Make Room for Baby
So, Andy and I decided that, even though I've been pregnant before, we I would sign us up for the "Preparing for Birth" class through Aurora Women's Pavilion.
I signed us up...but Andy was all in - he'll even admit it.
I mean - seriously, the last time I was pregnant was 6 year ago!
I can't remember what I did yesterday...and I'm supposed to remember what to do when I'm in labor??
I guess I could just read old posts (Class 1, Class 2, Class 3, Class 4, Class 5, Class 6)
And I wanted Andy to hear what it was going to be like. I wanted Andy to hear a trained professional say things like, "Your wife may yell at you and tell you to go away...but she doesn't really mean it".
Yesterday at work I was oddly excited to attend the class. Honestly, I'm oddly excited to do anything relating to this kiddo. I'm getting so excited to met him.
So we went to class and did our introductions. I admitted that I had a 5 year old, that I needed a reminder and that it was Andy's first (we needed to explain why we were in class).
Then the teacher started quizzing us. "Your 37 weeks pregnant, you are having regular contractions every 15 minutes - do you call your doctor?" Step aside newbies....let this experienced Momma show you how it's done. "No" I answer. I didn't call my doctor until my contractions were 5 -7 minutes apart...and that was early because Nic and I were tracking a blizzard that was coming toward us. The correct answer "YES". 37 weeks is considered premature labor and with any regular contractions you should call your doctor. Oops.
Then the teacher asked another question (which neither Andy and I can remember right now...) but I boldly answered "YES" and the answer was..."No". Hm. Case in point as to why we are taking this class.
So we start talking about labor. Early labor. Stay at home. Breathe through the contractions. Move around. Don't come in - this could take awhile....
Well that part was easy the last time. My early early labor was at night and my early labor was while I was sleeping. I slept through most of my early labor!
Then the teacher started talking about going to the hospital and all the birthing positions we should be in. All the things we can do to work through contractions. The ways to get through it. The worst position, she says, is to labor on your back.
Wait a second? I labored on my back the ENTIRE time with Eleanor. I was told I couldn't move.
The teacher was telling us how our nurse would have a pager with our baby's heartbeat monitor on it and could tell when we had contractions, because the baby's heart rate would drop. But if it dropped too much nurses would come running in. Wait a second...that seems familiar. I remember nurses running in during my contractions.
Then the teacher tells us about the internal heartbeat monitor they have to use on 10% of births. It's a short cord which prevents the mom from being able to move during labor, but because of the distress the baby is in, it's necessary to get an accurate heartbeat read. I looked at Andy - OMG, I had one of those for Eleanor.
Things I had NEVER remembered about my labor with Eleanor all came rushing back to me. It was the weirdest experience! Does this happen to all moms? Going into the second birth you start remembering the first one? My first labor was great in the fact that I slept through most of it. However it was HORRIBLE because I wasn't allowed to move and I don't think I realized at the time - or until now - how much distress the baby (aka Eleanor) was really in and how quickly they wanted the baby out. And how quickly the baby did come out.
But I got a renewed sense of energy. I labored for all but 1 hour without any pain medication and for only 1 hour with some prescription pain meds in my IV. If I can do that, all while laboring in the worst position - on my back - imagine what I can do with changing positions. Trying to get comfortable - moving around. I can do this - medication free - again. I was scared in my wussy old age I might cave earlier...but I can do this. I mean, regardless, I still feel the same way about needles in my back.
Andy and I giggled and made some inappropriate jokes through most of the class. But we also watched and listened intensely...learning as much as we can about the miracle about to unfold. I do feel bad for labor coaches and how helpless they must feel - but I told Andy...he coached me and trained me through a 1/2 marathon. He pep talked me through my last mile of a 1/2 marathon. And he was so encouraging and supportive during the entire thing. This labor will be just like that. I'll want to give up. I'll want to cry. I'll want to quit. And he won't let me. He'll distract me. He'll refocus me. And he'll let me collapse when I need to. We talked about labor and delivery most of the night.
Then this morning we woke up...looked at each other...and said..."I had the STRANGEST dreams last night!"
We can't wait for our next class. We can't wait to learn more. We can't wait for the real deal! We feel so much more prepared for the labor. And I just can NOT believe in 7 weeks. 7 incredibly short, fast weeks, I'm going to look at Andy and say....I think I'm in labor! And I get to go on this amazing, intense, incredible, miraculous adventure all over again.
I signed us up...but Andy was all in - he'll even admit it.
I mean - seriously, the last time I was pregnant was 6 year ago!
I can't remember what I did yesterday...and I'm supposed to remember what to do when I'm in labor??
I guess I could just read old posts (Class 1, Class 2, Class 3, Class 4, Class 5, Class 6)
And I wanted Andy to hear what it was going to be like. I wanted Andy to hear a trained professional say things like, "Your wife may yell at you and tell you to go away...but she doesn't really mean it".
Yesterday at work I was oddly excited to attend the class. Honestly, I'm oddly excited to do anything relating to this kiddo. I'm getting so excited to met him.
So we went to class and did our introductions. I admitted that I had a 5 year old, that I needed a reminder and that it was Andy's first (we needed to explain why we were in class).
Then the teacher started quizzing us. "Your 37 weeks pregnant, you are having regular contractions every 15 minutes - do you call your doctor?" Step aside newbies....let this experienced Momma show you how it's done. "No" I answer. I didn't call my doctor until my contractions were 5 -7 minutes apart...and that was early because Nic and I were tracking a blizzard that was coming toward us. The correct answer "YES". 37 weeks is considered premature labor and with any regular contractions you should call your doctor. Oops.
Then the teacher asked another question (which neither Andy and I can remember right now...) but I boldly answered "YES" and the answer was..."No". Hm. Case in point as to why we are taking this class.
So we start talking about labor. Early labor. Stay at home. Breathe through the contractions. Move around. Don't come in - this could take awhile....
Well that part was easy the last time. My early early labor was at night and my early labor was while I was sleeping. I slept through most of my early labor!
Then the teacher started talking about going to the hospital and all the birthing positions we should be in. All the things we can do to work through contractions. The ways to get through it. The worst position, she says, is to labor on your back.
Wait a second? I labored on my back the ENTIRE time with Eleanor. I was told I couldn't move.
The teacher was telling us how our nurse would have a pager with our baby's heartbeat monitor on it and could tell when we had contractions, because the baby's heart rate would drop. But if it dropped too much nurses would come running in. Wait a second...that seems familiar. I remember nurses running in during my contractions.
Then the teacher tells us about the internal heartbeat monitor they have to use on 10% of births. It's a short cord which prevents the mom from being able to move during labor, but because of the distress the baby is in, it's necessary to get an accurate heartbeat read. I looked at Andy - OMG, I had one of those for Eleanor.
Things I had NEVER remembered about my labor with Eleanor all came rushing back to me. It was the weirdest experience! Does this happen to all moms? Going into the second birth you start remembering the first one? My first labor was great in the fact that I slept through most of it. However it was HORRIBLE because I wasn't allowed to move and I don't think I realized at the time - or until now - how much distress the baby (aka Eleanor) was really in and how quickly they wanted the baby out. And how quickly the baby did come out.
But I got a renewed sense of energy. I labored for all but 1 hour without any pain medication and for only 1 hour with some prescription pain meds in my IV. If I can do that, all while laboring in the worst position - on my back - imagine what I can do with changing positions. Trying to get comfortable - moving around. I can do this - medication free - again. I was scared in my wussy old age I might cave earlier...but I can do this. I mean, regardless, I still feel the same way about needles in my back.
Andy and I giggled and made some inappropriate jokes through most of the class. But we also watched and listened intensely...learning as much as we can about the miracle about to unfold. I do feel bad for labor coaches and how helpless they must feel - but I told Andy...he coached me and trained me through a 1/2 marathon. He pep talked me through my last mile of a 1/2 marathon. And he was so encouraging and supportive during the entire thing. This labor will be just like that. I'll want to give up. I'll want to cry. I'll want to quit. And he won't let me. He'll distract me. He'll refocus me. And he'll let me collapse when I need to. We talked about labor and delivery most of the night.
Then this morning we woke up...looked at each other...and said..."I had the STRANGEST dreams last night!"
We can't wait for our next class. We can't wait to learn more. We can't wait for the real deal! We feel so much more prepared for the labor. And I just can NOT believe in 7 weeks. 7 incredibly short, fast weeks, I'm going to look at Andy and say....I think I'm in labor! And I get to go on this amazing, intense, incredible, miraculous adventure all over again.
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