We graduated! So we are ready to have a baby. Right??

Last night was the last night of our prepared childbirth classes. We had a total of 5 classes. All in all I think that they were very good classes and I think the instructor did a good job in helping to give us an idea of what to expect. I think they prepared us for childbirth; to the extent that one can be prepared. I am glad that we took the classes. We could have read the information in books or on the internet, but in all honesty I don't think Papa Bear would have read a book on child birth. I had read about labor and delivery in my pregnancy books and on the internet, but it was nice to have it reiterated and explained in easy to understand terms. The instructor often used visual aids and analogies, which was really helpful. I know that Papa Bear came out of it knowing more than he came into it.

I think we learned a lot and hopefully we are able to use most of it when the time comes. I really hope most of the breathing techniques and laboring positions will help. At last night's class we did a review in the end and came out with a cheat sheet. Papa Bear made sure that I packed that in my hospital bag right away so that we would have it just in case we needed it. It was a fun class and Papa Bear actually knew some of the people in the class through acquaintances or from high school. I guess that is what happens when you live in the same town most of your life.

So now we have graduated from our prepared childbirth class. That means we are ready to have a baby. I guess that means we are really going to have a baby at some point and there is no turning back now. Wow!!!

Infant CPR

Last night, we went to CPR class. It was definitely informative and taught us what we should do if Baby Bear needed CPR or was choking. Little ones put things in the their mouths all the time, so choking is pretty common, so it is nice to know that we have the knowledge to help our child if the need arises.

Tonight is night 2 of Lamaze. I should do my homework and practice my breathing.

Child Birth classes

We had our first child birth class last night. Our Lamaze classes are a series of 5 classes. It seems like a lot but so far I felt that the first class was a very informative and the dynamics of the people in the class is pretty fun. A lot of the dads are pretty funny. The instructor is really good and uses examples and visual aids as she instructs, which I find very helpful. You would think that I would have read up on all this stuff by now, but work and life has been so busy leaving me little time for reading. So I think that this series of 5 classes will be very useful to me. I also think it will be very helpful for Papa Bear as well. It is better than me trying to tell him about everything I have read.

So now I have a good understanding of EDS (effacement, dilation, and station) as does Papa Bear, so now when we are at the hospital we will know what the medical professionals are actually telling us.

Papa Bear actually happened to know another couple in the class and he went to high school with the instructor. Papa Bear just always seems to know everyone. It was an interesting group, some comedians and one dad almost fainted in class. It definitely was not a boring class by any means.

The last half of the class we started to work on our breathing. We got down on the floor and learned some breathing techniques to breathe through the contractions. The dads got down on the ground and the moms leaned on the dads for support and coached us as we breathed. Papa Bear asked if during the labor he was supposed to get into the bed with me to help me breathe. It was a pretty funny question, but a good one. He then understood that we was serving as my bed for the purposes of the class. All in all an informative and fun class. I don't think it will be so bad.

I think the classes will help us to know what to expect when the time comes, hopefully the tools that we learn in class we will be able to apply when the time comes. At least, I feel a little better knowing that we will have some preparation. I am a little nervous for labor and delivery, so I hope that by educating ourselves can help me to feel a little more calm about the whole labor and delivery. I believe in being prepared and having knowledge so I really hope this will help me in this respect.

Infant Care Class

Last night, Papa Bear and I attended an infant care class at our hospital. It was pretty informative. Some of the things I knew, but there were some helpful things as well. We learned about diapering, bathing, swaddling, and several other things. It was nice to try things hands on with a baby doll. Papa Bear did very well diapering the baby doll, that may be his new job :)

I think what Papa Bear enjoyed the most was learning that a baby will prefer the daddy's voice to that of the doctors. Basically, that newborns are able to distinguish their daddy's voice right away. He seemed to like that and knowing Baby Bear will know him. That was a nice little tid bit.

Next week, we start childbirth classes.

Breastfeeding Class

Last night, I attended a breastfeeding class at the hospital where I will deliver. I felt that it was a pretty informative class. I have no clue about breastfeeding, except for the benefits and that I plan to breastfeed. The class went over different ways to hold the baby, ways to relieve engorgement, how to detect a baby's feeding cues, nutrition, and had lots of tips and recommendations.

My plan is to breastfeed for the first year if possible. Once I return to work, I will pump and the class gave recommendations on when to start pumping and introducing the bottle to baby to ease in that transition. That was very informative. They also gave some recommendations on equipments and accessories to help a new mother be successful in breastfeeding.

I realize that some women cannot breastfeed for various reason, but I do hope that I will be able to do so. I didn't realize that there was so much to breastfeeding, you would think that something so natural would be so easy. I guess it is not always easy for all women and takes some time for baby and mommy. Luckily, the hospital where I deliver encourages and supports breastfeeding. There is a lot of support systems in place at the hospital to help new mothers to successfully breastfeed. The have a center devoted to provide support to new mothers. I have a feeling I will be taking advantage of that especially since it is walking distance from my house. I guess we'll see how Baby Bear and I do in a few months from now.