This evening Adam and I completed our second of four childbirth classes. Over four weeks from 6-9pm we will meet with 10 other couples and learn about what happens during labor mentally and physically. We will and have already learned techniques for pain management, to prolong and diffuse pain for as long as possible, tour the hospital, and what to expect through each phase. So in other words, learn control strategies to have as normal of a birth as possible. Adam and I both have decided and agree strongly that there will be no medications. We want as normal and natural of a birth that we can. Call us crazy but the benefits to pain management and mind over body control seems so much healthier for mom and baby. The instructor this evening, who is completely supportive to our decision, told us that these days the nursing programs don’t teach pain management and birthing techniques. Unfortunately they learn the mechanics for the technology and for the medications but not the breathing or movement strategies for mothers to apply if they want a smoother experience. And we wonder why our medical system is so messed up.
Granted we want a natural experience but we are not going to be chanting and beating drums dancing in circles in the forest (good ‘ol yoga DVD from the 90’s). We just want the body to go through the process and help our little girl come into the world quickly and healthy….(psst! You did realize that the medications do prolong the labor and cripple your ability to move on your own….um, movement helps your body make room for the baby to come out….and who wants to be numb from there chest to their legs to avoid a short couple of hours of controllable pain, creepy!). Most epidurals lead to C-sections….hm, weird!
Okay, okay, I’m done.
Class was great! Adam got to practice more calming massage techniques while I practiced breathing and relaxing! Perfect after a long day at work! We have met some wonderful couples a few weeks behind us (yeah we’re the furthest along) and we are learning a great deal about how amazing the human body is. We, to be expected, are the one of the few couples with a sense of humor and find ourselves smiling and laughing/giggling during the videos. We’re looking forward to our tour of Sky Ridge Hospital next week, after Oct. 1st Kaiser clients are allowed to go to Sky Ridge instead of St. Joseph’s hospital downtown for labor. Woo hoo! Gotta love new facilities. We love to have fun and love that our little family is so close to starting….only FIVE weeks away!
