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**BabyCopper**
Just saw that you did the Great Expectations Class at Prentice. I'm planning to take it in June with my husband.
What did you think of it? What all did you cover and do you think it was worth your time?
Thanks!
Siggy Deleted Due to Internet Stalking. Mama to Q, born July 2010
This discussion has been closed.
Re: **BabyCopper**
I thought it was a decent class. It is definitely an "overview" of sorts. Taught by an Rn, it goes through each stage of labor, what is happening, what to expect and how your partner can best support you. There are some videos that are shown, and the Rn largely follows a power point presentation.
If you are signed up for an all day class on a weekend day, I think they list it as going from 0830-4pm? We were done by 2:45 or so and that included a 45 minute lunch.
My husband isn't really one to be reading any baby or labor books, so I thought it was good for him to hear this stuff straight up. I suppose you can read about all of the info that is provided, but it just depends on what works for you - I'm more of a combo learner, read on my own and go to a class. So I liked it.
It also confirmed my feeling on how I want to approach labor. My goal is to try for natural, but I'm not going to be afraid to "call an audible" and go for the epi. And because of this, we aren't going to do any more follow up classes, like Lamaze or Bradley. My husband could barely keep a straight face when I was suppose to be doing the practice breathing in the class and kept making me laugh!
Thanks! We're going to do a Saturday class. I think we'll just do that one and then send DH to the Daddy Bootcamp one so he can learn to change a diaper and stuff.
My plan is to labor at home as long as possible to hopefully have a shorter time in the hospital.
Yeah, that is hopefully our plan as well. And I know there are so many variables, i.e. if your water breaks, if you just start with contractions and water doesn't break......
But I did learn from my yoga class that laboring as much as possible at home (until you get to contractions 5 min apart, lasting a minute each, for an hour - that's what my dr. has advised) will hopefully make life somewhat better (i hate to say easier). The yoga instructor (who is also a doula) advised to try and limit internal exams, too. She mentioned that people often get very disappointed when they arrive to the hospital, learning that they are only (insert a # less than 3 here) cm dilated. It kind of takes the wind out of your sails, so to speak, and often times sets women back just a bit. Or, if they do an internal, not to learn of the results.
Disclosure: I have not asked my dr. about this just yet.
BUT....from what I understand, if your water breaks, you basically have 24 hours to give birth. After that point, the docs get nervous that potential for infection becomes greater.
So, yes, you can definitely still labor at home. You are just now "on the clock."
I was being nosey reading your post, so I hope you don't mind me butting in! We did the Great Expectations class at Prentice and it was great. It is definitely worth your time, and you will be glad you did it. The best part was the tour of the hospital, and I think having that tour really helped when my delivery day arrived! I knew exactly where to go, and what was going to happen at Triage, etc.
Regarding your water breaking - my water did break and you can continue to labor at home, but like BabyCopper said, you are on the clock once your water breaks. Your risk of infection increases significantly if you go longer than 24 hours with your bag of water broken. I labored at home for about 6 hours after my water broke. I probably could have stayed home longer, but I was feeling really anxious and nervous being home. I labored in the hospital at Prentice for another 7 hours before they started the Pitocin because my labor was not progressing at all.
CT - you aren't butting in at all!
I forgot about the hospital tour - the most important part! Duh. Just knowing where to park, where to go, where's triage, what the labor rooms look like upstairs, etc. was a huge help in relieving any anxiety.
I promise I am not trying to start a debate, but in my situation my midwife did not have any problem with being up and walking around after my water broke, and they actually advised that I stay home longer than I did. While I was home I did very little moving around though just because it was so uncomfortable leaking fluid every step I took (not to mention messy!). But once I was checked in to L&D at Prentice they made me slap on one of those super duper big absorbent pads and walk the halls of Labor & Delivery for over an hour to try and get me to dialate further than 3.
I know every situation is different though, and had my midwife advised me to stay in bed I definitely would have!
I've never heard the 'no walking after water breaks' rule either.
It can take a lot to move the baby down even after the water breaks and you have to be able to be up and changing positions.
Being confined to a bed as soon as my water breaks (if it breaks early in labor) is pretty much my worst nightmare!