Monday, June 30, 2008

Preparation

We took our "prepared childbirth" class this weekend. I'm not sure how much I actually learned, but it was good to have reinforcement for things, and I think a lot of it was new for P. I have been giving him specific responsibilities (like research baby monitors or finish redoing the f'ing patio), which means he hasn't really focused at all on anything else. Things like, say, how it is that the baby will get out of me. I think he found the whole thing frightening. Also, he was the first partner to be willing to try wearing the empathy belly and concluded that he could probably handle the extra weight but wasn't so sure about the difficulty breathing or the bladder pressure. Those two things taken together seem to have given him a newfound empathy. I've gotten more backrubs than usual over the past few days, which is nice.

My biggest fear about the class was the other people, but they were all pretty much fine. The place offering it this particular weekend is in a ritzier suburb, so the attendees were largely well-educated married couples in their 30s. My biggest fear was giggling pregnant teens or really stupid questions, and the demographic pretty much precluded both. We were by far the least far along people in the class, mainly due to scheduling -- the majority were due the first week in August. We'll be on vacation for two weeks later this month, then our shower is the following weekend, then my dad's wedding. The next weekend after this that they offer the class and we are free is three weeks before the EDD, which seems like cutting it close. That said, three couples in our class had less than three weeks to go, so maybe I'm just being overly cautious.


Related to preparing for childbirth, we are in the process of acquiring a new vehicle. This makes me nervous. We both drive 1997 compact cars. Mine is largely fine, but Ps is starting to fall apart, so we're looking to upgrade. I paid cash for my car when I bought it (used), and P paid his off years ago, so taking on an expensive car loan makes me super nervous, but I know we need to do it. Eek.

Finally, I added a belly shot from this week (this morning, in fact). As you can see, I've sort of exploded lately. Double eek.

7 comments:

HereWeGoAJen said...

You still look great!

Eek, I hadn't thought of the other people in our class. We are signed up for one in September and it is in a lower class, trashy area. Well, it'll be entertaining, right?

Cece said...

Your belly looks great! And I signe dup for my class end of August/beginning of Sept for out Dec 5th EED, so I don't think you are early at all! Just prepared! And looks like you are getting the desired effect (more DH rubbing!)

: )

maresi said...

You look so so good. Nice bump...

I'm glad you two got good info from your class... We're not taking a class this time, not even a refresher. Last time our class was mainly about massage & breathing techniques (that we didn't use) and epidurals. I've been reading more this time and we're getting ready to hire a doula.
Hey, my car's a 1997 civic! we shall see how we do with 2 carseats, since a new car isn't a real option for us at this point.

Nicky said...

Glad the class went well! (We start ours in 2 weeks.) And we're in the middle of car shopping, too -- I'm not looking forward to getting a car seat in and out of my 1999 compact car. But, we've limited our options to things we can pay for in cash, because we refuse to take on car payments right now....

Sushilover said...

Great belly shot...I always marvel at how tan and perfect it looks...are you air brushing? ;)

The class sounds great. I hope they have the same thing when I get there...I'd love mr. sushinut to get a feeling of what being pregnant really feels like. I think it's a great thing for all husbands to try :)

Lisa said...

You are looking great!
We started our classes too - everyone else is due in July or August but I feel that with twins we'll be early so I fought with the nurse doing scheduling to get in this one. Our is a 5-session series. Hoping I learn a few helpful things.
Extra back rubs and more DH empathy sounds good.

Loren said...

We have gone to two of our childbirth classes, and I am due waay later than some in our class, too! I felt like kind of a nerd the first day. But we had three other classes to take, and this series had to be done first, so we have to get it done now.
Your belly looks so cute. I love it's shape!