Birthing class

So, we just had our first of four birthing classes (they meet every wednesday for four weeks). It was pretty good - the lady teaching it has been a labor and delivery nurse for 40 years, so she knows EVERYTHING. She's also kinda quirky and funny so it makes the class enjoyable. Today's class was mostly a lecture about the mechanics of birth, what to expect from Hartford Hospital, and what to expect from the birthing class in general. The instructor definately said that she took it easy on us with the gorey details this time, that she knows we need to ease into it. We watched a pretty mild video about birth - definately nothing more than you'd see on any TV channel... and she said the next week we'll watch a "more realistic video." All in all, the video was totally informative and good, but definately mild. The end of the class was basically what you'd imagine a birthing class to be, we were all sitting on the floor, with Joe sitting right behind me, so I was sitting between his legs... and the breathing, and the counting, and the relaxation techniques and he was massaging my belly and back. Pretty cute, and once again, just made the whole thing seem more real! The nice thing is that theres only 3 other couples in the class, so its really small and intimate. I'd hate to be in a gymnasium full of moms and dads.

One thing that we learned about today that made me feel really good is that Hartford Hospital has a level 3 NICU on the same floor as their labor and delivery department, so the best neonatologists are steps away if we need them. Also, that pregnant moms do not have to go to the emergency room, they go straight to triage in labor and delivery, and get checked immediately by the nurses there. Also, they have followed all the current literature on labor positioning and the benefits of different positions. She said they do their best to keep laboring women OFF their backs, and they have these state-of-the-art beds that support many different positions, even if you have an epidural hanging out of your back (she described that the bottom 1/3 of the bed detaches and rolls away, and they put in a support bar, so you can sit on the edge of the bed, and kinda squat/lean into the bar so that you're letting gravity do it's thing... not to mention using the jacouzzi and your own private shower/bathroom in your own private room for before the epidural is placed. This made me feel really good - one of my main concerns with the epidural was that it would limit my positions, and although it still will, it seems that they are very forward thinking and creative about getting you into the best positions.

We also have a meeting with our prospective Doula on tuesday. I had a quick conversation with her on the phone, and she seems like a pro, and a sweet person, too. We decided that we still wanted to meet her in person before we contract with her, but I think it'll probably work out well!

Things are happening! It's pretty exciting.