2nd Baby Class

Last night was our second class. We watched a video that went through the three stages of labor, and featured a computer generated model of labor and delivery, along with a live birth (I was dreading this). It wasn’t nearly as graphic as I imagined, and over quite quick. After the video, we practiced relaxation techniques, including coaching our partners on how to touch/massage/rub during a contraction. Smart thinking here. We took this time to figure out what we liked, vs what was annoying. I found I prefer light touch over deep kneading massage. I also like it to be concentrated on my shoulders and arms. No time to be barking out instructions during a contraction! After this, we took a tour of the birth center. I was looking forward to this – but it just was not at all what I’d imagined. First, it was quiet and desolate. I imagined a more bustling scene. They didn’t have a labor & delivery room that wasn’t being occupied (due to the full moon!), so we only got to see the post partum rooms. Pretty nice. The BEST part of the tour was by the nursery! If you know me, you know that I am not typically baby-crazy or even all that baby-oriented, but holy COW it was exciting and fun to see these little babies! We could see into the main nursery by a window – reminded me of peeking in at biscuit makers or pizza bakers in a restaurant, the nurse smiling at us thru the glass as she poked, prodded and pricked a tiny newborn (who was howling btw). There weren’t rows and rows of babies like in the movies, just a couple. But as our class lined the hallway, we had to make way for tiny babies being wheeled through. Sooooooooooo cute!!! Gaaaah! I can’t wait to get ours!!!