting the classes (I do a LOT of reading of books and online), then we'll be just that much more confident going in that we are as prepared as we can be. I agree with him completely. The instructor, Michele, is very much a pro-natural birth former nurse. She quit nursing in 11/2001 when she was put on bedrest 3 months before her daughter was born. After her daughter was born, she never went back. I don't know how to phrase it right, but I can just tell she's one of those people I simply can't relate to. Her approach to birth, life, family, career, and her philosophies about all of them are just completely different from mine. Don't get me wrong, I fantasize about staying home with my children too, but for slightly different reasons and overall a more realistic approach.

Having said that, it will be good for us to learn all we can about this process, and consider all the different possibilities out there. As she said, you won't get an epidural until you're pretty far into the process (which I knew), so you might as well embrace some of the natual-birth techniques for relaxation and visualization to make that first part more pleasant. I absolutely agree with that part, and planned to do just that. Ideally, I'll go as long as I can stand it without the epidural. If I get to the point where I can still stand it and the Dr. tells me it's now or never? Well, I'll make that decision if I get to that point. But I've planned all along to get one, so I won't feel remotely disappointed if I have to. She did say that she didn't think Good Samaritan Hospital does walking epidurals yet, though, which disappoints me greatly. I'll have to ask my Dr. about that since Michele wasn't positive. She hasn't been nursing there for over a year, so she might be wrong.

Anyway, there's the full report. There were six women with their coaches, all husbands except for one female friend/partner (?). We thought we were at 100% girl babies until one couple came in late and she's having a boy. We all looked and carried differently, and 2 people are due 2/27. It will be interesting to watch over the next month to see the changes in us all.

You slept through much of the class, waking up only when I was drinking ice water on a break, and when we were doing a brief relaxation exercise. It was during this exercise that Daddy made the funny comment of the night: "You'd better get drugs because I'm not very good at this." HA! Well, we'll work on that. I think he could be very good at helping me relax, if he wanted to try and was willing to learn. That's why he's there with me! :-) You are vividly awake this morning, however. Not sure why, but it feels like you're dancing! Neat!