Sunday, August 19, 2007

Antenatal classes

We started the National Childcare Trust antenatal classes on Wednesday evening. We are a group of 12 couples and two teachers and we will have a total of 3 meetings with 'the guys' and 2 meetings 'only girls'. We had an introduction meeting on wednesday evening and a all day meeting on friday. So far it has been great. Besides learning a lot, we also get to know couples that are going through the same as us (makes me feel a bit normal) and they all live in the the same neighborhood (so we can stay in touch) and we are due all around the same time (from the 12st of Sept through the 29th). On friday we learned about the several stages of labor and the many different positions to relief the pain of the contractions. It was great for 'the guys' to see what we go through and that it is not just 'popping out a child' but there are several hormones, feelings and lot's of pain involved! At the end of the day the 'husbands' came up with a list of the things they can help us with before, during and after labor! it was great (specially the part that they should not forget to chill the champagne....). I need to say that Jason knows a lot already and by reading the 'expectant father' book he has started doing so many things for me!
As a result of friday's class we bought a 'gym ball' (big balls used to do all kind of exercises) and it is great to sit on a 'rock and roll' to ease the lower back pain and make the pelvic bones supple for birth... hopefully it helps!
I was slightly surprised that several of the woman at the class did not have the nursery ready yet, nor the hospital bag packed and had not started looking for daycare nor had they visited the labour ward where they are due to deliver. I feel we are ahead of the game.... (however a lot of them have already stopped working or will soon, so they still have around 1 month to focus on these things)
Yesterday (saturday) we bought the final missing piece of the baby's room. The mattress. I also started packing our hospital bag! We are all set to go it the baby decides to come early.
5 more weeks to go!!!

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