First birthing class...

LauraLynneC · May 2011

Ok - so Thursday night was our first of 5 birthing classes. Nothing too unexpected or exciting. I was - as expected - the oldest there. By about 15-20 years. As we went around the room I was also the only one there who has been through this before...but that wasn't unexpected either.

The format was pretty general - this is an "overview" birthing class - not a birth technique specific one (LaMaze or Bradley or whatever). Most of the mom's expressed the desire to learn more about natural birth and what to expect. Most dads were there to learn how to help mom in the delivery room.

We went through vocabulary and stages of labor. Just normal stuff. The last part of the class was "labor lab" where we were going to practice labor positions and partner support..this is the part where I got the giggles.

There was a poster with all sorts of different positions - chair and labor ball "props" included. I turned into a junior high student and started seeing Kama Sutra charts instead of labor positions and started giggling. I pulled a chair out and just sat on it while my DH tried to figure out where he would stand. I was just trying to control my giggles. DH decided to stand in front of me - and it was hard for me to look him in the eye I was laughing so hard. The couple next to us was giggling as well...that didn't help! My DH made a lewd comment - my face was at his waist level - and that was the end of any control I had. All I could do it bite my lips while tears were streaming down my face and my shoulders were shaking I was laughing SO hard (and trying to stay quiet - some of these couples were taking it all so seriously!)

My biggest laugh was coming from the fact that DH kept asking me "what is comfortable" and all I kept thinking was "everying right now - and NOTHING in labor..." I understand the basic concept of different positions help - a little - but I also remember just writhing in pain - I remember being SHOCKED at just how much it hurt and just how much changing positions DIDN'T help. The notion that kneeling, squatting or otherwise just a "position" helping...well, that struck me as completely hilarious for some reason.

Second position - and I had my laughter under control - I was on my knees on the fllor with my elbows on the chair. DH was behind me and commented "this is how this all STARTED" and I was back to giggling....sigh.

Stay tuned - 4 more classes to go!! My ab muscles are going to be strong from all the laughing at least...but I'm going to have to go buy Poise pads or something!!!

Madreof5 · May 2011

LOL!! This is why we are not going to childbirth classes. 1. I am way old. 2. Me and SO are totally juvenile. 3. I have 5 kids, and like you cannot imagine there is anything that they can teach me that will make childbirth not hurt!

bridgeybride · May 2011

So funny.. the SAME thing happened to me and my DH when we took the classes last time... they had us practice the breathing at the end of each class.. and I sat on floor in front of him, between his legs, and HE and I both couldn't control our giggles... and I would try not to laugh, but I could feel him shaking from trying to hold it in... We never got through any of that and none of it mattered.. because he totally FROZE during my labor.. my sister and the labor nurse got me through it!

Most important things I learned from class.. if your water breaks.. note the time and color or it (if it is clear).... and when at the end of labor, when you are about to push the baby out, listen to the doctor when he/she says not to push (they have to check that the cord isn't around the baby's neck (which in my case it was)...when my dr. said "don't push!".. I knew exactly why.