Not so bright mom in class the other night...

PurpleK26 · December 2009

DH and I went to the Infant Care Class on Monday night. There were 3 couples and a girl there with her mom.

3 of us seemed like normal people, knew what we were in for etc. One of the couples... who is 38 weeks pg, is completely clueless. They're probably in their late 20's early 30's (same as DH and I). They didn't know what happened when a baby was circumcised, and not just the procedure, they actually didn't know that baby boys were born with extra skin.

Ok, so, I could get past that... what shocked the hell out of me was when the instructor asked if we'd all taken the childbirth class yet and this couple said no. OK, I figured that they must have just read enough books to have some idea of what to expect (She said she'd read up on it). So the nurse said "ok, so you know when you need to be coming to the hospital for delivery and everything right?" NOPE! They had no clue! Knew nothing about contractions, MP, Water Breaking etc...

How do you read baby books and not at least know something about this! I said something to DH about it on the ride home and he said that not everyone is obsessed with the bump like I am... ok, but still, ANY pregnancy book will tell you when to go to the dr.!

Add to it that they didn't know how to clean a baby boy when they pooped, didn't know about foreskin, didn't know how to change a diaper and I'm really wondering if they know what they're doing! I know that I've been around and cared for tons of newborns, so maybe this is just all second nature to me. but I don't get how you can be 38 weeks pg and not know when to go to the hospital!?

Eviebee · December 2009

Wow, that is a little scary at 38 weeks, but some ppl just learn as they go I guess. My Mom was looking through all the pg books I had and told me they never picked up a book or took a class and they had no idea what they were doing and managed just fine. But now that these things are available why wouldn't you prepare yourself so maybe it's a little less rocky.

PurpleK26 · December 2009

I didn't mean to sound judgemental... I was just so surprised... not even her dr. has told her when to go in.

I know everyone used to just 'know' when to go in without all the books etc,. I guess it just surprised me coming from this couple. They seemed very educated, businesslike almost. The type of people you expect to have a house a dog and 2.5 kids. It's not like they were a 16 year old couple or something.

bkjcwedding · December 2009

That is a little odd. Wonder if they know what put the baby there to start with? Tongue Tied

ibis · December 2009

I think a lot of people are that way now, and it's because knowledge about pregnancy & babies is not handed down from previous generations anymore. People used to have bigger families, more tight-knit communities, closer contact with pregnant women and babies, etc. Now we have to read books, which is just not the same IMO.