Class Time

On a foggy Saturday morning, Stacy and I drove up to the hospital for an eight hour class on pregnancy and giving birth. We arrived right at 9am, one of the last couples. As we found two seats in the sea of preggoes, it started to dawn on me...We are having a baby. I found the experience today to get me more excited about the pregnancy than anything else we have experienced. (Stacy and I are yet to actually feel the baby kick or move.)

The first hour was spent on nutrition. The baby will be feeding on breast milk for the first six months. Who knew that the taste of breast milk changes with the types of food that Stacy eats. The instructor said that babies typically like garlic in their breast milk. Stacy is currently loading up on garlic.

The next part of the day was spent with two nurses. We stared by viewing a film. Yup a gross/beautiful film. It really all depends on your point of view. Beautiful if you are up and extremely gross if you are down. I learned what a uterus, placenta, and a mucus plug. I learned that after a baby is born, then the mother gives birth to a placenta. I don't care if you say the birthing process is beautiful, the placenta is big and nasty. It's nastier than Sara's nastiest corn and green bean poop.

After the film and the discussion, we took out our pillows (that we had to bring along) and get on the floor for breathing exercises. In out...In out...In out... "Are you relaxed," our instructor asked. Oh yeah nothing is more relaxing than sitting on non-padded carpet in a room of strangers. Finally lunch.

After lunch we learned about the four stages of birthing. Stage one: Happy. Stage two: Not so happy, but not so bad. Let's head to the hospital. Stage three: I hate you. Why did you do this to me? Stage Four: Finally.

The process is really truly amazing. The fact that a woman when pregnant releases endorphins that make your joints more flexible. The fact that a baby breathes in the ambiotic fluid, until they take their first true breath of air. The fact that babies have like 5 sections of their skull that enables them to go through the birth canal. It is just so perfect, yet painful.

The day ended with yet another disgusting oops I mean beautiful film.